Scalia a Big Part of Surging Indiana
1/6/2024 12:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Mackenzie Holmes states the obvious:
Give senior guard Sara Scalia open three-point shots at your own risk.
"I don't know why you would ever leave Sara open on the perimeter," Indiana's All-America center says.
Case in point -- Scalia made her first three three-pointers Thursday night against Michigan's very good defense and finished 4-for-10 from beyond the arc, the latest achievement in a career full of them. That was among the highlights in IU's 80-59 victory.
"Michigan (left her open) and she made them pay," Holmes says.
For the season, Scalia shoots three-pointers at a 45.3-percent clip. That's second in the Big Ten to Purdue's Madison Layden (49.3 percent), although Hoosier teammate Yarden Garzon is at 45.5 percent (at 20-for-44, Garzon doesn't have enough qualifying attempts).
The 5-10 Scalia averages 15.3 points to Holmes' team-leading 19.5. She is a force on the court (totaling as many as 37 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and four steals in a game; multiple seasons of all-conference recognition) and in the classroom (two-time academic All-Big Ten).
She provides exactly what coach Teri Moren and her staff had hoped for after transferring from Minnesota, where she totaled 214 three-pointers, 1,158 points and a 14.5-point average.
Scalia also brings difference-making perspective. She understands the benefits of having one of the best centers in America on the roster. Holmes constantly draws double and triple teams that create perimeter possibilities for Scalia, as well as for Garzon, Sydney Parrish and Chloe Moore-McNeil.
"Having Mack down low helps," Scalia says. "She gets a lot of attention. They have to dig and double, which opens it up on the perimeter. We have to stick our shots."
Sticking peaked against Michigan. Sustained perfection isn't possible, but the Hoosiers gave it a heck of a run.
In the first quarter, they were 13-for-13 from the field, including 6-for-6 from three-point range (Scalia and Parrish each had three). They wound up making their first 15 shots before reality set in.
How impressive is that?
According to StatsPass, the last team to make its first 15 shots was Portland in a 1999 victory over Pepperdine.
Scalia and Holmes are among the reasons why No. 14 IU (12-1 overall) has won 11 straight games, 12 straight in Big Ten regular season play counting last season. It is within range of the program record for consecutive victories -- 15 during the 1971-72 season.
The Hoosiers learned from a 98-64 mid-November loss at national title contender Stanford. Their winning streak includes a 71-57 victory over top-25 Tennessee as well as that fast conference start.
It reflects elite preparation, Holmes says.
"We know our coaches will prepare us. We know how important every game is. We can't have an off night. Not in this conference.
"We had some growing pains early in the season. That's the past. We're a different team than we were in November."
The difference includes balanced contributions combined with strong passing and ball movement.
"We have different people step up," Moren says. "We had three kids (Holmes, Scalia and Garzon) with 30-point games (in the previous three contests).
"We're getting our scoring not just from Mack, who draws so much attention. I like how we share the ball. We average 20 assists a game. Our ability to recognize who's hot and get them the ball during this run has been terrific."
Terrific doesn't yet extend to the defense, which is the foundation for every Moren-coached team.
"We have to improve our defense," she says. "We show signs of that grittiness and toughness we had a year ago. We're moving in that direction. I see a lot of good moments where we're stingy.
"I want us to stack up three to four possessions where we get stops. That's what we want to do, stack up stops. Our kids understand that. That's what we hang our hats on.
"A lot of different people have stepped up. Along the way, our defense has improved."
The result is a run at a second straight conference regular season title. The Hoosiers are tied with No. 4 Iowa and Nebraska atop the Big Ten standings at 3-0. They will play at Nebraska (11-3 overall) on Sunday. The Cornhuskers are 7-1 at Pinnacle Arena this season.
"We are playing a talented Nebraska team that is outstanding at home," Moren says.
Victory, Holmes adds, starts with following the game plan.
"If we stick to it for 40 minutes, we'll have success. That showed (against Michigan). We know we'll get everyone's best in the Big Ten, night in and night out. It's a matter of executing."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Mackenzie Holmes states the obvious:
Give senior guard Sara Scalia open three-point shots at your own risk.
"I don't know why you would ever leave Sara open on the perimeter," Indiana's All-America center says.
Case in point -- Scalia made her first three three-pointers Thursday night against Michigan's very good defense and finished 4-for-10 from beyond the arc, the latest achievement in a career full of them. That was among the highlights in IU's 80-59 victory.
"Michigan (left her open) and she made them pay," Holmes says.
For the season, Scalia shoots three-pointers at a 45.3-percent clip. That's second in the Big Ten to Purdue's Madison Layden (49.3 percent), although Hoosier teammate Yarden Garzon is at 45.5 percent (at 20-for-44, Garzon doesn't have enough qualifying attempts).
The 5-10 Scalia averages 15.3 points to Holmes' team-leading 19.5. She is a force on the court (totaling as many as 37 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and four steals in a game; multiple seasons of all-conference recognition) and in the classroom (two-time academic All-Big Ten).
She provides exactly what coach Teri Moren and her staff had hoped for after transferring from Minnesota, where she totaled 214 three-pointers, 1,158 points and a 14.5-point average.
Scalia also brings difference-making perspective. She understands the benefits of having one of the best centers in America on the roster. Holmes constantly draws double and triple teams that create perimeter possibilities for Scalia, as well as for Garzon, Sydney Parrish and Chloe Moore-McNeil.
"Having Mack down low helps," Scalia says. "She gets a lot of attention. They have to dig and double, which opens it up on the perimeter. We have to stick our shots."
Sticking peaked against Michigan. Sustained perfection isn't possible, but the Hoosiers gave it a heck of a run.
In the first quarter, they were 13-for-13 from the field, including 6-for-6 from three-point range (Scalia and Parrish each had three). They wound up making their first 15 shots before reality set in.
How impressive is that?
According to StatsPass, the last team to make its first 15 shots was Portland in a 1999 victory over Pepperdine.
Scalia and Holmes are among the reasons why No. 14 IU (12-1 overall) has won 11 straight games, 12 straight in Big Ten regular season play counting last season. It is within range of the program record for consecutive victories -- 15 during the 1971-72 season.
The Hoosiers learned from a 98-64 mid-November loss at national title contender Stanford. Their winning streak includes a 71-57 victory over top-25 Tennessee as well as that fast conference start.
It reflects elite preparation, Holmes says.
"We know our coaches will prepare us. We know how important every game is. We can't have an off night. Not in this conference.
"We had some growing pains early in the season. That's the past. We're a different team than we were in November."
The difference includes balanced contributions combined with strong passing and ball movement.
"We have different people step up," Moren says. "We had three kids (Holmes, Scalia and Garzon) with 30-point games (in the previous three contests).
"We're getting our scoring not just from Mack, who draws so much attention. I like how we share the ball. We average 20 assists a game. Our ability to recognize who's hot and get them the ball during this run has been terrific."
Terrific doesn't yet extend to the defense, which is the foundation for every Moren-coached team.
"We have to improve our defense," she says. "We show signs of that grittiness and toughness we had a year ago. We're moving in that direction. I see a lot of good moments where we're stingy.
"I want us to stack up three to four possessions where we get stops. That's what we want to do, stack up stops. Our kids understand that. That's what we hang our hats on.
"A lot of different people have stepped up. Along the way, our defense has improved."
The result is a run at a second straight conference regular season title. The Hoosiers are tied with No. 4 Iowa and Nebraska atop the Big Ten standings at 3-0. They will play at Nebraska (11-3 overall) on Sunday. The Cornhuskers are 7-1 at Pinnacle Arena this season.
"We are playing a talented Nebraska team that is outstanding at home," Moren says.
Victory, Holmes adds, starts with following the game plan.
"If we stick to it for 40 minutes, we'll have success. That showed (against Michigan). We know we'll get everyone's best in the Big Ten, night in and night out. It's a matter of executing."
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