INDIANAPOLIS – In their first action following a two-week break, the Greyhound women's basketball team looked for its first three-game winning streak of the year on Thursday night against Hillsdale.
 
UIndy (7-4) jumped out to an early lead, but the Hounds struggled to take care of the ball and knock down shots, allowing Hillsdale (8-5) to take the lead midway through the first quarter. The Hounds kept the game close and had a chance to tie the game late, but ultimately fell to the Chargers, 68-65.
 
Four Greyhounds finished in double figures, led by Sydney Brackemyre's 18 points and 10 rebound effort, her fourth double-double of the year. Sarah Costello finished just short of a triple-double with 12 points, a career-high 13 boards and seven assists.
 
But UIndy was unable to overcome 18 turnovers and a 2-for-15 performance from behind the line as they dropped their first game at home in 2016-17.
 
"The main problems we had tonight are the same things we've been dealing with all year," Assistant coach Ta'Shia Phillips told WICR after the game. "We want to make sure we don't turn the ball over and execute down the stretch and we struggled with both tonight. All we can do now is get back in the gym tomorrow and keep emphasizing the little things and taking care of the ball."
 
A fast-paced first quarter saw the Hounds jump out to a 12-6 lead less than three minutes into the opening frame. UIndy would continue to hold the lead until their struggles began late in the first quarter. Hillsdale closed out the opening frame by scoring 8 of the final 10 points to take their first lead of the game.
 
The Hounds continued to sputter from the floor in the second, going 1-for-10 from the floor over a stretch that lasted more than five minutes as Hillsdale extended their lead to 27-18.
 
Six quick points put the Greyhounds back within a single possession with four minutes left in the half, but that was as close as the Hounds would get before the halftime horn sounded and they trailed 32-29 at the break.
 
The Hounds cut the lead to a point less than two minutes into the second half, but just couldn't get the go-ahead bucket as Hillsdale stretched the lead out to 41-34 with 6:08 left in the third. The Hounds trimmed the deficit to as little as three points late in the quarter, but headed into the fourth trailing 50-43.
 
A Brackemyre bucket with 1:57 to play cut the Charger lead to 60-58, but Hillsdale answered their next time down the floor with a three from Makenna Ott. UIndy had one shot to send the game to overtime, but Brackemyre just missed a three as time expired.
 
Martha Burse (16) and Nicole Anderson (10) also finished in double figures for UIndy, who shot 41.2 percent (28-for-68) from the floor and 7-for-12 from the line. Hillsdale shot 40.6 percent (26-for-64) from the floor and had all five starters finish the night in double figures.
 
Rebounds were 46-41 in favor of UIndy, marking the third straight game the Hounds have yanked down more than 40 boards.
 
The Greyhounds will look to close out their non-conference schedule on a high note on Saturday, when they welcome the Northwood Timberwolves to town for a New Year's Eve showdown. Tip-off from Nicoson Hall is set for 2:00 p.m.