INDIANAPOLIS (11-12-23) - Graduate student Imani McNeal had a solid all-around game scoring nine points and grabbing four rebounds while dishing out four assists and matching a career-high with four steals defensively as Detroit Mercy battled but came up short, 68-61, in their first loss of the season at Butler on Sunday night. 

The Titans had two players in double-figures led by junior Emma Trawally Porta who had 10 points hitting a career-best 3-for-3 from the 3-point line while grabbing eight rebounds with a block. Senior Irene Murua also added 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting with nine boards. 

Freshman Paris Gilmore chipped in with nine points going 3-for-4 from the charity stripe. Freshman Makayla Jackson posted seven points with a 3-pointer and 2-for-2 from the free throw line. Sophomore Myonna Hooper also chipped in with seven points hitting 3-for-4 from the charity stripe as the Titans (2-1) went 10-for-18 overall from the line. Sophomore Amaya Burch went 2-for-2 from behind the arc for six points.

It was a game of runs from start to finish as UDM fell behind 13-0 to open the game. the Titans closed out the first quarter on an 8-2 run to climb back to pull within seven points at 15-8.
UDM extended their run to 10-2 to open the second quarter pulling within five points at 10-15 before Butler (1-1) outscored the Titans 15-10 to move back ahead by 10 points, 30-20, by the media time out. Both teams battled evenly the rest of the quarter with the Titans trailing by 11 points at the half, 37-26.

After trailing 39-26 to open the third, the Titans battled back with a 13-0 run to tie the game at 39-39. After a Butler of free throw, McNeal made a driving layup giving UDM its first lead of the game at 41-40. After the Bulldogs went back ahead 42-41, Burch added a 3-pointer moving the Titans ahead 44-42. Butler responded with a 9-2 spurt to lead by five points heading into the fourth. 

Jackson connected on 3-ball stopping the Bulldog run to open the fourth quarter to trail by four points, 53-49. However, Butler once again responded by outscoring the Titans 11-3 to move back ahead by 11 points with three minutes to go.

The Titans turned up the defense and went on an 8-0 run to pull within three points at 64-61 with 35 seconds left and were then forced to foul. Despite not making a field goal for the final three minutes, the Bulldogs made their final four free throws while the Titans couldn't connect on the other end to pull any closer.  

Detroit Mercy continues their six-game road swing with a game at instate rival Michigan State on Thursday, Nov. 16 at 6:30 p.m