INDIANAPOLIS – The Maryville women's basketball team put the defensive clams down at Indianapolis and posted a 56-47 win Thursday evening in Nicoson Hall. The victory gives the Saints their best record after seven games in program history with a 6-1 mark. The Maryville defense forced UIndy into 25 turnovers in a game that had 71 possessions. The Saints only allowed the Greyhounds to make 16 field goals and held the hosts to 1-of-16 shooting from beyond the arc. The Saints defense has held three straight opponents under 50 points.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Saints led after the first quarter but opened up their lead in the second. Lindsey Schadewalt made one free throw before Annika Pluemer sank a pair at the stripe. UIndy closed to 13-11 before Liz Behan converted two at the line. Hadley Crosier had a three-point play as the Saints pushed to an 18-11 margin. Two more at the free-throw line by Alicia Burgos built a 20-13 lead but the Greyhounds scored at the buzzer to cut the Maryville lead to 20-15 at halftime. The Saints held UIndy to single digits in scoring the first two quarters and just over 20 percent shooting.
 
Gracie Gopalan opened the third quarter with a 3-pointer. UIndy inched closer but Burgos posted up for a bucket, and Pluemer hit a deep, step back triple for the Saints. After a Greyhound free throw, Behan's bucket pushed the Saints on top by double digits at 32-22 midway through the quarter. Following a defensive stop, Crosier drove the lane and hit a leaning jumper for Maryville's largest lead of the night at 34-22. UIndy cut the gap to four before two free throws by Gopalan and a late layup by Schadewalt handed the Saints a 38-33 lead after three.
 
In the fourth, Schadewalt converted two buckets to give the Saints some breathing room at 42-35. Maryville used a quick 6-1 burst as Gopalan scored on a drive before Schadewalt tallied four straight points as the lead reached double figures again, 48-38 with 5:39 to play. UIndy tried to make a run but Bree Shannon and Burgos had the answers. Shannon sank two free throws in the final minutes to put the game out of reach.
 
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Points: Lindsey Schadewalt - 15
Rebounds: Alicia Burgos - 10
Assists: Annika Pluemer - 5
3-Pointers: three players - 1
Steals: Annika Pluemer - 3
Blocked Shots: Alicia Burgos - 3
 
RECORDS
Maryville: 6-1, 2-0 GLVC
Indianapolis: 0-7, 0-2 GLVC
 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Saints remain on the road and head to Illinois Springfield for a 1 p.m. contest in the TRAC Saturday, Dec. 6.