Indiana University Athletics
#IUWBB Game 20 Preview: at Michigan State
1/27/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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GAME 20
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THE OPENING TIP
Indiana hits the road to take on Michigan State inside the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Mich. on Wednesday, Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. ET. The game can be heard online at IUHoosiers.com with Greg Murray on the call. The contest is also available as a live web broadcast on BTN Plus.
DID YOU KNOW?
• Indiana and Michigan State are meeting for the second time this season as the Hoosiers defeated the Spartans, 70-51, in Assembly Hall on Dec. 31.
• So far in 2014-15, all but two points of IU’s point production have come from either freshmen or sophomores, accounting for 99.9 percent of Indiana’s total points this year.
• Over the last five games, IU shot 84.1 percent (69-of-82) from the free throw line. In Indiana’s two games last week, the Hoosiers shot at least 24 free throws in each game and hit 45-of-53 (84.9 percent).
• In the second half against then-No. 7/6 Maryland, the Hoosiers shot 56.3 percent (18-of-32) from the field. That was IU’s best shooting percentage in a half this season against a Big Ten opponent.
• Indiana is one of just two Big Ten teams and three total to score at least 74 points against the Terrapins this season. Coming into the game, Maryland was allowing only 58.6 points per game to opponents.
• IU outscored Maryland in points in the paint, 42-34, and in points off turnovers, 25-11. The Hoosiers forced the Terrapins into 18 turnovers in the game, the second most in a game by Maryland in Big Ten play.
• The Hoosiers dished for 18 assists against Maryland, marking the eighth time this year that IU has had 18 or more assists in a game. Seven times this season, Indiana has had 20 assists or more in a game, the most for an IU team in a single year since 2005-06.
• Since being inserted into the starting lineup over the last four games, Alexis Gassion has averaged 13.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 1.5 blocks per game during that span. She scored 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds in both of Indiana’s games last week (Penn State and Maryland).
• In her last four games, freshman Tyra Buss has scored in double figures three times while shooting 54.8 percent from the field, 36.4 percent from 3-point range and 81.8 percent from the free throw line during that stretch. Buss leads IU in scoring (12.4 ppg) and steals (2.6 spg).
• Sophomore Larryn Brooks has scored in double figures in 14 games this year. She leads the team in assists (4.2 apg) and 3-point field goals made and is second in scoring (12.0 ppg) while shooting 81.6 percent from the free throw line.
THE COACHES
Indiana
Teri Moren
Career Record: 211-137 (12th year)
Indiana record: 12-7 (1st year)
Michigan State
Suzy Merchant
Career Record: 374-202 (20th year)
Michigan State Record: 172-82 (8th year)
MICHIGAN STATE AT A GLANCE
Indiana defeated Michigan State on Dec. 31, 70-51, in Assembly Hall. In that game, MSU’s Aerial Powers finished with a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds as Tori Jankoska scored 19 points with seven boards, three steals and a block. Powers has been dominant in Big Ten play for the Spartans as she is averaging 24.0 points and 12.1 rebounds per game in conference games. For the season, she leads the team in scoring, rebounding, steals, blocks and assists. Jankoska averages 16.6 points per game and is MSU’s main outside threat as she leads the team in 3-point shooting. Becca Mills tallies 10.4 points and 7.1 rebounds per game while shooting 50.3 percent from the field. The Spartans are coming off a home win over Wisconsin on Jan. 25.
YOUNG GUNS GETTING IT DONE
So far in 2014-15, all but two points of Indiana’s point production have come from either freshmen or sophomores. The first and second-year players have accounted for 99.9 percent of IU’s point production this season. The same can be said about nearly every statistical category as Hoosier freshmen and sophomores have accounted for all but 22 total minutes played this season. IU has had four freshmen, six sophomores and one walk-on senior see playing time this year. Due to injuries, no juniors have played yet this season for Indiana.
ROAD TRIP HOOSIERS
Indiana is in the midst of a stretch where it plays three out of four contests on the road. The stretch began at Minnesota on Jan. 18 before Thursday’s game at Penn State. IU hosted Maryland on Jan. 25 before it heads to East Lansing to take on Michigan State on Jan. 28.
The Hoosiers end the regular season playing eight of 13 contests away from Assembly Hall. That includes the final stretch of games where IU plays four out of five contests on the road to end the regular season schedule. Indiana is one of four Big Ten schools that have a five-game span with four on the road along with Illinois, Iowa and Purdue.
HIT THE GASSION PEDAL
Sophomore Alexis Gassion has started in each of the last four games and has averaged 13.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 1.5 blocks during that span, including back-to-back 18-point, nine-rebound performances at Penn State and against then-No. 7/6 Maryland. Last week at PSU, Gassion shot 16-of-18 from the free throw line and tied her season high of three steals. Against the Terrapins, she shot 8-of-14 from the field with two steals and a season-high three blocks. The Fairborn, Ohio, native has led the Hoosiers in rebounds in each of the last four contests, grabbing eight or more in each game.
For the year, Gassion is averaging 7.8 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. In 2013-14, Gassion started in 32 contests and was IU’s second leading scorer (8.8 ppg) and rebounder (5.5 rpg).
THE BUSS IS ROLLING
Freshman Tyra Buss has scored in double-figures in 14 games this season and currently leads the team in scoring (12.4 ppg) and steals (2.6 spg) while adding 4.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. In her last four games, Buss has scored in double figures three times while shooting 54.8 percent from the field, 36.4 percent from 3-point range and 81.8 percent from the free throw line during that stretch. She has had four or more assists (including 6 twice) in each of the last five games.
Buss is second among freshmen nationally in steals. The Mt. Carmel, Ill., native has had three or more steals in nine games and has totaled 49 steals so far this year. Her 49 thefts are the most by an Indiana player since 2010-11 (Jori Davis, 52).
HITTING THE FREE ONES
As of late, Indiana has taken advantage of getting to the free throw line as the Hoosiers have went to the line at least 20 times in six of the last eight games. Over the last five contests, the Indiana shot 84.1 percent (69-of-82) from the free throw line. In their two games last week, the Hoosiers went to the line at least 24 times in each contest and shot 45-of-53 from the charity stripe, good for 84.9 percent against both Penn State and then-No. 7/6 Maryland.
Indiana hit 25-of-29 (86.2 percent) free throws at Penn State on Jan. 22. That total is the most free throws made by any Big Ten team in conference play this season.
CLIMBING TO THE CA-HILL TOP
Freshman Amanda Cahill has recorded five double-doubles this year, the most by an Indiana player in a single year since 2008-09 (Whitney Thomas, 10). For the year, Cahill is averaging 11.1 points and 8.3 rebounds per game while shooting 49.7 percent from the field. Cahill has scored in double figures in 13 games this year and has collected 10 rebounds or more in eight contests to become the first player with eight games of 10+ rebounds in the same season since Thomas in 2008-09.
WALTER IS GOING ON
Freshman Jess Walter continues to improve as her rookie year progresses. She has scored in double figures in four of the last six games while shooting 43.3 percent (13-of-30) from beyond the arc during that span. Last Thursday at Penn State, Walter nailed 4-of-7 3-point field goals and finished with 14 points and four assists.
For the year, Walter is averaging 7.3 points per game off the bench (one start) for the Hoosiers. She has scored in double figures in seven games this season and is shooting 40.3 percent from 3-point range and 85 percent from the free throw line.
LARRYN LIGHTING IT UP
Indiana sophomore Larryn Brooks continues to be a leader for the Hoosiers. For the year, Brooks has scored in double figures in 14 contests and is averaging 12.0 points, 4.2 assists (9th in B1G), 2.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. Brooks finished with 11 points and five assists while shooting 6-of-6 from the free throw line against then-No. 7/6 Maryland last time out.
Brooks had one of the most productive seasons by any freshman in the history of the program last year. She broke the IU freshman scoring record, tallying 554 points (7th on school single season list), breaking a 34-year-old freshman record held by Dorothy Reffel who scored 454 points in 1979-80. She was the first freshman in program history to ever eclipse 500 points in a season. Brooks also set freshman marks for 3-pointers made with 67 (T-4th), assists with 154 (3rd) and free throws made with 129. Brooks led the Hoosiers in scoring (16.3 ppg), field goals made (179), 3-point field goals made, 3-point field goal percentage (.379), free throws made, free throw percentage (.832) and assists.
Brooks earned Second Team All-Big Ten and Big Ten All-Freshman Team honors last season. She was the first Hoosier to earn second team all-conference honors since 2011 (Jori Davis) and just the fifth freshman ever at IU to be named to the conference’s all-freshman squad and the first since 2006 (Whitney Thomas).
JENN BECOMING A GEM
After averaging just 6.5 minutes per game in 16 appearances a year ago, sophomore Jenn Anderson has started in each game this year and has made her presence known so far in 2014-15. Against then No. 7/6 Maryland last time out, Anderson finished with 12 points, four rebounds and a steal.
Anderson is fifth in the Big Ten in field goal percentage as she is shooting 56.9 percent while averaging 9.9 points per game. She has scored in double-figures in 10 games this year. In Big Ten play, Anderson is connecting on 85.7 percent of her free throw attempts.
MICROWAVE MCBRIDE
Sophomore Karlee McBride has stepped up her game in 2014-15 as she leads Indiana’s bench in scoring with 7.5 points per game. Last week at Penn State, she tallied 13 points on 4-of-6 shooting. McBride has scored in double figures seven times this season. She has tallied a career-high 15 points twice this year and has hit multiple 3-point field goals in six contests.
Media Contact: Ryan Sheets, rmsheets@indiana.edu
