Indiana University Athletics
Depth And Defense On Display In NCAA Tournament First Round Win
3/18/2023 4:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - No Mackenzie Holmes.
No problem.
Top-seeded Indiana flexed its depth, defense and fast-break fury during Saturday's 77-47 victory over No. 16-seed Tennessee Tech in its NCAA tourney opener at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
With Holmes out with a sore left knee, veterans Grace Berger and Sydney Parrish took charge to send the Hoosiers (28-3) into Monday night's second round.
Parrish totaled 19 points and eight rebounds. Berger had 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three blocks.
Berger set the tone from the opening tip.
"Grace came out with a different level of urgency," coach Teri Moren said. "We needed her to do that. We need her to do that remainder of the tournament. She's our leader. As she goes, we go. There was a moxie she had from the beginning. We need her to approach every game like that."
Berger embraces that challenge.
"It's the NCAA Tournament," she said. "You win or go home. There's no reason for any of us not to have a sense of urgency in every game moving forward. We're on the biggest stage. That's where we belong. That's where we want to be. There's no reason not to be excited for every possession, for every practice. It's go time now."
Tennessee Tech coach Kim Rosamond was impressed.
"Grace Berger was exceptional. She led in every way."
The Hoosiers had a 29-0 edge in fast-break points, and a 44-16 advantage in points in the paint. They held the Golden Eagles to 28 percent shooting.
Moren especially liked having 18 assists on 29 made baskets.
"We call it sharing the sugar," she said. "We're a team that's unselfish. A team that's balanced."
Tied 22-22, IU broke the game open with a 17-0 second-quarter run, a combination of fierce defense and fast-paced offense.
Credit a timeout team talk from Berger and Chloe Moore-McNeil. They weren't happy with the early three-point defense. Moore-McNeil was especially animated after Tennessee Tech had four first-quarter three-pointers.
"Nobody was madder than Chloe was," Moren said. "We were giving up measured threes, and she was mad. She challenged them to get their hands up and make it more difficult."
The Hoosiers did, igniting their fast break.
"We knew they were hot from three," Berger said. "We gave them easy looks. That was disappointing for all of us. After the first quarter, we made things harder."
Moren said Holmes was limited in practice throughout the week. She said Holmes was available if needed on Saturday and was optimistic about her playing on Monday.
Freshman forward Lilly Meister replaced Holmes and made her first career start. She finished with seven points and four rebounds. Senior forward Alyssa Geary added three and three.
"Lilly was ready for this moment because of the work she does," Moren said.
"They both did a tremendous job. We didn't need them to be anything other than who they are."
Meister said there had been indications she might start, "But it was never set in place. I was prepared. It was a little nerve-wracking, but once the tip went off, it was just another game."
IU dominated but wasn't flawless. Berger blocked consecutive third-quarter shots, Indiana got the ball and instantly turned it over.
Moren noticed.
There were lapses in focus and concentration. Shots were taken not in the flow of the offense.
Moren noticed.
"We're perfectionists," she said. "We want to watch good basket. I was not happy with some of our decisions. We had some shots that were not good in our offense.
"We don't look at the scoreboard. We want to play good, solid, sound basketball."
Still, the Hoosiers' first ever game as a No. 1 seed showcased their deep-run potential.
"We're playing the right way," Moren said, "and putting ourselves in position to be successful."
Added Rosamond: "What a tremendous team."
Tennessee Tech (23-10), coming in on an eight-game winning streak, hit its first four three-pointers to end the first quarter in an 18-18 tie.
IU went on the offensive attack midway through the second quarter, pushing the ball inside for a pair of Meister baskets, following with a two Lexus Bargesser fast-break layups, the second coming via a long pass from Moore-McNeil. Berger got a steal and a layup. Parrish made two free throws, then scored a layup. The Hoosiers led 32-22, and then ratcheted up the defense. Yarden Garzon buried a three-pointer. Berger followed with a pair of three throws.
The 17-0 run boosted IU to a 39-27 halftime lead. Berger led with 13 points. The Hoosiers shot 54 percent from the field with 10 assists against four turnovers while holding Tennessee Tech to 33 percent shooting.
IU scored the first five points of the second half for a 44-27 lead. Rosamond called a timeout. It didn't help. Parrish hit a three-pointer. The Hoosiers ended the third quarter with a 56-39 lead.
IU scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter to squash any hope of a Golden Eagles comeback.
"It took us a good quarter to get our legs under us," Moren said, "which I anticipated because we had about 12 days off. It took us a bit to get going. Once we got going defensively, things opened up for us offensively."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - No Mackenzie Holmes.
No problem.
Top-seeded Indiana flexed its depth, defense and fast-break fury during Saturday's 77-47 victory over No. 16-seed Tennessee Tech in its NCAA tourney opener at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
With Holmes out with a sore left knee, veterans Grace Berger and Sydney Parrish took charge to send the Hoosiers (28-3) into Monday night's second round.
Parrish totaled 19 points and eight rebounds. Berger had 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three blocks.
Berger set the tone from the opening tip.
"Grace came out with a different level of urgency," coach Teri Moren said. "We needed her to do that. We need her to do that remainder of the tournament. She's our leader. As she goes, we go. There was a moxie she had from the beginning. We need her to approach every game like that."
Berger embraces that challenge.
"It's the NCAA Tournament," she said. "You win or go home. There's no reason for any of us not to have a sense of urgency in every game moving forward. We're on the biggest stage. That's where we belong. That's where we want to be. There's no reason not to be excited for every possession, for every practice. It's go time now."
Tennessee Tech coach Kim Rosamond was impressed.
"Grace Berger was exceptional. She led in every way."
The Hoosiers had a 29-0 edge in fast-break points, and a 44-16 advantage in points in the paint. They held the Golden Eagles to 28 percent shooting.
Moren especially liked having 18 assists on 29 made baskets.
"We call it sharing the sugar," she said. "We're a team that's unselfish. A team that's balanced."
Tied 22-22, IU broke the game open with a 17-0 second-quarter run, a combination of fierce defense and fast-paced offense.
Credit a timeout team talk from Berger and Chloe Moore-McNeil. They weren't happy with the early three-point defense. Moore-McNeil was especially animated after Tennessee Tech had four first-quarter three-pointers.
"Nobody was madder than Chloe was," Moren said. "We were giving up measured threes, and she was mad. She challenged them to get their hands up and make it more difficult."
The Hoosiers did, igniting their fast break.
"We knew they were hot from three," Berger said. "We gave them easy looks. That was disappointing for all of us. After the first quarter, we made things harder."
Moren said Holmes was limited in practice throughout the week. She said Holmes was available if needed on Saturday and was optimistic about her playing on Monday.
Freshman forward Lilly Meister replaced Holmes and made her first career start. She finished with seven points and four rebounds. Senior forward Alyssa Geary added three and three.
"Lilly was ready for this moment because of the work she does," Moren said.
"They both did a tremendous job. We didn't need them to be anything other than who they are."
Meister said there had been indications she might start, "But it was never set in place. I was prepared. It was a little nerve-wracking, but once the tip went off, it was just another game."
IU dominated but wasn't flawless. Berger blocked consecutive third-quarter shots, Indiana got the ball and instantly turned it over.
Moren noticed.
There were lapses in focus and concentration. Shots were taken not in the flow of the offense.
Moren noticed.
"We're perfectionists," she said. "We want to watch good basket. I was not happy with some of our decisions. We had some shots that were not good in our offense.
"We don't look at the scoreboard. We want to play good, solid, sound basketball."
Still, the Hoosiers' first ever game as a No. 1 seed showcased their deep-run potential.
"We're playing the right way," Moren said, "and putting ourselves in position to be successful."
Added Rosamond: "What a tremendous team."
Tennessee Tech (23-10), coming in on an eight-game winning streak, hit its first four three-pointers to end the first quarter in an 18-18 tie.
IU went on the offensive attack midway through the second quarter, pushing the ball inside for a pair of Meister baskets, following with a two Lexus Bargesser fast-break layups, the second coming via a long pass from Moore-McNeil. Berger got a steal and a layup. Parrish made two free throws, then scored a layup. The Hoosiers led 32-22, and then ratcheted up the defense. Yarden Garzon buried a three-pointer. Berger followed with a pair of three throws.
The 17-0 run boosted IU to a 39-27 halftime lead. Berger led with 13 points. The Hoosiers shot 54 percent from the field with 10 assists against four turnovers while holding Tennessee Tech to 33 percent shooting.
IU scored the first five points of the second half for a 44-27 lead. Rosamond called a timeout. It didn't help. Parrish hit a three-pointer. The Hoosiers ended the third quarter with a 56-39 lead.
IU scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter to squash any hope of a Golden Eagles comeback.
"It took us a good quarter to get our legs under us," Moren said, "which I anticipated because we had about 12 days off. It took us a bit to get going. Once we got going defensively, things opened up for us offensively."
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's BasketballGuard
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's BasketballGuard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's BasketballWednesday, August 12
Wednesday, August 12
Tuesday, August 11
Tuesday, August 11