University kicked off Sectional 58 play emphatically Tuesday night, defeating Indianapolis Metropolitan 90-23 to advance to the semi-final round.
Senior Natalie Nickless scored straight off the opening tip for the host Trailblazers (16-7), who never looked back, leading by 15 at the quarter and 35 at halftime. Sophomore Lindsey Syrek scored the next eight points for University — six of them on put-backs — as the Trailblazers opened a 10-2 lead that would swell to 25-9 after the end of the first quarter.
The onslaught continued in the second frame, as the Trailblazers allowed just three points, stretching their advantage to 48-12 at halftime. Syrek led the way in the first half, scoring 14 of her 26, while Nickless scored all eight of her points before the break. University continued to keep its foot down in the third, outscoring the Pumas (7-15) by a 30-9 margin in the quarter to lead 77-21 after three.
Syrek stuffed the stat sheet, adding 15 rebounds (eight offensive) and six blocks to her game-high 26-point night, but it was a total team effort from University — junior Lily Snyder broke out for a season-high 18 points, while Lilly Fair chipped in 11, a career high for the sophomore forward. Junior Jhordan McGuire was the fourth Trailblazer in double figures, scoring 12. A trio of McGuire’s classmates rounded out the scoring: Brooke Andrus had eight, Haley Tomlinson scored six, and Hallie Harrison hit a free throw.
University returns to action for the Sectional 58 semi-final at 7:30 p.m. Friday night against the Indiana School of the Deaf. The Trailblazers defeated the Orioles 62-37 on Dec. 14.
University 90,
Metropolitan 23
University FG FT TP
Lindsey Syrek 12 2-6 26
Brooke Andrus 4 0-0 8
Lily Snyder 9 0-0 18
Lilly Fair 5 1-2 11
Jhordan McGuire 5 2-2 12
Lucy Snyder 0 0-0 0
Haley Tomlinson 3 0-0 6
Hallie Harrison 0 1-2 1
Natalie Nickless 4 0-0 8
Elise Nachlis 0 0-0 0
Ana Turner 0 0-0 0
Brooke Toombs 0 0-0 0
Totals 42 6-12 90
Score by Quarters
Metropolitan 9 3 9 2 – 23
University 24 23 30 13 – 90