#IUWBB Game 21 Preview: Rutgers

THE OPENING TIP
Indiana welcomes Rutgers to Assembly Hall on Wednesday, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. ET to begin a stretch where IU plays five of its next seven games in Bloomington. The game can be heard on WHCC 105.1 FM with Greg Murray on the call. It can also be streamed live on BTN Plus.

Indiana (12-8, 4-4) vs. Rutgers (12-8, 3-5)
Wednesday, Jan. 27 • 7 p.m. ET
Assembly Hall • Bloomington, Ind.
Live Video: BTN Plus
Radio: WHCC 105.1 FM (Greg Murray)

DID YOU KNOW?
• Coming into Wednesday's matchup against Rutgers, the Hoosiers are 8-0 in games played in Assembly Hall this year, making them the only team in the Big Ten with an unblemished home record this season. It is the second time in three years that IU has won its first eight home games of the season.
• With Indiana's win at then-No. 20 Northwestern on Sunday, it gave IU its third victory over a ranked opponent this season, tying for the most wins over ranked foes in a single regular season in program history.
• This year marks the fourth time in program history and the first time in 18 years that Indiana has defeated three ranked opponents during regular season play. IU downed three ranked teams during the regular season schedule previously during 1985-86, 1993-94 and 1997-98.
• The three ranked wins marks the most victories over nationally ranked opponents in a single year since 2001-02 (4 total that year, 2 in B1G Tournament).
• Indiana's 91 points in the win at Northwestern are the second most points ever scored by a Hoosier team against a ranked opponent with the most coming in a 95-86 win over No. 19/18 Northwestern in Assembly Hall on Jan. 26, 1996.
• The point total at NU was also the most points scored in a Big Ten game by an IU team since Jan. 11 2001 (92 vs. Minnesota) and the most points scored in a road conference game since Feb. 16, 1997 (103 at Minnesota).
• Sophomores Amanda Cahill and Tyra Buss both had double-doubles at Northwestern as Cahill finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds with Buss adding 21 points and 10 boards. Cahill has 12 career double-doubles and six on the year as Buss has two career double-double performances.
• Buss has scored in double figures in every game this season and in 24 straight games dating back to last year, the longest such streak for an IU player since Quacy Barnes scored in double digits in 37-consecutive games to end the 1996-97 season and to start 1997-98. Buss leads the team in scoring (18.6 ppg), assists (4.5 apg) and steals (1.9 spg).
• Cahill is averaging 16.1 points and 9.1 rebounds per game in Big Ten games only so far this season, making her one of just four players in the league averaging those totals in conference play.

THE COACHES
Indiana
Teri Moren
Career Record: 226-154 (13th year)
Indiana Record: 27-24 (2nd year)

Rutgers
C. Vivian Stringer
Career Record: 964-359 (45th year)
Rutgers Record: 444-224 (21st year)

RUTGERS AT A GLANCE
Rutgers enters Wednesday's game trying to correct a three game losing skid. The Scarlet Knights are limiting opponents to scoring just 56.2 points per game so far this year, ranking second in the Big Ten in scoring defense. The Rutgers offense goes through junior Tyler Scaife and senior Kahleah Copper. Scaife leads the team with 17.5 points per game while shooting 51.7 percent from the field and 37.7 from 3-point range. Copper adds 16.6 points per contest with a team-leading 8.4 rebounds per game while shooting 49.1 percent overall and 37.2 percent from beyond the arc. Rachel Hollivay will look to disrupt the IU offense as she leads the Big Ten with 3.0 blocks per game.

IU TIES FOR MOST RANKED WINS IN SINGLE REGULAR SEASON IN PROGRAM HISTORY
With Indiana's defeat of then-No. 20 Northwestern on the road on Jan. 24, it gave the 2015-16 Hoosiers their third win over a ranked opponent this season. It marks the first time that IU has downed three ranked teams in the same year since 2001-02 (including Big Ten Tournament games) and it is the first time since 1997-98 that the Hoosiers have won three games over ranked opponents in a single regular season.

The three ranked wins ties for the most victories over ranked foes in a single regular season in program history as IU achieved that feat just three times prior to this year in 1985-86, 1993-94 and 1997-98. It is the sixth time ever in program history that an IU team has defeated three or more nationally ranked teams for an entire season (including Big Ten Tournament and postseason games).

Years of Three or More Wins Over Nationally Ranked Opponents in IU History
1985-86: #20 Kentucky, #16/16 UNLV, #20 Northwestern in regular season
1993-94: #2/2 Iowa, #19/8 Northwestern, #11/12 Iowa in regular season
1996-97: #17/11 Wisconsin, #23/16 Wisconsin in regular season | #24 Purdue in B1G Tourney
1997-98: #8/8 Illinois, #23/24 Purdue, #16/15 Wisconsin in regular season
2001-02: #9/8 Wisconsin, #15/18 Minnesota in regular season | #7/7 Purdue, #23 Penn State in B1G Tourney
2015-16: #24 Chattanooga, #18/18 Michigan State, #20 Northwestern in regular season

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE NORTHWESTERN WIN
IU's 91-84 victory at No. 20 Northwestern from a program historical perspective...
• Indiana's 91 points at Northwestern are the second most points ever scored by a Hoosier team against a ranked opponent, the most on the road against a ranked team, with the most coming in a 95-86 win over No. 19/18 Northwestern in Assembly Hall on Jan. 26, 1996.
• The point total at NU was also the most points scored in a Big Ten game by an IU team since Jan. 11, 2001 (92 vs. Minnesota) and the most points scored in a road conference game since Feb. 16, 1997 (103 at Minnesota).
• IU's 91 points marked the 12th time in program history that Indiana has scored 90 or more points in a Big Ten game.
• The victory gave Indiana its first road victory over a ranked opponent since downing No. 22/21 Michigan State on Dec. 6, 2009 in East Lansing.
• The win gave IU its eighth true road triumph over a ranked opponent in program history and its sixth ranked win in a true road contest in Big Ten games.
• Indiana's 24 assists in the game are the program's most in a Big Ten game since Jan. 11, 2001 when IU dished for 24 dimes in a win over Minnesota.

THE FRIENDLY CONFINES OF ASSEMBLY HALL
Indiana holds an unblemished 8-0 record so far this year in games played inside Assembly Hall, making the Hoosiers the only the team in the Big Ten that has yet to lose at home this season. Home wins this year have been highlighted by knocking off two ranked opponents, winning two games in the Preseason WNIT and defeating Georgia Tech in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.

HOOSIER EFFICIENCY
Indiana shot 50.7 percent from the field in the win at then-No. 20 Northwestern on Jan. 24. It marked the seventh time this season that IU has shot 50 percent or better from the field in a game. That is the most games of shooting 50 percent or better for an IU team in a single year since the Hoosiers shot 50-plus percent in seven games during the 2001-02 season.

COMEBACK KIDS
Six times this season, Indiana has faced late second-half deficits before overcoming them to earn a victory, including four games where IU trailed heading into the fourth quarter.

• Jan. 24 at No. 20 Northwestern*: Indiana faced a seven-point deficit heading into the fourth quarter on the road, 65-58. IU used a 12-2 run while shooting 12-of-16 (75 percent) in the final period to outscore the Wildcats 33-19 in the final 10 minutes to earn the program's first road Big Ten victory in the Teri Moren era.
• Jan. 20 vs. Illinois*: Indiana trailed by 11 with 7:11 to play in the fourth quarter, 62-51. The Hoosiers roared back, outscoring the Illini 17-4 in the game's final 6:55, including an 8-0 run to close the game in the final 3:09. Karlee McBride nailed the go-ahead 3-point field goal with 1:16 to play to put IU in front for good.
• Jan. 3 vs. Michigan*: IU trailed by nine with 5:48 remaining in the fourth quarter, five Hoosiers scored as part of a 12-0 Indiana run to take a 61-58 lead late in regulation. Michigan's Katelynn Flaherty hit a 3-point field goal to force OT before IU outscored the Wolverines 16-8 in the extra period. Indiana scored 12 of its OT points from the free throw line, including the last 10. The Hoosiers outscored Michigan 28-11 in the game's final 10:48.
• Dec. 11 vs. Samford: The Hoosiers trailed by 11 with 4:00 left in the third quarter. IU went on a 17-2 run over a span of 3:56, scoring 13-straight during the stretch to take a four-point lead. In overtime, Indiana outscored Samford 13-4, thanks in part to an 8-0 run by Amanda Cahill by herself to start the OT period.
• Dec. 2 vs. Georgia Tech: Indiana trailed by five with 8:36 to play in the game. IU outscored GT 20-6 in the final 6:37 and held the Yellow Jackets scoreless for the final 4:05 of the game.
• Nov. 17 vs. then-No. 24 Chattanooga*: IU trailed by four with 1:44 left in the third quarter and was behind heading into the fourth quarter. Indiana outscored the Mocs 19-6 in the fourth quarter to take the win.

*Indiana trailed heading into the fourth quarter

GET ON THE BUSS
With her team-leading 21 points at Northwestern, Tyra Buss has scored in double figures in every game this season and in 24 games consecutively dating back to last year, making her the first IU player with such a streak since Quacy Barnes scored in double digits in 37 consecutive games between the end of 1996-97 season and the start of 1997-98. Buss leads Indiana in scoring (18.6 ppg), assists (4.5 apg) and steals (1.9 spg) while playing 37.0 minutes per game (2nd in B1G, 18th nationally) and a Big Ten leading 741 minutes played total (8th nationally).

Buss leads the Big Ten and ranks fifth nationally in free throws made (127) and second nationally in attempts (167). Her 167 free throw attempts rank ninth in Indiana history for most attempts in a single season. She needs to hit 20 more free throws to break into the top six in program history in most free throws made in a single year.

For the year, she has scored 20 or more points in nine contests. Buss was named to the All-Tournament Team of the Florida Sunshine Classic after tallying 28 points against then-No. 23/21 Miami and 23 points vs. West Virginia. During IU's two games in Orlando, Buss shot 15-of-29 from the field (51.7 percent), 5-of-9 from 3-point range (55.6 percent) and 16-of-19 from the charity stripe (84.2 percent).

DOUBLE-DOUBLE VISION
At Northwestern, both Tyra Buss and Amanda Cahill had double-double performances, marking the second time this season that IU has had a pair of players achieve double-doubles in the same game. Cahill and Alexis Gassion each had a double-double in the win over Samford on Dec. 11.

At NU, Buss had 21 points and added a season-high 10 rebounds for her second career double-double performance. Cahill tied her career-high of 20 points to go along with 11 boards for her sixth double-double of the season and 12th of her career. In the Samford game, Cahill had 19 points with 11 rebounds as Gassion finished with 13 points and 13 boards.

CLOSING THE DOOR
The Hoosiers have had a trend of closing the door when needed in a number of wins this year. Indiana outscored Northwestern 33-19 in the fourth quarter on Jan. 24 using a 12-2 run during period. The Hoosiers nailed 12-of-16 field goals (75 percent) in the final period to take the road conference win.

IU outscored Illinois 17-4 in the game's final 6:55, including an 8-0 run to end the game to upend the Illini on Jan. 20. Indiana limited Illinois to 2-of-10 from the field in the last six minutes of the game and held the Illini without a field goal for the final 3:17. IU outscored Illinois 18-10 in the fourth quarter.

Indiana used a 12-0 run and outscored Michigan 28-11 in the final 10:34 of the game (regulation and OT) to earn a 77-69 victory in Assembly Hall on Jan. 3.

The Hoosiers defeated Samford in overtime on Dec. 11 using a 17-2 run (including 13-straight points) late in the second half and then outscored the Bulldogs 13-4 in OT.

IU downed Georgia Tech on Dec. 2 to give Indiana its fourth-straight win in Big Ten/ACC Challenge games. The Hoosiers closed the game with a 12-2 run over the final 4:20 of the contest, holding Georgia Tech scoreless for the final 4:05 of the game. Indiana outscored Georgia Tech 20-6 over the final 6:37 of the game. Indiana trailed by as many as five points in the fourth quarter.

Indiana also had strong finishes in wins over then-No. 24 Chattanooga on Nov. 17 and vs. Austin Peay on Nov. 28. Against UTC, IU trailed heading into the fourth quarter, but finished the game strong, using a 12-0 run to help outscore the Mocs 19-6 in the final period to earn the win. In the Austin Peay game, the Hoosiers led by only five at the half, but came out scorching in the third quarter, shooting 70.4 percent for the half and outscored the Governors in the third period alone, 34-11, to put the game out of reach.

CLIMBING TO THE CA-HILL TOP
Amanda Cahill is turning into a double-double machine as the sophomore has achieved five double-doubles in the last nine games to total six on the year and 12 for her career. Her last double-double performance came in the win at Northwestern last out as she tied her career-high of 20 points to go with 11 rebounds.

In Big Ten games only, Cahill is averaging 16.1 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, making her one of only four players in the conference to average those numbers in league play so far. For the year, she is averaging 14.4 points (23rd in B1G) and a team-leading 8.0 rebounds per game (9th) with 1.4 steals per contest. She is shooting 52.0 percent (13th) from the field while leading the team in shooting 40.4 percent (T-9th) from 3-point range and 77.6 percent (12th) from the free throw line.

Cahill has scored in double figures in all but two games this year, including the last 13 consecutively, and has had seven or more rebounds in every game but three. She was one of six players named to the All-Preseason WNIT Team at the conclusion of the tournament on Nov. 22. Cahill scored in double figures in all three games for the Hoosiers in the tournament and led IU in rebounding in every contest.

REBOUNDS = Ws
Indiana outrebounded Northwestern 43-36 in the road victory in Evanston on Jan. 20. It marked the eighth time this season that the Hoosiers had outrebounded an opponent. IU is currently 7-1 in games in which it outrebounds its foe as Indiana picked up other wins winning that category against Tennessee State, Chattanooga, at IPFW, Samford, Yale and Michigan.

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Players Mentioned

Tyra Buss

Amanda Cahill

Alexis Gassion

Karlee McBride