Indiana University Athletics
Refuse To Lose – Hoosiers Rise To Challenge To Make Sweet Sixteen
3/25/2024 10:35:00 PM | Women's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Sometimes, you just refuse to lose.
Sometimes, after a series challenges -- some self-inflicted, some opponent caused -- you rise to the challenge, make the layups, jumpers and free throws that must be made; force the turnovers and missed shots that make a difference.
Sometimes, if you're the Indiana Hoosiers, down four points and three minutes from a second straight NCAA tourney second-round Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall defeat, you do what needs to be done, rally for a 75-68 victory over Oklahoma, and earn a Sweet Sixteen shot at top-ranked South Carolina Friday night in Albany, N.Y.
"I thought the team that wanted it the most would win," Indiana coach Teri Moren said. "In the fourth quarter, we were the team that really wanted to win."
A game that featured 21 lead changes and 10 ties, a game that IU led for just seven minutes to Oklahoma's 26, a game in which the fourth-seeded Hoosiers (26-5) made just 14 of 32 layups, it came down to this:
Get the ball to All-American forward Mackenzie Holmes.
She scored 12 points in the fourth quarter and finished with a program NCAA tourney single-game record 29. She scored six straight points to wipe out the Sooners' 64-60 lead, making layups she'd previously missed, and then, when it was over, led a post-game race into the student section to celebrate.
"I don't know anyone in the country who can stop Mack in the fourth quarter," forward Sydney Parrish said.
Unstoppable was born of frustration from missing 10 of her first 17 shots, mostly layups.
"I was missing shots I knew I should make," Holmes said. "Coach kept me confident. My teammates kept my motivation up. I didn't want to end my last game in Assembly Hall with a loss. I couldn't let it happen again. I would do everything in my power not to let that happen."
She paused.
"The team believes in me even when I don't believe in myself."
Belief was everywhere down the stretch, and if it helped produce a post-game soaking of Moren, she was all in.
"They got me pretty good. It was worth it to celebrate with that group."
Fifth-seeded Oklahoma (23-10) won the Big 12 regular season title in part because of its fast pace, rebounding and physical play.
IU struggled to counter it -- until it mattered most.
"It's the maturity of this team," Holmes said. "No deficit is too much. We have so many threats. We're so well balanced. It's the competitiveness we have. We're never going to quit. We're a team that will fight for 40 minutes."
Fight included Parrish, and it went well beyond her 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Last year's second-round loss to Miami of Florida still burned. Parrish didn't want a repeat.
During that closing rally, she grabbed a rebound and refused to let it go, even when pounded by a couple of Sooners to draw a foul. She made a pair of decisive free throws, then punched the air when victory was assured.
"Playing with these girls has been so much fun," she said. "We said every game we play at home we need to protect Assembly Hall, and we did that."
IU finished 17-0 at home, the second time in program history it has finished undefeated.
"We wanted (the seniors) to have a final special moment," Parrish said.
The seniors included guard Sara Scalia, who struggled to get a shot for much of the game, but took charge in the closing seconds to help seal the victory. She finished with 12 points, seven coming from the free throw line.
"It was hard for her to get open," Parrish said, "but she didn't let that get to her. Down the stretch, she made huge free throws that potentially won the game."
Parrish was an early catalyst with a three-pointer, a block, and drawing an Oklahoma foul. Still, after five minutes, defense ruled. The teams were tied at 10-10 on a combined 9-for-22 shooting.
With Holmes and Parrish each scoring eight points, IU ended the first quarter in a 19-19 tie.
The Sooners inched ahead 26-22. The Hoosiers inched back for a 29-28 lead on Scalia's three-pointer, but trailed 30-29 at halftime. Parrish led with 12 points. Holmes had nine.
Consecutive Oklahoma jumpers, combined with multiple IU missed layups, left the Hoosiers in a 45-38 hole midway through the third quarter and forced a Moren timeout.
IU responded with five straight points, but missed multiple chances to tie or take the lead. The third quarter ended with a 48-46 Oklahoma lead.
Holmes powered in a layup 35 seconds into the fourth quarter, then another two minutes later. Scalia scored for a one-point Hoosier lead, its first since late in the second quarter.
Guard Yarden Garzon scored for another one-point IU advantage. Scalia hit a pair of free throws and Holmes made a layup for yet another Hoosier one-point lead.
Still, Oklahoma pushed ahead 64-60 as the clock ticked under three minutes.
Then the Hoosiers got tough. Defensively, they forced two straight Oklahoma turnovers and a missed shot. Six straight Holmes points gave them a two-point lead. Garzon's jumper made it 68-64. Scalia followed with a pair of free throws for a six-point lead.
IU would advance.
"We had to give everything we had," Moren said.
Added Oklahoma coach Jennie Baranczyk: "This is a tough one. Indiana is a great team, but this is a tough one to swallow."
Next up is South Carolina (34-0), which has been so dominant, it's only had four games decided by less than 10-points or less. In two NCAA tourney games, the Gamecocks won by 52 and 47 points.
But that's for future consideration. For now, there's victory to enjoy and preparations to plan.
"It means everything," Holmes said about IU's third Sweet Sixteen appearance in the last four years. "This is the vision that Coach Moren had for this program. I knew when I got on campus (for her official visit), I wanted to be part of it."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Sometimes, you just refuse to lose.
Sometimes, after a series challenges -- some self-inflicted, some opponent caused -- you rise to the challenge, make the layups, jumpers and free throws that must be made; force the turnovers and missed shots that make a difference.
Sometimes, if you're the Indiana Hoosiers, down four points and three minutes from a second straight NCAA tourney second-round Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall defeat, you do what needs to be done, rally for a 75-68 victory over Oklahoma, and earn a Sweet Sixteen shot at top-ranked South Carolina Friday night in Albany, N.Y.
"I thought the team that wanted it the most would win," Indiana coach Teri Moren said. "In the fourth quarter, we were the team that really wanted to win."
A game that featured 21 lead changes and 10 ties, a game that IU led for just seven minutes to Oklahoma's 26, a game in which the fourth-seeded Hoosiers (26-5) made just 14 of 32 layups, it came down to this:
Get the ball to All-American forward Mackenzie Holmes.
She scored 12 points in the fourth quarter and finished with a program NCAA tourney single-game record 29. She scored six straight points to wipe out the Sooners' 64-60 lead, making layups she'd previously missed, and then, when it was over, led a post-game race into the student section to celebrate.
"I don't know anyone in the country who can stop Mack in the fourth quarter," forward Sydney Parrish said.
Unstoppable was born of frustration from missing 10 of her first 17 shots, mostly layups.
"I was missing shots I knew I should make," Holmes said. "Coach kept me confident. My teammates kept my motivation up. I didn't want to end my last game in Assembly Hall with a loss. I couldn't let it happen again. I would do everything in my power not to let that happen."
She paused.
"The team believes in me even when I don't believe in myself."
Belief was everywhere down the stretch, and if it helped produce a post-game soaking of Moren, she was all in.
"They got me pretty good. It was worth it to celebrate with that group."
Fifth-seeded Oklahoma (23-10) won the Big 12 regular season title in part because of its fast pace, rebounding and physical play.
IU struggled to counter it -- until it mattered most.
"It's the maturity of this team," Holmes said. "No deficit is too much. We have so many threats. We're so well balanced. It's the competitiveness we have. We're never going to quit. We're a team that will fight for 40 minutes."
Fight included Parrish, and it went well beyond her 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Last year's second-round loss to Miami of Florida still burned. Parrish didn't want a repeat.
During that closing rally, she grabbed a rebound and refused to let it go, even when pounded by a couple of Sooners to draw a foul. She made a pair of decisive free throws, then punched the air when victory was assured.
"Playing with these girls has been so much fun," she said. "We said every game we play at home we need to protect Assembly Hall, and we did that."
IU finished 17-0 at home, the second time in program history it has finished undefeated.
"We wanted (the seniors) to have a final special moment," Parrish said.
The seniors included guard Sara Scalia, who struggled to get a shot for much of the game, but took charge in the closing seconds to help seal the victory. She finished with 12 points, seven coming from the free throw line.
"It was hard for her to get open," Parrish said, "but she didn't let that get to her. Down the stretch, she made huge free throws that potentially won the game."
Parrish was an early catalyst with a three-pointer, a block, and drawing an Oklahoma foul. Still, after five minutes, defense ruled. The teams were tied at 10-10 on a combined 9-for-22 shooting.
With Holmes and Parrish each scoring eight points, IU ended the first quarter in a 19-19 tie.
The Sooners inched ahead 26-22. The Hoosiers inched back for a 29-28 lead on Scalia's three-pointer, but trailed 30-29 at halftime. Parrish led with 12 points. Holmes had nine.
Consecutive Oklahoma jumpers, combined with multiple IU missed layups, left the Hoosiers in a 45-38 hole midway through the third quarter and forced a Moren timeout.
IU responded with five straight points, but missed multiple chances to tie or take the lead. The third quarter ended with a 48-46 Oklahoma lead.
Holmes powered in a layup 35 seconds into the fourth quarter, then another two minutes later. Scalia scored for a one-point Hoosier lead, its first since late in the second quarter.
Guard Yarden Garzon scored for another one-point IU advantage. Scalia hit a pair of free throws and Holmes made a layup for yet another Hoosier one-point lead.
Still, Oklahoma pushed ahead 64-60 as the clock ticked under three minutes.
Then the Hoosiers got tough. Defensively, they forced two straight Oklahoma turnovers and a missed shot. Six straight Holmes points gave them a two-point lead. Garzon's jumper made it 68-64. Scalia followed with a pair of free throws for a six-point lead.
IU would advance.
"We had to give everything we had," Moren said.
Added Oklahoma coach Jennie Baranczyk: "This is a tough one. Indiana is a great team, but this is a tough one to swallow."
Next up is South Carolina (34-0), which has been so dominant, it's only had four games decided by less than 10-points or less. In two NCAA tourney games, the Gamecocks won by 52 and 47 points.
But that's for future consideration. For now, there's victory to enjoy and preparations to plan.
"It means everything," Holmes said about IU's third Sweet Sixteen appearance in the last four years. "This is the vision that Coach Moren had for this program. I knew when I got on campus (for her official visit), I wanted to be part of it."
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