Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Like It Fast As They Prepare for No. 1 UCLA
1/2/2025 11:45:00 AM | Women's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Let other teams play it slow. Indiana punishes with pace. It attacks the paint (by drive and pass), thrives on the perimeter, cuts and passes, and more and more, defends to its coach's liking.
What will that mean Saturday at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, when the Hoosiers (10-3 overall, 2-0 in the Big Ten) host top ranked UCLA (14-0, 3-0) with an opportunity to make a conference and national statement?
We're about to find out.
Consider the way IU, which began the season ranked No. 25, has bounced back from three early losses to win six straight. It has figured out how to play without All-American post player Mackenzie Holmes and All-Big Ten guard Sara Scalia. It has 21, 27, 27 and 25 assists in its last four games. Sharing has become contagious.
"It's reps," coach Teri Moren says. "You can see how much better it is when play in space and with space and get the ball out of our hands. We talk about movement and getting ball out of our hands. We emphasize that every day in practice. Our kids like playing fast. We'll continue to rep it. We have to continue to do it."
In last Saturday's 83-52 win over Wisconsin, the Hoosiers had 25 assists against eight turnovers. Moren calls that, "pretty terrific."
"We try to take advantage of what the defense gives us," she says. "We want to get teams in defensive rotations so maybe their close-outs are not as controlled."
As far as players, veteran forward Sydney Parrish is back after suffering a knee injury that cost her five games. Against the Badgers, she had 13 points, three assists, two rebounds and two steals. For the season, she averages 10.0 points and 5.9 rebounds.
"It's great to have her back," Moren said. "She has a super-high basketball IQ. She's really mature. She understands how valuable she is. Her leadership is incredible. She's a great teammate. She pours everything into her teammates. They all have different buttons to push and she has a good feel for what they need from her."
Against Wisconsin, guard Yarden Garzon was a plus-29 with 13 points, seven rebounds, five assists and four blocks. She averages a 14.1 points and 4.8 rebounds with 48 assists. She's made a team-leading 36 three-pointers while shooting 40 percent beyond the arc.
"She's always been a person we count on the most in terms of making a shot," Moren says. "She came in super mature. What we got was special. She's fun to coach."
IU brought in two key transfers in guard Shay Ciezki from Penn State and 6-3 forward Karoline Striplin from Tennessee, and they continue to make difference-making impact.
Ciezki averages 11.9 points and has made 18 three-pointers. She has started every game and averages a team-leading 34 minutes. Striplin comes off the bench and in 14 minutes per game averages 9.0 points and 3.6 rebounds. In a three-game stretch against Penn State, Bellarmine and Oakland, she had 27, 18 and 16 points.
"She had a couple of back-to-back games where she was lights out offensively," Moren says. "A lot of what she does don't show up on the stat sheet.
"She's physical. She understands the game plan. She's experienced and reliable. We needed her to be a great defensively against (All-Big Ten Wisconsin forward Serah Williams), and she was. She's so important defensively for us."
The Hoosiers will face their biggest challenge of the season with UCLA, a juggernaut with 13 straight double-digit victories after a season-opening 66-59 win over Louisville. That includes a 77-62 win over second ranked and defending national champion South Carolina. The Bruins' average score is 84-51.
Four players average double figures in scoring with four others averaging at least 7.5 points. Eight players average at least 15.1 minutes per game.
Center Lauren Betts averages 19.9 points and 9.8 rebounds with 22 blocks. Guard Kiki Rice averages 13.0 points. UCLA has five players 6-4 or taller, with Betts at 6-7.
In their first run through the Big Ten, the Bruins have controlled Washington, Nebraska and Michigan, winning by at least 11 points, with a pair of road victories.
This was not unexpected given they have won 27 games and reached the NCAA tourney Sweet Sixteen in each of the two previous seasons.
As Moren said, "They are really good. They have a lot of weapons and depth."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Let other teams play it slow. Indiana punishes with pace. It attacks the paint (by drive and pass), thrives on the perimeter, cuts and passes, and more and more, defends to its coach's liking.
What will that mean Saturday at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, when the Hoosiers (10-3 overall, 2-0 in the Big Ten) host top ranked UCLA (14-0, 3-0) with an opportunity to make a conference and national statement?
We're about to find out.
Consider the way IU, which began the season ranked No. 25, has bounced back from three early losses to win six straight. It has figured out how to play without All-American post player Mackenzie Holmes and All-Big Ten guard Sara Scalia. It has 21, 27, 27 and 25 assists in its last four games. Sharing has become contagious.
"It's reps," coach Teri Moren says. "You can see how much better it is when play in space and with space and get the ball out of our hands. We talk about movement and getting ball out of our hands. We emphasize that every day in practice. Our kids like playing fast. We'll continue to rep it. We have to continue to do it."
In last Saturday's 83-52 win over Wisconsin, the Hoosiers had 25 assists against eight turnovers. Moren calls that, "pretty terrific."
"We try to take advantage of what the defense gives us," she says. "We want to get teams in defensive rotations so maybe their close-outs are not as controlled."
As far as players, veteran forward Sydney Parrish is back after suffering a knee injury that cost her five games. Against the Badgers, she had 13 points, three assists, two rebounds and two steals. For the season, she averages 10.0 points and 5.9 rebounds.
"It's great to have her back," Moren said. "She has a super-high basketball IQ. She's really mature. She understands how valuable she is. Her leadership is incredible. She's a great teammate. She pours everything into her teammates. They all have different buttons to push and she has a good feel for what they need from her."
Against Wisconsin, guard Yarden Garzon was a plus-29 with 13 points, seven rebounds, five assists and four blocks. She averages a 14.1 points and 4.8 rebounds with 48 assists. She's made a team-leading 36 three-pointers while shooting 40 percent beyond the arc.
"She's always been a person we count on the most in terms of making a shot," Moren says. "She came in super mature. What we got was special. She's fun to coach."
IU brought in two key transfers in guard Shay Ciezki from Penn State and 6-3 forward Karoline Striplin from Tennessee, and they continue to make difference-making impact.
Ciezki averages 11.9 points and has made 18 three-pointers. She has started every game and averages a team-leading 34 minutes. Striplin comes off the bench and in 14 minutes per game averages 9.0 points and 3.6 rebounds. In a three-game stretch against Penn State, Bellarmine and Oakland, she had 27, 18 and 16 points.
"She had a couple of back-to-back games where she was lights out offensively," Moren says. "A lot of what she does don't show up on the stat sheet.
"She's physical. She understands the game plan. She's experienced and reliable. We needed her to be a great defensively against (All-Big Ten Wisconsin forward Serah Williams), and she was. She's so important defensively for us."
The Hoosiers will face their biggest challenge of the season with UCLA, a juggernaut with 13 straight double-digit victories after a season-opening 66-59 win over Louisville. That includes a 77-62 win over second ranked and defending national champion South Carolina. The Bruins' average score is 84-51.
Four players average double figures in scoring with four others averaging at least 7.5 points. Eight players average at least 15.1 minutes per game.
Center Lauren Betts averages 19.9 points and 9.8 rebounds with 22 blocks. Guard Kiki Rice averages 13.0 points. UCLA has five players 6-4 or taller, with Betts at 6-7.
In their first run through the Big Ten, the Bruins have controlled Washington, Nebraska and Michigan, winning by at least 11 points, with a pair of road victories.
This was not unexpected given they have won 27 games and reached the NCAA tourney Sweet Sixteen in each of the two previous seasons.
As Moren said, "They are really good. They have a lot of weapons and depth."
Players Mentioned
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