INDIANAPOLIS – To close out the 2018 calendar year and the non-conference schedule for the 2018-19 season, the UIndy women's basketball team welcomed crosstown-rival Marian to Nicoson Hall Sunday afternoon. It was the first time since 2002 that the two programs had played, Marian came away with the win over the Hounds, 75-60.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
After having over 10 days since their last game, UIndy got off to a slow start, falling behind 11-4 early on. Taylor Drury hit a pair of three's on back-to-back possessions to give the UIndy offense a kick start. The Marian offense kept attacking the Hounds down low and kicking it back outside to extend their lead, Katie Sowa came off the bench for the Greyhounds to give a spark off the bench. Sowa hit three from beyond the arc in the first half, only missing one of her attempts. The Hounds pulled away in the second quarter, leading by as much as eight before forcing a Marian timeout. The Knights slowed down the UIndy attack and both teams went into the break tied at 34 each. UIndy came into today's game 10th in the country in field goal percentage, the Greyhounds stayed steady to their season average (47.2%) by shooting 50% from the field in the opening half.
 
The Hounds and Marian went back and forth early in the second half, Taylor Drury scored a layup for UIndy to give them a two-point advantage, then the Knights started to pull away. UIndy trailed by six in the third before tying the game with a pair of Laura Thomas free throws to tie the game heading into the fourth. Marian pulled away in the fourth quarter, out-scoring UIndy 24-9 in the fourth quarter. Marian shot 75% from the field in the final period, holding UIndy to just around 20% to close out the game.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
-Taylor Drury made three treys today for UIndy, it was her sixth game of the season where she has made at least three triples in a game.
-The Hounds went 10-of-12 from the free throw line against Marian, their 83.3% from the stripe is their second-highest percentage in a game this season.
-UIndy owns the all-time series over Marian 9-2.
 
HOUND BYTES
Head coach Kristin Wodrich on the difference on the offensive side and defensive side of the ball in the fourth quarter, "toughness, they were tougher than us today. We are going to have to go back to the drawing board and figure it out for when we start conference play."
 
Wodrich on what to work on before starting conference this Thursday, "toughness, being able to handle pressure, making layups when wide open, making three's when wide open, and buying into what we do defensively. One of my mentors told me you have to adjust, but you have to ask yourself if you need to adjust if they are not doing what we ask. I believe in these kids and I think we will adjust."
 
Wodrich on how to get back to playing winning basketball, "we have to find that fight and that toughness, we will get there."
 
UP NEXT
UIndy gets back into conference play for their second part of their season this Thursday when Quincy visits Nicoson Hall at 5:30 p.m.