Prior to the start of Tuesday’s Senior Night festivities at The U Center, University coach Justin Blanding and athletic director John Walls had a surprise presentation to make.
The pair announced that University was retiring senior Lindsey Syrek’s number 10 and made a presentation of a framed jersey to the 6-1 forward who is University’s all-time leader in scoring (1,773 points), rebounds (1,136) and blocked shots (445). Syrek was University’s first Indiana Junior All-Star and the school’s first Division I basketball scholarship recipient. She will play next year at the New Jersey Institute of Technology
Syrek scored 16 points and had 11 rebounds and five blocked shots as the Class 2A No. 2 Trailblazers improved to 21-0 with a gritty 54-35 win over Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter. Freshman Payton Seay had 13 points and classmate Kelsey DuBois had eight points and 10 rebounds. Sierra Hinds had eight points.
The Trailblazers got off to a fast start, scoring the first 10 points of the game. Syrek had six of those points and Hinds had four. University scored four points in five seconds late in the period on two more Patterson free throws and two foul shots from Seay after she stole the ball near midcourt. The Trailblazers led 18-11 at the end of the first period.
Ritter scored on a pair of offensive rebounds early in the second quarter to pull within 18-15 before the University defense clamped down and held the Raiders to just two points over the next six minutes. Jordan Patterson started the Blazer run with a pair of foul shots before two DuBois baskets made the lead 24-15. Seay scored University’s last seven points and the Trailblazers took a 31-19 halftime lead.
University held Ritter scoreless for close to four minutes to start the second half as baskets by DuBois, Maddi Sears and Syrek pushed the lead to 39-21. The Trailblazers led 43-27 after the third quarter and outscored Ritter 11-8 in the fourth quarter to close out the win.
Emma Litzleman had 15 points for Cardinal Ritter. The Raiders are 13-8 on the season.
University will close the season Thursday night at Tri-West against the 16-5 Class 3A Bruins.
UNIVERSITY 54, CARDINAL RITTER 35
University FG FT TP PF
Lindsey Syrek 7-17 2-3 16 2
Peyton Seay 4-8 4-5 13 0
Kelsey DuBois 4-10 0-4 8 0
Sierra Hinds 4-5 0-2 8 3
Maddi Sears 2-5 0-0 5 2
Jordan Patterson 0-2 4-4 4 0
Lilly Fair 0-0 0-0 0 1
Elise Nachlis 0-0 0-0 0 0
Totals 21-47 10-18 54 8
Score by Quarters
Cardinal Ritter 11 8 8 8 – 35
University 18 13 8 15 – 54
University 3-point shooting (2-4) Sears 1-2, Seay 1-1, Syrek 0-1.
University rebounds (28) Syrek 11, DuBois 10, Sears 4, Seay 2, Hinds 1.