Indiana University Athletics
IU Aware of Achievements as More Basketball Awaits
2/28/2016 7:55:00 AM | Women's Basketball
By: Tori Ziege, IUHoosiers.com | Twitter
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – With a double-bye in the Big Ten Tournament and a perfect home record riding on its final regular season game, the pressure could have mounted on Indiana.
It didn't.
The Hoosiers eased their way into the record books with a program-best 20th regular season win over Penn State, 76-55, in a game they controlled from tip to the final buzzer.
Where Indiana finishes on the conference standings will be determined by the winner of Minnesota and Maryland this afternoon. But on Senior Day, the Hoosiers played to the level of their accomplishments as the winningest regular season team and only one to ever go undefeated at home.
More importantly, they played like a top-four team in the Big Ten.
"They were playing for a lot today, but they've played for a lot every game," head coach Teri Moren said. "There's no question that this group wanted to do something special."
The Hoosiers have had some close finishes en route to their first ever 14-0 finish in Assembly Hall. They battled back from down 17 against Iowa in their fifth fourth-quarter comeback of the season, and have erased seven halftime deficits overall.
Against the Lady Lions, there were no deficits to contest. The Hoosiers looked confident from the onset, and will enter the conference tournament coming off its biggest blowout in Big Ten play.
Moren said she saw her players owning that confidence, starting with the pregame shootaround before the largest home crowd in five years.
"From the very start we came out there and saw all the fans," junior guard Alexis Gassion said. "It was loud in there. We were ready."
Things have come together at the right time for Indiana, who for the second straight game received double digit contributions from four of its five starters. Buss led the way Saturday with 16 points, bumping her past the record for most points by the end of a sophomore season.
Regardless of where the Hoosiers are slated, Moren has found a lineup she can trust in Buss, Gassion, sophomore forward Amanda Cahill, junior guard Karlee McBride and junior center Jenn Anderson.
Improving from a 1-3 start to finish 12-6 in Big Ten play, Indiana has found a successful formula. And at this stage in the season, the Hoosiers know how to execute.
"There was a sense from this group that they were ready to go," Moren said. "At this point in the season they have a sense of what they need to do and what we've done that has put us in a position to have the success that we've had."
The regular season concludes with Indiana in a dramatically different place than a year ago, when it finished 12th in the conference standings and was forced to turn around and play the very first day of the tournament.
This season's coup has given the Hoosiers a lot to hang their hat on. But where that success will be measured is in what Indiana is able to accomplish next.
"We won't rest on what we've accomplished," Moren said. "We'll celebrate it and we'll be excited about it but our rule has always been you have 24 hours and then it's on to the next game.
"We don't know who that's going to be yet, but I can promise you this — This group isn't going to take anybody lightly. They're excited about the opportunity to keep playing."
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – With a double-bye in the Big Ten Tournament and a perfect home record riding on its final regular season game, the pressure could have mounted on Indiana.
It didn't.
The Hoosiers eased their way into the record books with a program-best 20th regular season win over Penn State, 76-55, in a game they controlled from tip to the final buzzer.
Where Indiana finishes on the conference standings will be determined by the winner of Minnesota and Maryland this afternoon. But on Senior Day, the Hoosiers played to the level of their accomplishments as the winningest regular season team and only one to ever go undefeated at home.
More importantly, they played like a top-four team in the Big Ten.
"They were playing for a lot today, but they've played for a lot every game," head coach Teri Moren said. "There's no question that this group wanted to do something special."
The Hoosiers have had some close finishes en route to their first ever 14-0 finish in Assembly Hall. They battled back from down 17 against Iowa in their fifth fourth-quarter comeback of the season, and have erased seven halftime deficits overall.
Against the Lady Lions, there were no deficits to contest. The Hoosiers looked confident from the onset, and will enter the conference tournament coming off its biggest blowout in Big Ten play.
Moren said she saw her players owning that confidence, starting with the pregame shootaround before the largest home crowd in five years.
"From the very start we came out there and saw all the fans," junior guard Alexis Gassion said. "It was loud in there. We were ready."
Things have come together at the right time for Indiana, who for the second straight game received double digit contributions from four of its five starters. Buss led the way Saturday with 16 points, bumping her past the record for most points by the end of a sophomore season.
Regardless of where the Hoosiers are slated, Moren has found a lineup she can trust in Buss, Gassion, sophomore forward Amanda Cahill, junior guard Karlee McBride and junior center Jenn Anderson.
Improving from a 1-3 start to finish 12-6 in Big Ten play, Indiana has found a successful formula. And at this stage in the season, the Hoosiers know how to execute.
"There was a sense from this group that they were ready to go," Moren said. "At this point in the season they have a sense of what they need to do and what we've done that has put us in a position to have the success that we've had."
The regular season concludes with Indiana in a dramatically different place than a year ago, when it finished 12th in the conference standings and was forced to turn around and play the very first day of the tournament.
This season's coup has given the Hoosiers a lot to hang their hat on. But where that success will be measured is in what Indiana is able to accomplish next.
"We won't rest on what we've accomplished," Moren said. "We'll celebrate it and we'll be excited about it but our rule has always been you have 24 hours and then it's on to the next game.
"We don't know who that's going to be yet, but I can promise you this — This group isn't going to take anybody lightly. They're excited about the opportunity to keep playing."
Players Mentioned
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