A Season To Remember.- Indiana's Runs Ends In Elite Eight
3/30/2021 2:02:00 PM | Women's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimo
IUHoosiers.com
Indiana's basketball season is over.
The opportunity is not.
Yes, the Hoosiers' NCAA tourney run ended Monday night with a 66-53 Elite Eight loss to Arizona at San Antonio's Alamodome.
In so many ways, forward Mackenzie Holmes insisted, this was a beginning and not an ending.
"We want this to be a regular thing," she said. "We're not surprised to be in the Elite Eight. This gives us an opportunity to build off of this.
"Now that we've gotten a taste of it. We'll be hungry for more."
The fourth-seeded Hoosiers (21-6) made this a season to remember with a second-place Big Ten finish, a first Sweet 16 appearance and then the Elite Eight.
Nothing like this had ever happened in program history.
It will happen again, coach Teri Moren said. With every player potentially returning for next season, doubt her at your own risk.
"We want to be back next year and make that next step to the Final Four," she said. "We still have unfinished business. We'll figure out how to get a little better. I'm so proud of these kids."
IU might have had a chance if its three-point shots were falling.
They were not.
The 0-for-9 showing, combined with Arizona's nine three-pointers and All-America guard Aari McDonald's 33 points, were too much to overcome.
Despite all that, the Hoosiers trailed 54-50 with five minutes left.
It was a moment that screamed for defense, the turnover-producing frenzy that led to offense that had sparked the Hoosiers all season.
It didn't happen.
"The fourth quarter did us in," Moren said. "That and our inability to rebound."
Third-seeded Arizona (20-5) won the rebound battle, 42-34, and then the game for the right to face top-seed UConn in the Final Four.
"They wanted the ball more than we did," Moren said. "That hasn't been us. We have displayed a tremendous amount of toughness since we've been here. Unfortunately tonight, we didn't have that."
Holmes finished with 20 points. Grace Berger had 15. Ali Patberg added 12. Holmes and Berger made the all-tournament team.
It wasn't enough, and you'd better believe it hurt.
"I love these girls so much," Holmes said. "I'd do anything for them.
"We'll mature from this. We'll be better because of it. We'll pick our heads up and keep moving forward."
It might have been Patberg's final game as a Hoosier, although she has the option to return next season.
"I love her to death," Holmes said. "She'll be a sister for life. She's the heart and soul for this team. She's so selfless. It was amazing to get a chance to learn from her. I hope it's not my last time on the court with her."
Arizona's McDonald was a force of basketball nature IU hasn't faced all season. Much of the defensive burden fell to Nicole Cardano-Hillary. Patberg and Berger also had their chances against the ultra-quick McDonald, but it didn't matter.
"She's an elite player and stepped up big time," Holmes said. "We tried to do what we could to slow her down."
Added Moren: "She's as fast a player as we've faced all year. She's a very difficult matchup. She's the reason why they are going to the Final Four.
Both teams opened with aggressive defense. IU was 4-for-15 from the field in the first 10 minutes and trailed 14-11.
The Hoosiers picked up their second-quarter offense. They were 4-for-8 from the field at one point to forge a 19-19 tie.
By halftime, Holmes had 10 points and Patberg had eight, but IU still trailed 27-23. The Hoosiers only had four turnovers, but were hurt by 33.3 percent shooting, 0-for-5 from three-point range.
The Wildcats started strong to open the third quarter. McDonald hit a three-pointer. Teammate Trinity Baptiste had one of her own. Arizona pushed ahead 35-27 and Moren called a timeout. It worked. IU rallied for a tie on a Holmes basket before a McDonald strip and score gave the Wildcats a 46-44 lead entering the fourth quarter.
The Hoosiers tied it and Arizona quickly untied it. The Wildcats lead grew to double digits.
The dream season was over.
The opportunity was not.
"I'm proud of our group and the things we have been able to accomplish," Moren said. "It's been a real fun ride. We'll have a lot of memories. It can fuel you to be back next year. Hopefully, that's what it will do for us.
"We'll take a couple of weeks off to rest and get healthy. We'll get right back to work. That's what we do at Indiana."
IUHoosiers.com
Indiana's basketball season is over.
The opportunity is not.
Yes, the Hoosiers' NCAA tourney run ended Monday night with a 66-53 Elite Eight loss to Arizona at San Antonio's Alamodome.
In so many ways, forward Mackenzie Holmes insisted, this was a beginning and not an ending.
"We want this to be a regular thing," she said. "We're not surprised to be in the Elite Eight. This gives us an opportunity to build off of this.
"Now that we've gotten a taste of it. We'll be hungry for more."
The fourth-seeded Hoosiers (21-6) made this a season to remember with a second-place Big Ten finish, a first Sweet 16 appearance and then the Elite Eight.
Nothing like this had ever happened in program history.
It will happen again, coach Teri Moren said. With every player potentially returning for next season, doubt her at your own risk.
"We want to be back next year and make that next step to the Final Four," she said. "We still have unfinished business. We'll figure out how to get a little better. I'm so proud of these kids."
IU might have had a chance if its three-point shots were falling.
They were not.
The 0-for-9 showing, combined with Arizona's nine three-pointers and All-America guard Aari McDonald's 33 points, were too much to overcome.
Despite all that, the Hoosiers trailed 54-50 with five minutes left.
It was a moment that screamed for defense, the turnover-producing frenzy that led to offense that had sparked the Hoosiers all season.
It didn't happen.
"The fourth quarter did us in," Moren said. "That and our inability to rebound."
Third-seeded Arizona (20-5) won the rebound battle, 42-34, and then the game for the right to face top-seed UConn in the Final Four.
"They wanted the ball more than we did," Moren said. "That hasn't been us. We have displayed a tremendous amount of toughness since we've been here. Unfortunately tonight, we didn't have that."
Holmes finished with 20 points. Grace Berger had 15. Ali Patberg added 12. Holmes and Berger made the all-tournament team.
It wasn't enough, and you'd better believe it hurt.
"I love these girls so much," Holmes said. "I'd do anything for them.
"We'll mature from this. We'll be better because of it. We'll pick our heads up and keep moving forward."
It might have been Patberg's final game as a Hoosier, although she has the option to return next season.
"I love her to death," Holmes said. "She'll be a sister for life. She's the heart and soul for this team. She's so selfless. It was amazing to get a chance to learn from her. I hope it's not my last time on the court with her."
Arizona's McDonald was a force of basketball nature IU hasn't faced all season. Much of the defensive burden fell to Nicole Cardano-Hillary. Patberg and Berger also had their chances against the ultra-quick McDonald, but it didn't matter.
"She's an elite player and stepped up big time," Holmes said. "We tried to do what we could to slow her down."
Added Moren: "She's as fast a player as we've faced all year. She's a very difficult matchup. She's the reason why they are going to the Final Four.
Both teams opened with aggressive defense. IU was 4-for-15 from the field in the first 10 minutes and trailed 14-11.
The Hoosiers picked up their second-quarter offense. They were 4-for-8 from the field at one point to forge a 19-19 tie.
By halftime, Holmes had 10 points and Patberg had eight, but IU still trailed 27-23. The Hoosiers only had four turnovers, but were hurt by 33.3 percent shooting, 0-for-5 from three-point range.
The Wildcats started strong to open the third quarter. McDonald hit a three-pointer. Teammate Trinity Baptiste had one of her own. Arizona pushed ahead 35-27 and Moren called a timeout. It worked. IU rallied for a tie on a Holmes basket before a McDonald strip and score gave the Wildcats a 46-44 lead entering the fourth quarter.
The Hoosiers tied it and Arizona quickly untied it. The Wildcats lead grew to double digits.
The dream season was over.
The opportunity was not.
"I'm proud of our group and the things we have been able to accomplish," Moren said. "It's been a real fun ride. We'll have a lot of memories. It can fuel you to be back next year. Hopefully, that's what it will do for us.
"We'll take a couple of weeks off to rest and get healthy. We'll get right back to work. That's what we do at Indiana."
Players Mentioned
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