HAMMOND, IN. – The Greyhounds and Pride battled in a double overtime thriller on Saturday afternoon that saw 20 ties, 16 lead changes, and Purdue Northwest come out on top 84-77.

The last time UIndy played to at least double overtime was in a contest against Purdue Northwest in 2021, but that clash between the two sides needed triple overtime to determine a winner.

Autumn Rucker and Patricia Chikamba lit up the box score today, each knocking down eight shots, and finished the game with 23 and 24 points, respectively. Rucker's 23 points surpass her previous career high of 18 that she set earlier this season against Ursuline.

HOW IT HAPPENED
After the Hounds took a 17-15 lead after quarter one, UIndy used some stout defense to push its lead out to seven headed to the break. Purdue Northwest was held scoreless the final 5:49 of the second quarter, while the Greyhounds went on an 8-0 run, fueled by a Graycie Poe and Ruby Garner three.

The Pride slowly chipped into the Hounds' lead, cutting it to four points after three quarters, setting up for an exciting finish.

UIndy extended its lead back up six with 2:56 on the clock in regulation, with Rucker gathering 11 of her 23 points in the fourth. Purdue Northwest finished regulation on a 10-4 run capped by a Riley Milausnic three with 36 seconds left to knot the game at 62. Rucker had a look to capture the Hounds' first win, but was unsuccessful, sending the game to overtime.

The first overtime was a tale of two runs, with the Pride using a 9-0 run to push its lead out to seven with 2:45 left, but the Greyhounds responded with a 7-0 run to square the game at 71 with 39 seconds to go, and fueled by the scoring trio of Amyrah Sapenter, Chikamba and Rucker. Both teams had chances in the final three seconds to win the game, but came up short on both ends, sending the game to a second overtime.

The Greyhounds took an early 73-71 lead in double overtime after bucket from Kylah Lawson, but the Pride utilized a perfect 4-4 from the field shooting effort, and a 13-4 run over the final 3:50 to conclude this back-and-forth affair, with an 84-77 win for Purdue Northwest.

INSIDE THE BOX
- Garner started her first game for the Greyhounds this season, scoring seven points, and securing seven boards in 30 minutes.
- Sapenter played a career high 45 minutes in today's contest. 45 minutes are the most minutes played by a Greyhound since Taylor Drury played 46 minutes in 2018 against Grand Valley State.
- Chikamba went a perfect 8-8 from the charity stripe tonight, marking the first time she's gone perfect from the line on at least eight free throw attempts.
- The Greyhounds scored 21 bench points tonight, and held the Pride to only two points from their bench.

UP NEXT
UIndy returns home in search of the team's first win, and will have two opportunities to do so at home this week against Findlay on Tuesday Dec 16, and Ohio Dominican on Thursday Dec. 18.