Lourdes wrapped up the first half of Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference play on Wednesday evening, dropping a 72-60 decision to 23^rd-ranked Indiana Tech inside the Russell J. Ebeid Recreation Center.
 
"We are pleased with the step up in our defensive efforts and communication tonight," head coach Tandy Bradford said afterwards.  "We want that to be a standard that is consistent and helps drive us through the second half."
 
Indiana Tech scored eight of the game's first 10 points and never trailed in the contest.  The Gray Wolves were within four late in the opening stanza before the Warriors scored the final four points of the frame to take a 19-11 into the second.
 
Lourdes closed to within four, 23-19, on an Emma Pedroza (Napoleon, Ohio/Napoleon H.S.) jumper with 7:17 to play before halftime but the Warriors scored the next nine points to push the lead to 13.  The Gray Wolves would cut into the lead late though and pulled to withing eight, 36-28, at the break.
 
After the Gray Wolves scored the first basket in the third, Indiana Tech used a 12-5 run to extend the lead back to 13 late in the quarter.  The Warriors would lead by as many as 14, 59-45, with 7:42 to play before Lourdes battled back.  An 11-4 run pulled the hosts to within seven with 3:42 remaining, but the Gray Wolves would not get any closer.
 
Macie Stringfellow (Perrysburg, Ohio/Perrysburg H.S.) led Lourdes with 17 points on 8-of-12 shooting while Shae Pedroza (Napoleon, Ohio/Napoleon H.S.) added 15 points.  Emma Pedroza finished with 10 points.
 
Erika Foy led Indiana Tech (14-3, 11-0 WHAC) with 24 points while Genevieve Decker finished with a double-double, 14 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Lourdes (5-11, 3-8) remains home on Saturday afternoon as the Gray Wolves entertain Michigan-Dearborn.  Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. inside the Ebeid Rec Center.