The University girls played their first game in 25 days Tuesday night and dropped a 55-49 decision to a tough Indianapolis Homeschool Wildcats squad.
The Wildcats jumped out to an 11-2 lead in the first three minutes of the game before the Trailblazers found their bearings. Baskets by Sierra Hinds, Kamryn Washington, Kelsey DuBois and Payton Seay along with a pair of Hinds free throws pulled the Trailblazers within 14-12. After two Wildcats foul shots, DuBois scored again off an Arrion Sherrod assist to have the Trailblazers within 16-14 after the first quarter.
The first quarter set the tone for the rest of the game. The Wildcats would jump out to a three-possession lead, the Trailblazers would rally back. But University was never able to climb the mountain to a tie score as the Wildcats repulsed every University rally.
After a Washington basket got University within 23-20 midway through the second quarter, the Wildcats ran off eight straight points before another Washington basket made it 31-22 at the half.
The Wildcats built a 41-28 lead with two minutes remaining in the third quarter before the Blazers climbed back in the game again. Seay converted two free throws then followed with a steal and lay-in. Two foul shots from DuBois cut the lead to 41-34 after three.
A DuBois basket and two foul shots from Seay cut the lead to five. Back-to-back scores from DuBois had University within 47-43 with 3:32 remaining, however the Trailblazers didn’t score for the next three minutes as the Wildcats pushed the lead back out to 10.
DuBois led University (8-2) with 22 points and seven rebounds. Hinds had 12 points. Seay had nine points and four assists with Washington finishing with six points.
Gloria Brewer had 26 for the Wildcats, who improved to 16-3, including an 8-1 mark against IHSAA competition. The Wildcats outrebounded University 33-21 and had 14 offensive rebounds.
University will attempt to win its third consecutive Pioneer Conference championship Saturday when it travels to Greenwood Christian for the PAAC championship game. Tipoff is 3:30 p.m. The game will be streamed by IndianaSRN.
INDPLS. HOMESCHOOL 55, UNIVERSITY 49
University FG FT TP PF
Kelsey DuBois 8-11 4-6 22 4
Sierra Hinds 4-10 2-2 12 4
Kamryn Washington 3-4 0-0 6 1
Payton Seay 2-8 5-6 9 1
Abby Hannon 0-1 0-0 0 1
Jordan Patterson 0-4 0-0 0 1
Arrion Sherrod 0-2 0-0 0 3
Totals 17-40 11-14 49 15
Score by Quarters
IHS Wildcats 16 15 10 14 – 55
University 14 8 12 15 – 49
University 3-point shooting (4-11) Hinds 2-5, DuBois 2-2, Patterson 0-2, Sherrod 0-2.
University rebounds (21) DuBois 7, Hannon 3, Hinds 2, Patterson 2, Sherrod 2, Seay 1, team 4.