Indiana University
9-3
Florida
7-4
Starters Guide IU Women’s Basketball to 102-88 Victory over Florida at Florida Sunshine Classic
12/20/2016 10:23:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Junior guard Tyra Buss posted her second-ever 30-plus point game with a game-high 35 points paired with five assists, a steal and a block. She led the entire starting five to score in double figures, including a new season-high 21 points for junior forward Amanda Cahill who finished the night with a double-double as she added a team-high 10 points.
Buss made her living on Tuesday night at the free throw line as she went 19-for-20 from the line – all in the first half – as she set new single game records at Indiana and in Big Ten. Her 19 made free throws are the second-most in a single game in the NCAA this season. She also reached another career mark as her 11 points in the first quarter were enough to help her to 49th consecutive double-figure scoring game which ties the all-time school record held by Karna Abram from 1984-85 and 1985-86.
Senior guard Alexis Gassion added 15 points along with a season-high eight assists and added six rebounds to go along with a block and a steal. Senior forward Jenn Anderson also added 12 points while senior guard Karlee McBride also added 11 points in the victory.
Collectively, Indiana's night was made at the line, shooting 93.8 percent in the win and the fifth-best single game performance from the charity stripe in school history going 30-for-32. IU also shot 48.4 percent from the field in the win – its first victory over Florida (7-4) since 1981 and second win over an SEC school this season.
Freshman guard Ria Gulley and Cahill helped open the IU lead with back-to-back three pointers to go up 14-7 with 5:41 to play in the first quarter as Florida called a timeout. Indiana made itself at home at the free throw line in the opening period, going 14-for14 in the first 10 minutes in thanks to an 8-for-8 performance from Buss. It helped IU to a 34-17 lead after one quarter as Buss laid on five more free throws to open the second quarter.
It was Buss again who helped the Hoosiers double up the Gators after one of her two triples on the night and added another pair at the line to go up 51-25 with 3:57 to play. IU go into the locker room at the half up 57-32, the most points scored in a half this season.
Back-to-back threes by McBride opened up the third quarter but IU went cold from the field for the next 3:12 as Florida went on an 8-3 run. Anderson and Buss responded with back-to-back buckets with 4:12 to play. IU would finish off the third on a 10-3 run to take an 83-58 advantage headed into the fourth quarter. Florida would win the final quarter, 30-19, but it wasn't enough as Indiana held on for the 14-point victory.
NOTES
· With her 11 first quarter points, junior guard Tyra Buss tied the school record of consecutive double-figure scoring games with 49. She ties Karna Abram who scored 49 consecutive double-figure games between 1984-85 and 1985-86. Buss finished the game with 35 points including a 19-for-20 clip from the free throw line.
· Buss also broke the IU and Big Ten single game records for free throws made with her 19-for-20 performance. IU's previous record stood at 17 (Jori Davis, 2011) and the Big Ten record previously stood at 18 (Kelsey Mitchell, 2016 and Carol Szczechowski, 1990).
· Buss's 19 made free throws in a single game are the second-most by any player in the NCAA this season (Larissa Larkin, 22).
· Her 35 points scored in Tuesday's win are also the eighth most in a single game in school history.
· Buss also moved up on the all-time scoring list, eclipsing 1,200 career points as she now sits with a career total of 1,224 (No. 16 all-time).
· Junior forward Amanda Cahill recorded her 22nd career double-double with 21 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
· Cahill moves closer to reaching the 1,000 point mark with her 21 points on Tuesday night. She now holds 986 career points – just 14 points shy of becoming the 26th member of the IU 1,000 point club.
· IU's 57 first half points were the most in a single game this season and the most under third-year head coach Teri Moren.
· Their 102 points were also a season-high as Indiana has posted to two 100-point scoring games in the same season for the first time since the 1993-94 season.
· Indiana's nine turnovers were the second fewest in a game this season.
· IU also picks up a top 25 RPI win on Tuesday night – as Florida held the No. 21 RPI in the country coming into the game. The Gators are also receiving votes in both national polls.
Play in the Florida Sunshine Classic wraps up tomorrow as the Hoosiers face Stony Brook at Warden Arena. Tipoff is set for 7:45 p.m. ET and will be shown live on FLSunshineClassic.com and heard on 105.1 FM with Greg Murray.
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