Indiana University Athletics
“We’re A Tough Team” – Blue Collar Indiana Set Up For Success
3/29/2024 9:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
ALBANY, N.Y. - There was no quit. No way. Not with this much at stake. Not with a comeback for the ages within reach, an Elite Eight berth tantalizingly close and a seemingly unbeatable foe ready to fall.
Friday night's 79-75 Sweet Sixteen score didn't reflect the scare Indiana put into top-seeded South Carolina (35-0), the shock the fourth-seeded Hoosiers (26-6) nearly delivered to the nation.
"We're a tough team," guard Sydney Parrish said. "We're fighters, and I think we showed that. I think it put us on the map."
IU graduate forward Mackenzie Holmes couldn't stop the tears. Not a chance. So much had been given -- sweat, blood, injury, effort. So much had been gained -- victories, records, lifetime memories, friendships that would last as long as Hoosiers can love.
"Anyone who knows me knows how much I love being a Hoosier," Holmes said. "I loved every second."
Logic suggested the game was over when South Carolina's lead reached 22 points in the third quarter, but this was never about logic. Hoosier belief, toughness, passion and togetherness took over. IU chopped 20 points off that deficit.
With 58 seconds, it had a chance. With 15 seconds left, it had a chance.
That chance didn't become victory misses the point.
"We are blue collar," coach Teri Moren said. "We play with a chip. We are okay with people giving us an underdog role.
"We're going to show up every day, practice, work hard and be aggressive, fight like crazy to win, and do it together.
"We don't care who scores. We want to win."
Of course, Holmes cried. Her college career was over (with a program-record 2,530 points) and goodbyes are always hard when you care. Holmes cares. Moren cares. Parrish, Chloe Moore-McNeil, Sara Scalia, Yarden Garzon and all the other Hoosiers care deeply.
"I wouldn't be this upset if it didn't mean so much to me," Holmes said. "I've met friends that have turned into family, people that I'll have with me for the rest of my life. I think that's the greatest accomplishment of all."
Added Moren: "Mackenzie has been one of the greatest players ever to put on an Indiana uniform. I'm sad for her because I know she's sad that it's over."
Parrish tried willing IU to victory with a late three-point barrage because that's what it would take to slay a college Goliath. She made five of them and scored 21 points. Garzon and Moore-McNeil each made three. Scalia added two. Holmes tried four of them -- huge for a player who had only taken eight of them (making two) all season -- but necessary given the Gamecocks imposing 6-7 All-American center Kamilla Cardoso. Holmes missed them all and finished with 12 points.
The Hoosiers nearly matched South Carolina in rebounds (32 to 30) and won the second half 43-30.
"We won the third quarter," Moren said. "We won the fourth quarter. The momentum was on our side throughout. We're disappointed because we wanted to move on. We have a very special team."
It wasn't enough, but this much seems certain:
IU, with three Sweet Sixteen appearances and one Big Ten regular season title in the last four seasons, will be back. The future remains bright.
Moore-McNeil and Parrish are returning for final seasons. Garzon will be back, as will key reserves Lexus Bargesser, Lilly Meister and Julianna LaMendola, plus promising backups Lenée Beaumon, Henna Sandvik and Sharnecce Currie-Jelks.
"Hopefully, Syd will help lead this team in help making that next step," Moren said.
IU will bring in a pair of outstanding high school players in 6-4 Faith Wiseman of Martinsville, Ind., and 6-3 Sydney Fenn of New York. Both are versatile high-school double-double threats with major college potential.
Then there's Name Image License and the transfer portal, both so vital to the 21stCentury college game.
And yet …
"At Indiana, NIL is a part of it," Moren said, "but the retention piece is so important. The only way to get your kids to stay is by having great relationships with them, loving them up and caring for them on and off the floor, impacting them.
"I want all our kids to leave Indiana and believe that there's nothing in life that they can't accomplish."
As far as Friday night …
South Carolina's season-long dominance was reflected by its 31-point average margin of victory and 105-3 record over the past three years. It had inside firepower with Cardoso, perimeter sharpshooting from multiple players and punishing depth.
For a while, it seemed too much.
IU fell behind 10-2 but didn't rattle. Garzon hit a three-pointer. Holmes had a pair of free throws. Scalia made a jumper. Parrish's three-pointer tied it at 12-12.
Foul trouble sent Holmes to the bench and the Hoosiers into three-point-shooting mode. It didn't work. They were 3-for-12 from beyond the arc in the first quarter. South Carolina was 5-for-7 and built a 28-15 lead.
Moren's message -- hit open shots and tighten up the perimeter defense without becoming inside vulnerable.
IU responded with a 7-0 run capped by a Moore-McNeil three-pointer for a 28-22 score. Holmes came back in. Garzon added a three-pointer. Moore-McNeil hit another three-pointer to cut South Carolina's lead to 34-28 before the Gamecocks surged to a 49-32 halftime lead.
South Carolina built leads as large as 22 points in the third quarter. Eight straight Parrish points and two from Garzon got the Hoosiers within 61-50. They trailed 65-55 after three quarters.
A Holmes hook shot got IU within eight. A Parrish three-pointer made it 65-60 with seven minutes left.
Another Parrish three-pointer after a Scalia steal got the Hoosiers within 70-65 with less than four minutes left. Scalia's three pointer cut the lead to four with two minutes left. A Holmes layup made it 74-72 with 58 seconds remaining.
South Carolina hit a three-pointer. Holmes countered with another basket for a 77-74 score with 30 seconds left.
IU couldn't get any closer. The Gamecocks won, but knew how close their season had come to ending.
"Indiana is a tough team that wanted to move on," South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said. "They gave an incredible effort in the third and fourth quarter to get back in the game and put us on our heels."
As for the Hoosiers, Holmes said, "We battled our butts whether shots were falling or not. We kept getting back on defense, keep getting stops, kept making plays.
"We did not go down without a fight. That's all we can ask for."
IUHoosiers.com
ALBANY, N.Y. - There was no quit. No way. Not with this much at stake. Not with a comeback for the ages within reach, an Elite Eight berth tantalizingly close and a seemingly unbeatable foe ready to fall.
Friday night's 79-75 Sweet Sixteen score didn't reflect the scare Indiana put into top-seeded South Carolina (35-0), the shock the fourth-seeded Hoosiers (26-6) nearly delivered to the nation.
"We're a tough team," guard Sydney Parrish said. "We're fighters, and I think we showed that. I think it put us on the map."
IU graduate forward Mackenzie Holmes couldn't stop the tears. Not a chance. So much had been given -- sweat, blood, injury, effort. So much had been gained -- victories, records, lifetime memories, friendships that would last as long as Hoosiers can love.
"Anyone who knows me knows how much I love being a Hoosier," Holmes said. "I loved every second."
Logic suggested the game was over when South Carolina's lead reached 22 points in the third quarter, but this was never about logic. Hoosier belief, toughness, passion and togetherness took over. IU chopped 20 points off that deficit.
With 58 seconds, it had a chance. With 15 seconds left, it had a chance.
That chance didn't become victory misses the point.
"We are blue collar," coach Teri Moren said. "We play with a chip. We are okay with people giving us an underdog role.
"We're going to show up every day, practice, work hard and be aggressive, fight like crazy to win, and do it together.
"We don't care who scores. We want to win."
Of course, Holmes cried. Her college career was over (with a program-record 2,530 points) and goodbyes are always hard when you care. Holmes cares. Moren cares. Parrish, Chloe Moore-McNeil, Sara Scalia, Yarden Garzon and all the other Hoosiers care deeply.
"I wouldn't be this upset if it didn't mean so much to me," Holmes said. "I've met friends that have turned into family, people that I'll have with me for the rest of my life. I think that's the greatest accomplishment of all."
Added Moren: "Mackenzie has been one of the greatest players ever to put on an Indiana uniform. I'm sad for her because I know she's sad that it's over."
Parrish tried willing IU to victory with a late three-point barrage because that's what it would take to slay a college Goliath. She made five of them and scored 21 points. Garzon and Moore-McNeil each made three. Scalia added two. Holmes tried four of them -- huge for a player who had only taken eight of them (making two) all season -- but necessary given the Gamecocks imposing 6-7 All-American center Kamilla Cardoso. Holmes missed them all and finished with 12 points.
The Hoosiers nearly matched South Carolina in rebounds (32 to 30) and won the second half 43-30.
"We won the third quarter," Moren said. "We won the fourth quarter. The momentum was on our side throughout. We're disappointed because we wanted to move on. We have a very special team."
It wasn't enough, but this much seems certain:
IU, with three Sweet Sixteen appearances and one Big Ten regular season title in the last four seasons, will be back. The future remains bright.
Moore-McNeil and Parrish are returning for final seasons. Garzon will be back, as will key reserves Lexus Bargesser, Lilly Meister and Julianna LaMendola, plus promising backups Lenée Beaumon, Henna Sandvik and Sharnecce Currie-Jelks.
"Hopefully, Syd will help lead this team in help making that next step," Moren said.
IU will bring in a pair of outstanding high school players in 6-4 Faith Wiseman of Martinsville, Ind., and 6-3 Sydney Fenn of New York. Both are versatile high-school double-double threats with major college potential.
Then there's Name Image License and the transfer portal, both so vital to the 21stCentury college game.
And yet …
"At Indiana, NIL is a part of it," Moren said, "but the retention piece is so important. The only way to get your kids to stay is by having great relationships with them, loving them up and caring for them on and off the floor, impacting them.
"I want all our kids to leave Indiana and believe that there's nothing in life that they can't accomplish."
As far as Friday night …
South Carolina's season-long dominance was reflected by its 31-point average margin of victory and 105-3 record over the past three years. It had inside firepower with Cardoso, perimeter sharpshooting from multiple players and punishing depth.
For a while, it seemed too much.
IU fell behind 10-2 but didn't rattle. Garzon hit a three-pointer. Holmes had a pair of free throws. Scalia made a jumper. Parrish's three-pointer tied it at 12-12.
Foul trouble sent Holmes to the bench and the Hoosiers into three-point-shooting mode. It didn't work. They were 3-for-12 from beyond the arc in the first quarter. South Carolina was 5-for-7 and built a 28-15 lead.
Moren's message -- hit open shots and tighten up the perimeter defense without becoming inside vulnerable.
IU responded with a 7-0 run capped by a Moore-McNeil three-pointer for a 28-22 score. Holmes came back in. Garzon added a three-pointer. Moore-McNeil hit another three-pointer to cut South Carolina's lead to 34-28 before the Gamecocks surged to a 49-32 halftime lead.
South Carolina built leads as large as 22 points in the third quarter. Eight straight Parrish points and two from Garzon got the Hoosiers within 61-50. They trailed 65-55 after three quarters.
A Holmes hook shot got IU within eight. A Parrish three-pointer made it 65-60 with seven minutes left.
Another Parrish three-pointer after a Scalia steal got the Hoosiers within 70-65 with less than four minutes left. Scalia's three pointer cut the lead to four with two minutes left. A Holmes layup made it 74-72 with 58 seconds remaining.
South Carolina hit a three-pointer. Holmes countered with another basket for a 77-74 score with 30 seconds left.
IU couldn't get any closer. The Gamecocks won, but knew how close their season had come to ending.
"Indiana is a tough team that wanted to move on," South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said. "They gave an incredible effort in the third and fourth quarter to get back in the game and put us on our heels."
As for the Hoosiers, Holmes said, "We battled our butts whether shots were falling or not. We kept getting back on defense, keep getting stops, kept making plays.
"We did not go down without a fight. That's all we can ask for."
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