‘Surreal Moment’ Finds IU’s Ciezki in First NCAA Tourney

By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - THIS is why Shay Ciezki is an Indiana Hoosier, why the sharp-shooting junior guard transferred from Penn State, why March Madness opportunity is, at last for her, a reality.

"I'm grateful and blessed to be here," she said as No. 9 seed IU (19-12) prepared to face No. 8 Utah (22-8) in Friday's NCAA tourney opener at Columbia, SC. "It's such a surreal moment. When you're a kid, you dream of playing in March, and the last two seasons, I wasn't able to get there.

"With this group, I'm forever grateful that we made it. We're going to keep on winning and shock the world."

Shock could include a Sunday upset of top-seeded South Carolina (30-3) on its home court, but that's getting ahead of things. The priority is Friday's game, and after two Penn State seasons couldn't produce an NCAA tourney opportunity, Ciezki is ready for college basketball's biggest stage.

She's IU's third-leading scorer at 11.6 points while starting every game. She shoots 37.7 percent on three-pointers and 45.3 percent overall.
That's comparable to her Penn State statistics -- 11.8 points as a freshman, 11.5 points as a sophomore.

Ciezki blended right in with returning Indiana veterans such as Chloe Moore-McNeil, Sydney Parrish and Yarden Garzon, who have helped the Hoosiers make six straight NCAA tourneys.

"I think I meshed really well (with the rest of the Hoosiers)," Ciezki said. "When I first got here, they taught me the culture of what it means to be a Hoosier. I'm very grateful for that.
"They're great players. It's easy to play with great players. They showed me the ropes.

"I'm grateful to be here with them, especially with Syd and Chloe and this being their last year. It's a cool moment for all of us."

Parrish appreciated sharing that coolness with Ciezki.

"Shay was excited to hear our name called," Parrish said. "It will be her first NCAA tournament. We're happy for her. There's a reason why she decided to come to Indiana."

Coach Teri Moren has built a winning culture with a strong family component Ciezki fully embraced,

"The culture here is amazing," she said. "Everyone is family. That comes down to the players, coaches, fans, the environment. They make you feel like you're meant to be here. It's such a cool feeling coming in. We have so many great fans and people who support us. You don't see that everywhere else."

Ciezki is one of many transfers who have thrived as Hoosiers. Parrish is another. Ciezki credited the program's strong work ethic.

"It's the work we put in every day. We want to work hard. That comes from the players, and the coaches help with that. You can't force us to go to the gym. We're there before practice, after practice. It shows when we play.

"That speaks volumes about the people Coach Moren brings in and the staff she surrounds herself with."

A Friday victory would give IU its 10^thstraight 20-win season, an impressive level of consistency. Moren credited the players.

"You can only win with high-level, skilled players who really understand that it's more about we than me," she said. "We have to do it together. Nobody is bigger than the program, including myself.
"It's always been about bringing in the right players, protecting the locker room and making sure we live up to the standards we hold ourselves up to every day."

Guards rule in NCAA Tournament, and Indiana has veteran backcourt firepower with its four-guard approach in Moore-McNeil, Garzon, Ciezki and Parrish

"There's no question there's an advantage in terms of how we're able to play offensively," Moren said. "We know we have to be just as good on the defensive side of the ball.

"We feel very confident in how we play, how our guards play, everybody on the outside. It will be important in this tournament as it has been the entire season."

Moore-McNeil is convinced IU will have plenty of supporters on Friday.

"One thing about the IU fan base is we show up," she said. "They always show up for us. Whether it's here or in South Carolina, I have no doubt it will be the same."

As for Utah, coach Lynne Roberts left in early November to become the new head coach of the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks. Associate head coach Gavin Petersen took over and led the Utes into the NCAA tourney for the fourth straight season. He has 23 years of college coaching experience.

Utah is a veteran group led by 2022-23 All-American Gianna Kneepkens (19.2 points while shooting 50.4 percent from the field) and standout guard Kennady McQueen (10.5 points while shooting 49.7 percent from the field and 42.7 percent on three-pointers). Kneepkens ranks in the top-10 nationally in three-pointers (90), three-point shooting (45.3 percent) and three-pointers per game (3.0).
Utah is 14-2 when Kneepkens hits three or more three-pointers in a game. The Utes are 12-20 in NCAA tourney play.

"There's tradition there," Moren said. "It's a winning program. It's been very successful. You don't get into this tournament if you're not good."

Kneepkens said the Utes are "grateful to be here, but we don't want to be okay with being here. We're going to compete every game and every opportunity we have."
Forward Mayé Touré called IU a "very physical team. We have to make sure stay focused."

Added Kneepkens: "They shoot well. They move the ball well. We know what's ahead us. We're prepared."

Petersen praised IU's high level of consistency over the last decade, including its hosting several first and second-round games. He said he expected a fast-paced game.
"Our kids are prepared. Our main focus is our max effort and intensity."

Added Moren: "We have a good scouting report, game plan, for how we have to guard them. I think it will be a really good game."

‘Surreal Moment’ Finds IU’s Ciezki in First NCAA Tourney

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Players Mentioned

Shay Ciezki