INDIANAPOLIS – The UIndy women's basketball team (3-8) made it two home wins in a row with a 75-64 victory against ranked-NAIA-team Indiana Wesleyan (10-3) Thursday night. Senior Martha Burse exploded for a career-best 34 points on 14 for 26 shooting.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Facing the No. 15 team in NAIA Division II, the Greyhounds held the visiting Wildcats to 11 points in the third quarter to build an 11-point cushion heading into the fourth. The pivotal period included a key 11-0 run midway through, putting the Hounds up 56-42.
 
UIndy kept Wesleyan at arm's length the rest of the way, not allowing them within seven points. The home team finished 42 percent from the field and outscored their guests 41-10 in the points-off-turnovers column.
 
Burse fueled the UIndy offense all night, racking up 21 points at the break before finishing with a personal high of 34. She shot 54 percent from the floor while adding six rebounds, seven steals and a pair of assists to her line.
 
Two other Hounds set career highs in scoring; freshman Taylor Drury contributing 14 points to the cause and sophomore Claire Carlton making her season debut with 11 points to go with five boards.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Burse's point total was the highest by a Greyhound since Kristin Turner scored 36 at Northern Kentucky in February of 2012.
- UIndy hit a season-high 19 free throws on 22 attempts (.864) and gave up a season-low nine turnovers.
- Burse recorded seven steals for the second straight game. She came into the night ranked eighth in DII in steals per game.
- Senior Devin Ferguson and junior Alexa Bailey shared the team lead with three assists apiece.               
- IWU's previous game was a 72-67 win versus then-NAIA-No. 4 Marian last week.
- Carlton sat the first 10 games of the season due to injury.
 
HOUND BYTES
Head Coach Kristin Wodrich on Burse's night…
"A lot of things go through her because she makes things happen; she's a good passer, she sees the floor, and tonight she was able to get off some shots too. And we had three kids in double figures so that's always a good sign for us."
 
Wodrich on her team's performance out of the break…
"We haven't been good in the third quarter so we always emphasize that we have put (the other team) on their heels early (in the second half) and we have to have a lot of energy. I think our press was good for us tonight and I think the kids were aggressive in it, and I was really proud of their effort, especially since we don't have a lot of subs. They just played really, really hard."
 
UP NEXT
The Greyhounds play their final game before the Christmas holiday when they travel to No. 1-ranked Ashland University Monday, Dec. 18. The Eagles are the reigning Division II national champions and have won 47 consecutive contests.