First Quarter Sparks Indiana To Victory Over Northwestern

Sunday, February 1

Bloomington, Ind.

2 P.M. ET

Indiana University

12-11,1-10Big Ten

Northwestern

8-14,2-9Big Ten

Northwestern

Indiana

First Quarter Sparks Indiana To Victory Over Northwestern

2/1/2026 5:51:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Postgame Press Conference Photo Gallery

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana's offense clicked in a big way on Sunday afternoon as it picked up an 89-75 win over Northwestern at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

KEY MOMENTS

Indiana's (12-11, 1-10 B1G) offense was churning in the first quarter as it went on a 30-0 run that spanned over nine minutes as it built a 30-3 lead after one. Redshirt sophomore guard Lenée Beaumont sparked the offense with 12 points and going 6-for-6 from the floor in the opening frame.
It would go on to shoot 60.6 percent in the opening half, taking a 55-26 lead at the break. Freshman forward Maya Makalusky would ignite IU's offense in the second, scoring 11 of her 21 points in the second.
As they maintained a third quarter edge as well, 75-52, as Northwestern (8-14, 2-9 B1G) made a run late in the game.
The Wildcats capitalized off turnovers in their press attack, coming within as few as 10 with 4:52 to play. Ciezki scored six of IU's last 12 points to lead them to its first Big Ten win of the season.

NOTABLE

Indiana scored the most points in a first quarter this season with 30 and set a new season first half point total off 55 points.
Ciezki finished with her sixth 30-plus point scoring game of the season with a team-high 33 points. The Buffalo, N.Y. native went 11-for-18 from the floor and 5-for-9 from the 3-point line. She also had a team-high eight boards and five assists in the win.
Beaumont had a career-high 24 points as she finished with her fifth game of 20-points or more this season.
Makalusky added 21 points, finishing a point shy of her season-high.
Indiana wins its seventh straight game over Northwestern in the all-time series and leads 45-39 all-time.
The Hoosiers connected on 10 3-pointers, its fifth time this season scoring 10 or more 3-pointers. They finished 45.5 percent on the day from beyond-the-arc.
Indiana also won the battle on the boards, 37-28.

UP NEXT
The Hoosiers are on the road for a midweek matchup at Wisconsin on Wednesday, Feb. 4 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

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