HILLSDALE, Mich. – The UIndy women's basketball team traveled north to open up their 2018-19 campaign this weekend. As part of the GLVC/GLIAC Challenge this year, UIndy was set to face off with a pair of familiar foes in Hillsdale and Northern Michigan. First up for the Hounds, was one of the G-MAC favorites for this year, the hosting Hillsdale Chargers.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams opened up their seasons with a shaky start from the field, UIndy missed their first two shots and Hillsdale missed their opening attempt and took over two minutes for either team to score first. UIndy broke the ice with a three-pointer from Laura Thomas. Eventually both teams settled into their offenses and were able to start hitting from the field, ending the first quarter at 15-13 in favor of the Chargers. UIndy led for all of little over three minutes for the quarter, leading by as much as three in the opening frame.
 
The Chargers would extend their lead to six within the first two minutes of the second quarter, but the Hounds did not fret. UIndy kept working in the paint with layups from Mickey Sasson, Taylor Drury, and Emma Benoit to tie the game with six minutes to go in the half. The two teams would battle back-and-forth throughout the half, matching layups and three-pointers until the very end. UIndy got the final possession of the first half, Mickey Sasson would make the most of it for the Greyhounds, knocking down a jumper with just three seconds left on the clock, sending the Hounds to the locker room with a four point lead at the break.
 
Coming out of the half, UIndy came out shooting the long-ball much better, making two to start the quarter and pairing it with layups from Benoit and Claire Carlton, pushing the Greyhound lead to five early on the quarter. Hillsdale would only cut it to three, but the Hounds kept pushing and eventually led by as much as seven. Hillsdale kept chipping away at the Greyhound lead, making a three and hitting a layup to cut it down to two points heading into the final 10 minutes.
 
Hillsdale tied the game to start off the game, both teams would go back-and-forth, UIndy jumped out to a six-point lead, helped out by their transfers in Thomas and Benoit. The Chargers would hit a much-needed three to cut the Greyhound lead in half and eventually taking the lead with just over five minutes left in the game. The final five minutes gave those watching and listening the most exciting game they could have asked for. Neither team would lead by more than two down the stretch, making the final possessions crucial. Taylor Drury pulled down an important offensive rebound with nine seconds left, kicked the ball out to Laura Thomas who drew a foul and went to the foul line with two seconds left to give UIndy the lead. Thomas, with ice in her veins, knocked down both free throws and when the buzzer sounded, the Greyhounds were winners.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
-Newcomers Emma Benoit and Mickey Sasson grabbed seven rebounds each, the last time a Greyhound duo combined for at least 14 boards in a game was against Bellarmine last year when Taylor Drury and Erin Wood combined for 17 against the Knights.
-Laura Thomas finished with 20 points in her Greyhound debut, the last Greyhound to drop 20 in their UIndy debut was Sydney Brackemyre in 2016 when scored 20 against Findlay.
-UIndy got it done down low on Saturday, scoring 34 points in the paint against the Chargers. It is the second straight game, dating back to last season, that UIndy scored 30+ points in the paint in a game.

HOUND BYTES
Head coach Kristin Wodrich on the win to open up the season, "it was a game of runs and we came away with the last one. The girls stayed together the whole game, we will get back to film and try to get a little bit better every game."
 
UP NEXT
The Hounds are back in action tomorrow afternoon in Hillsdale, facing Northern Michigan at 1 p.m. ET in their final game of the GLVC/GLIAC Challenge.