Indiana University Athletics
No Being Denied – Toughness, Focus Behind Indiana’s Win Over Iowa
2/10/2023 9:50:00 AM | Women's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Mackenzie Holmes hit the floor, grimaced, then smiled.
Yes, it can hurt so good when you win your 11th straight game, beat your biggest conference challenger and take a huge step toward Indiana's first Big Ten women's basketball regular season title.
On Thursday night the No. 2/3 Hoosiers, fueled by the energy of a program-record crowd of 13,046 at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, beat No. 5 Iowa 87-78.
That gave them a 23-1 overall record, 13-1 in the Big Ten with four regular season games remaining. Iowa is 11-2 in the conference, 19-5 overall.
"It's having the emotional energy to do your assignment -- the toughness, the focus, making winning plays," head coach Teri Moren said.
Holmes, playing like the All-American forward she is, made one of two free throws following the late-fourth-quarter foul that sent her tumbling under the IU basket to complete a 24-point, six-rebound effort.
On this night, that placed second to guard Grace Berger's 26-point, nine-rebound, six-assist performance.
"Grace would not be denied," Moren said. "I've seen that look a lot. She wanted to lead us. It's her willingness to take over and will her team to victory."
Or, as Iowa coach Lisa Bluder put it, "Grace was outstanding. She played well. She's a smart player."
Berger was fueled by the memory of going 0-3 against Iowa last season, including a loss in the Big Ten tourney title game.
"Iowa is a great team," she said. "Beating them means a little more. I wanted to do whatever I could to help the team win."
Add 7-for-14 three-point shooting, with two three-point baskets each from Sydney Parrish, Yarden Garzon and Sara Scalia, and you have the kind of perimeter firepower Indiana has never had before.
"We've added more scoring power with Sydney, Yarden and Sara," Moren said. "This is a different team. We're better. We have more pieces on the outside. When you have floor spacers the way we have, things open up inside."
Bluder noticed.
"That's what makes Indiana different from last year," she said. "You didn't have three-point shooters to worry about. Now you do. It makes it harder."
By the end of the third quarter, there were 14 lead changes, 10 ties and enough drama to fill a Yellowstone TV script.
The fourth quarter domination of a top-5 team was more vindication that these Hoosiers are built for special things, although nothing is guaranteed.
"We have four to five people with three to five years of college experience," Berger said. "We're super confident. We know the game plan and what we need to do defensively."
Next up -- a Monday trip to No. 13 Ohio State.
"Things don't get any easier," Moren said. "We have goals. We've got to win all of them to achieve what we want to achieve.
"The road is difficult. We're writing the story and we can't let anyone else take the pen. We're up for the challenge."
It helps to keep setting attendance records. This is the third time IU has done that since Jan. 1. This time, it topped the mark of 13,007 from the 2018 WNIT title game.
"What a great crowd," Moren said. "We're so grateful to have that turnout and energy. We needed every one of those 13,046 tonight to help us get to the finish line.
"I hope this becomes the new normal."
Guard Chloe Moore-McNeill had 11 points, nine rebounds and played strong defense. Scalia added eight points, three assists and her own solid defensive moments.
"It was all hands on deck," Moren said. "We had to take some risks and make plays. Get them out of synch."
Iowa standout guard Caitlin Clark had 35 points and 10 assists. She also had eight turnovers.
Intrigue flared well before the game.
This was the first regular-season meeting between top-5 Big Ten teams since 1993.
Iowa arrived with an eight-game winning streak and victories over No. 2 Ohio State, No 8 Maryland and No. 14 Michigan.
IU countered with a 10-game winning streak and victories over No. 9 Maryland, No. 21 Illinois, No. 14 Michigan and No. 2 Ohio State.
Indiana opened with a 5-0 lead, three points from Holmes. Iowa responded with a 13-2 run, six by Clark.
Three-pointers from Scalia and Parrish helped produce ties of 15-15 and 19-19 by the end of the first quarter. Berger led with six points.
The Hoosiers inched ahead 24-21 three minutes into the second quarter, and then 31-27 with four minutes left. Iowa tied it. A Moore-McNeil three-pointer gave IU a 36-33 lead. The Hawkeyes scored six straight points. A Holmes three-point play produced a 39-39 halftime tie. Holmes led with 12 points. Clark had 12 for Iowa.
Berger scored IU's first six points of the third quarter and finished with 12. After a furious back-and-forth sequence, IU took charge in the final 90 seconds for a 62-57 lead entering the fourth period.
The Hoosiers picked up three quick fouls, but it only cost them two points. A Hawkeye three-pointer tied it at 62-62. Holmes untied it with a rebound basket. Garzon followed with a three-pointer. Berger hit a pair of free throws after a Clark foul.
Garzon's second three-pointer and a Lilly Meister free throw pushed IU ahead 77-67 with four minutes left.
The Hawkeyes were finished, but not broken. IU ends the regular season Feb. 26 at Iowa's Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
"This was great for women's basketball," Clark said, "but we play in front of 13,000 every night. There will be 15,000 when Indiana comes to Carver Hawkeye Arena."
That's for later. For now, there's this final Moren thought:
"It was a great win against a great opponent."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Mackenzie Holmes hit the floor, grimaced, then smiled.
Yes, it can hurt so good when you win your 11th straight game, beat your biggest conference challenger and take a huge step toward Indiana's first Big Ten women's basketball regular season title.
On Thursday night the No. 2/3 Hoosiers, fueled by the energy of a program-record crowd of 13,046 at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, beat No. 5 Iowa 87-78.
That gave them a 23-1 overall record, 13-1 in the Big Ten with four regular season games remaining. Iowa is 11-2 in the conference, 19-5 overall.
"It's having the emotional energy to do your assignment -- the toughness, the focus, making winning plays," head coach Teri Moren said.
Holmes, playing like the All-American forward she is, made one of two free throws following the late-fourth-quarter foul that sent her tumbling under the IU basket to complete a 24-point, six-rebound effort.
On this night, that placed second to guard Grace Berger's 26-point, nine-rebound, six-assist performance.
"Grace would not be denied," Moren said. "I've seen that look a lot. She wanted to lead us. It's her willingness to take over and will her team to victory."
Or, as Iowa coach Lisa Bluder put it, "Grace was outstanding. She played well. She's a smart player."
Berger was fueled by the memory of going 0-3 against Iowa last season, including a loss in the Big Ten tourney title game.
"Iowa is a great team," she said. "Beating them means a little more. I wanted to do whatever I could to help the team win."
Add 7-for-14 three-point shooting, with two three-point baskets each from Sydney Parrish, Yarden Garzon and Sara Scalia, and you have the kind of perimeter firepower Indiana has never had before.
"We've added more scoring power with Sydney, Yarden and Sara," Moren said. "This is a different team. We're better. We have more pieces on the outside. When you have floor spacers the way we have, things open up inside."
Bluder noticed.
"That's what makes Indiana different from last year," she said. "You didn't have three-point shooters to worry about. Now you do. It makes it harder."
By the end of the third quarter, there were 14 lead changes, 10 ties and enough drama to fill a Yellowstone TV script.
The fourth quarter domination of a top-5 team was more vindication that these Hoosiers are built for special things, although nothing is guaranteed.
"We have four to five people with three to five years of college experience," Berger said. "We're super confident. We know the game plan and what we need to do defensively."
Next up -- a Monday trip to No. 13 Ohio State.
"Things don't get any easier," Moren said. "We have goals. We've got to win all of them to achieve what we want to achieve.
"The road is difficult. We're writing the story and we can't let anyone else take the pen. We're up for the challenge."
It helps to keep setting attendance records. This is the third time IU has done that since Jan. 1. This time, it topped the mark of 13,007 from the 2018 WNIT title game.
"What a great crowd," Moren said. "We're so grateful to have that turnout and energy. We needed every one of those 13,046 tonight to help us get to the finish line.
"I hope this becomes the new normal."
Guard Chloe Moore-McNeill had 11 points, nine rebounds and played strong defense. Scalia added eight points, three assists and her own solid defensive moments.
"It was all hands on deck," Moren said. "We had to take some risks and make plays. Get them out of synch."
Iowa standout guard Caitlin Clark had 35 points and 10 assists. She also had eight turnovers.
Intrigue flared well before the game.
This was the first regular-season meeting between top-5 Big Ten teams since 1993.
Iowa arrived with an eight-game winning streak and victories over No. 2 Ohio State, No 8 Maryland and No. 14 Michigan.
IU countered with a 10-game winning streak and victories over No. 9 Maryland, No. 21 Illinois, No. 14 Michigan and No. 2 Ohio State.
Indiana opened with a 5-0 lead, three points from Holmes. Iowa responded with a 13-2 run, six by Clark.
Three-pointers from Scalia and Parrish helped produce ties of 15-15 and 19-19 by the end of the first quarter. Berger led with six points.
The Hoosiers inched ahead 24-21 three minutes into the second quarter, and then 31-27 with four minutes left. Iowa tied it. A Moore-McNeil three-pointer gave IU a 36-33 lead. The Hawkeyes scored six straight points. A Holmes three-point play produced a 39-39 halftime tie. Holmes led with 12 points. Clark had 12 for Iowa.
Berger scored IU's first six points of the third quarter and finished with 12. After a furious back-and-forth sequence, IU took charge in the final 90 seconds for a 62-57 lead entering the fourth period.
The Hoosiers picked up three quick fouls, but it only cost them two points. A Hawkeye three-pointer tied it at 62-62. Holmes untied it with a rebound basket. Garzon followed with a three-pointer. Berger hit a pair of free throws after a Clark foul.
Garzon's second three-pointer and a Lilly Meister free throw pushed IU ahead 77-67 with four minutes left.
The Hawkeyes were finished, but not broken. IU ends the regular season Feb. 26 at Iowa's Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
"This was great for women's basketball," Clark said, "but we play in front of 13,000 every night. There will be 15,000 when Indiana comes to Carver Hawkeye Arena."
That's for later. For now, there's this final Moren thought:
"It was a great win against a great opponent."
Players Mentioned
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Forward
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Guard
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Guard
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