INDIANAPOLIS – The UIndy women's basketball took to the hardwood tonight for their regular season opener against Northern Michigan, part of the GLVC-GLIAC crossover being held this weekend in Nicoson Hall. The Wildcats came alive in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Hounds 19-10 en route to their 59-53 win.
 
Senior Ashley Montanez was a rebound short of posting a double-double, finishing with a team high 14 points and nine rebounds. Senior Martha Burse was also a key contributor for UIndy. Less than a week after dropping 32 in the team's final exhibition against IU-Kokomo, Burse chipped in 13 points in tonight's defeat.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
UIndy came out the gates playing inspired basketball, Burse hit a quick jump shot and came back quickly to force a turnover on the other side of the floor. The Hounds trailed only once in the first half, but gained the lead back quickly and eventually stretched the lead out to six before going in the half up 30-27.
 
Coming out of halftime, the thrid quarter saw a flurry of turnovers. Both teams went back and forth, but at the end of the third, neither gained the upper hand as each team scored 13 points to go into the final quarter with the Hounds leading, 43-40
 
The game was neck-and-neck up until the end. Neither team was able to sustain a lead for long enough to pull away from the other, totaling five lead changes the entire game. UIndy led the way for over 70 percent of the game, but never amassing a lead more than six. The Hounds did not see the lead after the Wildcats hit a 3-pointer just before the media timeout in the fourth quarter ,and the Wildcats never looked back.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Junior Alexa Bailey made her UIndy debut tonight. The Butler transfer played 20 minutes off the bench, making her mark on the game in multiple ways. She finished the game with four points, all coming from the free throw line, four total rebounds, and coming away with five steals.
 
UIndy had 21 3-point attempts in their final exhibition against IU-Kokomo, but only shot three attempts tonight. Sophomore Tristan Philpot was responsible for all of the team's attempts, going 1-for-3 behind the arc.
 
The Hounds got it done from the charity stripe as well, going 14-for-18 at the line. Montanez, Bailey and Devin Ferguson all went 4-for-4, while Burse and Jordan Cole each had a make from the line.
 
UIndy came away with 12 steals tonight, the most since Nov. 28, 2015. Despite having a dozen takeaways, the Hounds only scored 15 points off the Wildcats' mistakes.
 
UP NEXT
The Hounds return to Nicoson Hall on Sunday Nov. 12 at 1 p.m., as they play host to in-region Hillsdale in this weekend's finale.