Indiana University Athletics
Depth, Ruthlessness On Full Display For No. 5 Indiana Against No. 6 North Carolina
12/2/2022 9:31:00 AM | Women's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana was ruthless. Let's start with that.
Take-no-prisoner basketball turned Thursday night's Big Ten-ACC Challenge showdown with No. 6 North Carolina into a showcase of Cream and Crimson championship possibilities.
The No. 5/4 Hoosiers (8-0) spotted the Tar Heels (6-1) the game's first seven points, then morphed into a Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall juggernaut.
Crisp passing. Sharp shooting. Swarming defense. Relentless focus and toughness. It was all on display during an 87-63 victory.
"This group is special," coach Teri Moren said. "The firepower we have. It won't show up like this every night, but what will show up every night is defense and toughness.
"The chemistry has come together quickly. There's a lot of maturity and wisdom out there. This team has lofty goals and high expectations. This is a process of getting where we want to be."
It was not, however, a statement.
"We played how we play," junior forward Sydney Parrish said. "We came out hard. It's not a statement. We should play like that every night."
The Big Ten's best offense rocked North Carolina from the perimeter (making 12 of 22 three-point attempts) and from the paint (making 18 of 30 layups). IU defended the Tar Heels' explosive offense into irrelevance. They were held to a season low in points and shooting (35 percent).
And the Hoosiers weren't at full strength,
They were without standout guard Grace Berger, sidelined indefinitely with a knee injury, but not without talent, resilience, defense and depth.
A lot of depth.
How many teams could lose an All-America and dominate a top-10 squad?
Take freshman Yarden Garzon, who's cold-blooded, third-quarter-ending 3-pointer ruined any hope of a Tar Heel comeback. She had nine points, seven rebounds and seven assists.
"She doesn't play or act like a freshman," Moren said. "She has a maturity I've never had in a freshman like that, and I've coached for 30 years."
Take senior Sara Scalia, whose ultra-long first-quarter three-pointer generated social media video acclaim. She had 12 points and five rebounds.
Take freshman Henna Sandvik, whose first-quarter three-pointer were her first points of the season. She had just returned from Finland after spending time with the national team.
"In order to beat a great team, it takes everybody," Moren said. "It was clearly collective effort. Without Grace, everybody needed to do a little extra."
Then there was senior center Mackenzie Holmes, fresh off winning Big Ten Player of the Week honors, going for 25 points and five rebounds.
Parrish, who replaced Berger in the starting lineup, had 24 and six. Chloe Moore-McNeil, who moved into Berger's point-guard role, flirted with a triple double, finishing with 10 points, nine assists and seven rebounds.
"We did this for Grace," Parrish said. "We played for her and our state.
"I knew I had to step up. The whole team did. It was huge for us to step up and make plays."
North Carolina's 6-0 start included last week's championship in the Phil Knight Invitational with victories over No. 18 Oregon and No. 5 Iowa State. The Tar Heels had a 21-game non-conference winning streak, four double-figure scorers and an offense that averaged 82.2 points.
It didn't matter. Not against an Indiana team motivated by the men's dominant victory against North Carolina the previous night.
"We finished the business," Moren said. "The men started it and we felt we had a responsibility to finish it off."
Added Holmes: "It's really exciting to see the growth of the men's team. We see how hard they work and how they buy into what Coach (Mike) Woodson wants them to do.
ds
"This is an exciting time to be a Hoosier."
North Carolina opened with a pair of three-pointers, and a free throw for a 7-0 lead in two minutes.
Holmes ended that with a three-point play off an offensive rebound, and then a spinning layup. Sandvik drained a three-pointer. Moore-McNeil hit a pair of free throws. Parrish had a three-pointer. That completed a 13-0 run.
Scalia and Garzon added three-pointers. IU made their first five beyond the arc, shot 69 percent overall and ended the first quarter ahead 27-21.
A Parrish three-pointer and a Moore-McNeil layup helped the Hoosiers to a 34-21 lead early in the second quarter.
Moore-McNeil's three-pointer put IU ahead 41-28 midway through the second quarter. She added a three-point play to end the quarter. The Hoosiers led 49-33 at halftime.
North Carolina opened the second half by turning a steal into a layup. IU's response -- force the Tar Heels into an airball shot-clock violation, then get a Parrish three-pointer.
A Holmes three-point play boosted the Hoosiers ahead 57-40.North Carolina tried to make a run. Behind Holmes, Parrish and Garzon, IU wouldn't allow it. Garzon ended the third quarter with a three-pointer for a 72-53 advantage.
The Tar Heels were finished.
"The coaching staff did a great job with the game plan," Holmes said. "We all bought into it, and it showed."
IU was ruthless. Let's end with that.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana was ruthless. Let's start with that.
Take-no-prisoner basketball turned Thursday night's Big Ten-ACC Challenge showdown with No. 6 North Carolina into a showcase of Cream and Crimson championship possibilities.
The No. 5/4 Hoosiers (8-0) spotted the Tar Heels (6-1) the game's first seven points, then morphed into a Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall juggernaut.
Crisp passing. Sharp shooting. Swarming defense. Relentless focus and toughness. It was all on display during an 87-63 victory.
"This group is special," coach Teri Moren said. "The firepower we have. It won't show up like this every night, but what will show up every night is defense and toughness.
"The chemistry has come together quickly. There's a lot of maturity and wisdom out there. This team has lofty goals and high expectations. This is a process of getting where we want to be."
It was not, however, a statement.
"We played how we play," junior forward Sydney Parrish said. "We came out hard. It's not a statement. We should play like that every night."
The Big Ten's best offense rocked North Carolina from the perimeter (making 12 of 22 three-point attempts) and from the paint (making 18 of 30 layups). IU defended the Tar Heels' explosive offense into irrelevance. They were held to a season low in points and shooting (35 percent).
And the Hoosiers weren't at full strength,
They were without standout guard Grace Berger, sidelined indefinitely with a knee injury, but not without talent, resilience, defense and depth.
A lot of depth.
How many teams could lose an All-America and dominate a top-10 squad?
Take freshman Yarden Garzon, who's cold-blooded, third-quarter-ending 3-pointer ruined any hope of a Tar Heel comeback. She had nine points, seven rebounds and seven assists.
"She doesn't play or act like a freshman," Moren said. "She has a maturity I've never had in a freshman like that, and I've coached for 30 years."
Take senior Sara Scalia, whose ultra-long first-quarter three-pointer generated social media video acclaim. She had 12 points and five rebounds.
Take freshman Henna Sandvik, whose first-quarter three-pointer were her first points of the season. She had just returned from Finland after spending time with the national team.
"In order to beat a great team, it takes everybody," Moren said. "It was clearly collective effort. Without Grace, everybody needed to do a little extra."
Then there was senior center Mackenzie Holmes, fresh off winning Big Ten Player of the Week honors, going for 25 points and five rebounds.
Parrish, who replaced Berger in the starting lineup, had 24 and six. Chloe Moore-McNeil, who moved into Berger's point-guard role, flirted with a triple double, finishing with 10 points, nine assists and seven rebounds.
"We did this for Grace," Parrish said. "We played for her and our state.
"I knew I had to step up. The whole team did. It was huge for us to step up and make plays."
North Carolina's 6-0 start included last week's championship in the Phil Knight Invitational with victories over No. 18 Oregon and No. 5 Iowa State. The Tar Heels had a 21-game non-conference winning streak, four double-figure scorers and an offense that averaged 82.2 points.
It didn't matter. Not against an Indiana team motivated by the men's dominant victory against North Carolina the previous night.
"We finished the business," Moren said. "The men started it and we felt we had a responsibility to finish it off."
Added Holmes: "It's really exciting to see the growth of the men's team. We see how hard they work and how they buy into what Coach (Mike) Woodson wants them to do.
ds
"This is an exciting time to be a Hoosier."
North Carolina opened with a pair of three-pointers, and a free throw for a 7-0 lead in two minutes.
Holmes ended that with a three-point play off an offensive rebound, and then a spinning layup. Sandvik drained a three-pointer. Moore-McNeil hit a pair of free throws. Parrish had a three-pointer. That completed a 13-0 run.
Scalia and Garzon added three-pointers. IU made their first five beyond the arc, shot 69 percent overall and ended the first quarter ahead 27-21.
A Parrish three-pointer and a Moore-McNeil layup helped the Hoosiers to a 34-21 lead early in the second quarter.
Moore-McNeil's three-pointer put IU ahead 41-28 midway through the second quarter. She added a three-point play to end the quarter. The Hoosiers led 49-33 at halftime.
North Carolina opened the second half by turning a steal into a layup. IU's response -- force the Tar Heels into an airball shot-clock violation, then get a Parrish three-pointer.
A Holmes three-point play boosted the Hoosiers ahead 57-40.North Carolina tried to make a run. Behind Holmes, Parrish and Garzon, IU wouldn't allow it. Garzon ended the third quarter with a three-pointer for a 72-53 advantage.
The Tar Heels were finished.
"The coaching staff did a great job with the game plan," Holmes said. "We all bought into it, and it showed."
IU was ruthless. Let's end with that.
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's BasketballGuard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's BasketballThursday, August 13
Thursday, August 13
Wednesday, August 12
Wednesday, August 12