INDIANAPOLIS – The UIndy women's basketball team are coming off a weekend where they went 1-1 in the GLVC/GLIAC Challenge up in Hillsdale, Michigan. The Hounds opened their home schedule of the season with the Northwood Timberwolves, Friday night, defeating the Timberwolves 65-53.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hounds got off to a fast start with Shira Sasson scoring two quick layups to give UIndy the early advantage. UIndy would hold on to the lead for almost 90% of the quarter, leading by as much as five in the opening frame after Taylor Dillard hit her first-career three, giving the Hounds the 11-6 lead at the time. Northwood hung tough, fought back and took the lead just before the end of the first quarter, leading the Hounds 15-11 at the end of game's opening period.
 
The second period started with a Taylor Drury, bringing UIndy back to within a possession early in the quarter. The Hounds and Timberwolves fought back-and-forth with the lead changing hands seven times before the Hounds pulled away at the end of the half. Emma Benoit fought down low on both ends of the court, grabbing rebounds and hitting layups on both sides of the paint with both hands, giving the Hounds the 27-22 lead heading into the locker room.
 
Northwood cut their deficit to four, but the Hounds were full steam ahead after that. UIndy jumped out to a seven point lead after another Drury three-pointer and the lead kept growing from there. Laura Thomas got free off a screen for a mid-range jumper and send the Hounds up nine, Dillard and Thomas sank some free throws and all of the sudden the Hounds had a double digit lead over halfway through the second half. UIndy scored 19 points in the third on six-of-nine shooting, leading by 14 heading into the game's final quarter.
 
The Hounds continued their dominance on the inside as Benoit and Drury kept getting layups to go in, pushing the lead to 16 with just over two minutes to go. The 16 point lead for the Hounds would dwindle down to 10 with a minute to go, UIndy quickly called a timeout to re-group and held on to win by 12 after a pair of free throws by Laura Thomas.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
-The Hounds attempted 22 free throws against the Timberwolves, the 22 attempts was their most in a game since Drury last year when they attempted 24.
-UIndy has held opponents under 30% shooting in two of their three games this season, they only had one opponent shoot under 30% all of last season.
-Emma Benoit had a career-night for UIndy. Benoit set a career-high in points (21), rebounds (9), field-goals made (9), and minutes (33).
 
UP NEXT
The Hounds are back at action in Nicoson Hall this Sunday afternoon when they host another GLIAC opponent in Grand Valley State at 1 p.m.