INDIANAPOLIS – The University of Indianapolis women's basketball team opened up a pivotal two-game homestand with a thrilling 60-53 comeback win over Illinois Springfield on Thursday night.
 
Down by as many as 14 in the second half, the Hounds blitzed the Prairie Stars in the fourth quarter to improve to 5-13 on the year and 3-5 in GLVC play. Nicole Anderson had a game-high 28 points as UIndy knocked down 60.9 percent (14-for-23) of their second half field goals to shake off a slow start and move two games ahead of the Prairie Stars in the GLVC East standings.
 
Syerra Cunningham had 14 points to lead the way for the Prairie Stars, as UIS dropped to 6-9 on the year and 1-7 in conference play.
 
"We got off to a slow start but we kept pushing even when shots weren't falling," Head coach Constantin Popa told WICR after the game. "You have to give our ladies a lot of credit for battling through some tough stretches in the game. They didn't quit and it all paid off in the fourth quarter when shots started falling and we were able to get some critical rebounds. When you're struggling, it's easy to pack it in and the fact that we refused to do that tonight is a big reason why we were able to win."
 
Offensive struggles plagued the Greyhounds in the opening 10 minutes as UIndy shot just 3-for-11 from the floor in the opening quarter and committed seven turnovers. That enabled the Prairie Stars to jump out to a 6-0 lead and eventually a 14-8 edge at the end of the quarter.
 
After five straight points from the Prairie Stars to open the second quarter, the Greyhounds climbed right back into the game with a 7-0 run over a four minute span that cut the lead to 19-15 with a little less than five minutes to go in the half.  The Hounds wouldn't get any closer than four points before the end of the quarter as UIS took a 29-22 lead into the break.
 
The Prairie Stars kicked off the second half with a 10-3 run that pushed the lead to 39-25 with 5:46 to play in the quarter. The Hounds would mount a small rally before the quarter ended but headed into the fourth quarter trailing, 48-40. Anderson led the charge for the Hounds in the quarter, netting 12 points and a trio of three-pointers.
 
Everything finally fell into place for the Greyhounds in the fourth quarter. UIndy opened the quarter by forcing the Prairie Stars to miss their first nine shots of the quarter. At the other end, Emily Thomas and Princess German combined for the Hounds' first five field goals of the quarter, the last coming from German that made it 50-48 Hounds with 5:13 to go.
 
With the Hounds leading 54-53 with less than a minute to go, UIndy got a big layup from Anderson that stretched the lead to three and a steal from Devin Ferguson on the next UIS possession that allowed the Greyhounds to close things out at the free throw line.
 
Anderson's was the only Greyhound to reach double figures, shooting 12-for-19 from the floor and matching a career high with a trio of three pointers. Additionally, she hauled in a game-high nine rebounds, eight coming on the defensive end.
 
"Nicole really played her heart out she just refused to lose this one," Popa added. "That's what we expect from her. When we had some players not making shots, Nicole really stepped up and knocked down shots both inside and behind the three point line."
 
As a team, they Greyhounds hit 45.8 percent (22-for-48) of their field goals, going 4-of-14 from deep and 12-for-15 at the line. UIS connected on 41.1 percent (23-for-56) of their tries from the floor, knocking down 3-of-11 3-pointers and 4-of-10 free throws.
 
Rebounds were 35-28 in favor of UIndy while the Prairie Stars held a 17-12 advantage in the turnover battle.
 
The Greyhounds will wrap up this weekend's slate of home games on Saturday afternoon when the Bearcats of McKendree University visit Nicoson Hall. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.