Indiana University Athletics
IU Winning Games Defensively
2/8/2016 10:44:00 AM | Women's Basketball
By: Sam Beishuizen, IUHoosiers.com | Twitter
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Nebraska's struggles in a 59-47 loss to Indiana Sunday afternoon could be summed up in one 12-second stretch near the end of the third quarter.
First there was junior center Jenn Anderson stripping a helpless Allie Havers in the post for one of the Cornhuskers' 26 turnovers.
After forcing an Indiana miss in transition, Nebraska's Natalie Romeo—the nation's leader in 3-pointers made per game—airmailed a wide open trey from the corner. She ended up missing all seven of her attempts from the perimeter.
It was that kind of day for the Cornhuskers, and they had the Hoosiers' defense to blame.
"Defensively, we did a tremendous job," head coach Teri Moren said. "On a day that we didn't shoot the ball with terrific accuracy, I thought that our defense was the reason why we got the good win today."
Indiana's defensive performance against Nebraska was one of the best single-game performances the program has put together this season and certainly among one of the most complete defensive performances against a Big Ten team.
When asked about her team's play, Moren said holding Michigan State to 65 points a few weeks earlier stood out as a better all-around performance, but Sunday's defensive stand wasn't far behind.
The Hoosiers (15-9, 7-5) held Nebraska to just 36 percent shooting on 16 fewer shots using an uncharacteristic zone for 40 minutes. It was a frustrating outing for the Cornhuskers, who couldn't get much of anything going on the offensive end and suffered just their second loss in nine games.
"Just to sum it up—the communication," sophomore forward Amanda Cahill said. "I think that's what really helped us to make sure we were all on the same page."
Perhaps nowhere was Indiana's defensive pressure evident more than on Nebraska freshman center Jessica Shepard. The Big Ten's fifth-leading scorer at 20.4 points per game finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds but seemingly never found a consistent rhythm against Indiana junior center Jenn Anderson.
Shepard was near the top of the Nebraska scouting report heading into the game after being the catalyst for Nebraska's scoring throughout the season in her first college season. She's ranked among one of the best post players in the country, having been named to the Naismith Trophy Watch, and was the Big Ten's Preseason Freshman of the Year.
Anderson wasn't going to stop her—nobody has been able to all season—but she did manage to slow her down. Shepard had 11 turnovers and missed more shots (9) than she made (8).
"We knew we had to make every possession tough on her," Anderson said. "Without her, I think they were just kind of a different offensive team. They got different looks and they didn't have as much of an inside presence."
Indiana's offense isn't always going to be there to win games. Few teams in college basketball are that consistent.
But unlike recent Indiana teams, a bad offensive night doesn't necessarily spell disaster for the Hoosiers. Their commitment to getting more consistent on the defensive end under Moren in her second season has continued to pay dividends.
And as the Big Ten schedule continues to toughen up, it won't be getting any easier.
"Is it something that we need to continue? Absolutely," Moren said. "Because again, I go back to the nights where your shots aren't falling."
And on those nights, it's up to the defense to make the difference.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Nebraska's struggles in a 59-47 loss to Indiana Sunday afternoon could be summed up in one 12-second stretch near the end of the third quarter.
First there was junior center Jenn Anderson stripping a helpless Allie Havers in the post for one of the Cornhuskers' 26 turnovers.
After forcing an Indiana miss in transition, Nebraska's Natalie Romeo—the nation's leader in 3-pointers made per game—airmailed a wide open trey from the corner. She ended up missing all seven of her attempts from the perimeter.
It was that kind of day for the Cornhuskers, and they had the Hoosiers' defense to blame.
"Defensively, we did a tremendous job," head coach Teri Moren said. "On a day that we didn't shoot the ball with terrific accuracy, I thought that our defense was the reason why we got the good win today."
Indiana's defensive performance against Nebraska was one of the best single-game performances the program has put together this season and certainly among one of the most complete defensive performances against a Big Ten team.
When asked about her team's play, Moren said holding Michigan State to 65 points a few weeks earlier stood out as a better all-around performance, but Sunday's defensive stand wasn't far behind.
The Hoosiers (15-9, 7-5) held Nebraska to just 36 percent shooting on 16 fewer shots using an uncharacteristic zone for 40 minutes. It was a frustrating outing for the Cornhuskers, who couldn't get much of anything going on the offensive end and suffered just their second loss in nine games.
"Just to sum it up—the communication," sophomore forward Amanda Cahill said. "I think that's what really helped us to make sure we were all on the same page."
Perhaps nowhere was Indiana's defensive pressure evident more than on Nebraska freshman center Jessica Shepard. The Big Ten's fifth-leading scorer at 20.4 points per game finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds but seemingly never found a consistent rhythm against Indiana junior center Jenn Anderson.
Shepard was near the top of the Nebraska scouting report heading into the game after being the catalyst for Nebraska's scoring throughout the season in her first college season. She's ranked among one of the best post players in the country, having been named to the Naismith Trophy Watch, and was the Big Ten's Preseason Freshman of the Year.
Anderson wasn't going to stop her—nobody has been able to all season—but she did manage to slow her down. Shepard had 11 turnovers and missed more shots (9) than she made (8).
"We knew we had to make every possession tough on her," Anderson said. "Without her, I think they were just kind of a different offensive team. They got different looks and they didn't have as much of an inside presence."
Indiana's offense isn't always going to be there to win games. Few teams in college basketball are that consistent.
But unlike recent Indiana teams, a bad offensive night doesn't necessarily spell disaster for the Hoosiers. Their commitment to getting more consistent on the defensive end under Moren in her second season has continued to pay dividends.
And as the Big Ten schedule continues to toughen up, it won't be getting any easier.
"Is it something that we need to continue? Absolutely," Moren said. "Because again, I go back to the nights where your shots aren't falling."
And on those nights, it's up to the defense to make the difference.
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