No. 14 Indiana women’s basketball defeated Michigan 80-59 at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Thursday night.
Indiana had a dominant first quarter to start off the game that put them in front for the rest of the night. The team’s offense clicked early as it scored 36 points by being able to score on all areas of the court and going 13-for-13 from the field. The team totaled up to 10 assists on 13 makes.
“Nothing surprises me with this group,” Indiana head coach Teri Moren said, “as far as their ability to knock down shots.”
The Hoosiers knocked down their first 15 shots, the first time a team started 15-for-15 from the field since Jan. 8, 1999 when Portland did it against Pepperdine.
Indiana senior guard Sydney Parrish went 3-for-3 at the arc and 5-for-5 from the field during the first quarter. Indiana graduate student forward Mackenzie Holmes went 4-for-4 from the field and dominated the paint. The defense also held Michigan to 17 points.
Indiana senior guard Sara Scalia, who went 0-for-6 against Illinois, got off to a hot start in the first by going 3-for-3 from the arc and field during the first quarter.
“I don't know why you would ever leave Sara Scalia open from the perimeter,” Holmes said, “but they (Michigan) did, and she made them pay.”
The Hoosier defense also put in the work, holding the Wolverines to 17 points in the first quarter. Michigan’s defense averaged 55.2 points per game on 38% shooting this season. The Wolverines, who were also the top offensive rebounding team in the conference (averaging 15 per game), were only held to 10 offensive rebounds on the night.
During the second quarter, the IU offense took a small step back, scoring 15 points. Holmes improved to 6-for-6 from the field. She and Parrish combined for 28 points and 11-for-11 from the field as Indiana entered halftime with a 51-34 lead.
Michigan’s offense scored 17 points during the second quarter, with junior guard Laila Phelia and graduate student guard Lauren Hansen leading the team with nine points each throughout the first half.
The third quarter rolled around and “The Hostile Hall” erupted as whistles from the referees started to pick up. Despite the fouls starting to pick up, Indiana continued to find ways to score with sophomore guard Yarden Garzon going 2-for-3 from the 3-point arc and leading the team in points that quarter with six.
The Hoosiers defense held Michigan to 14 points in the third with Phelia scoring nine to keep a 68-48 lead.
Despite 43 total fouls shared by both teams with three Hoosiers on the verge of fouling out of the contest, the Hoosiers found a way to prevail in the fourth quarter by keeping their feet on the offense’s gas pedals to score 12 points led by Holmes with four points in the quarter and playing a strict defense that held the Wolverines to 59 points and 1-for-9 from the arc at the end of the game.
Indiana ended up shooting 58.7% from the field, 47.4% from 3-point range and 65.5% from the free-throw line. Holmes had 20 points while going 7-for-10 from the field and seven rebounds. Scalia had 16 points and six assists while shooting 40% from 3-point range and Parrish had 14 points, five assists and shot 5-for-6 from the field.
Michigan on the other hand shot 41.4% from the field, 11.1% from 3-point range and 55.6% from the free-throw line. Phelia led the Wolverines in scoring with 23 points and four rebounds.
Indiana improves to 12-1 on the season with a 3-0 Big Ten record. It heads on the road for a game against Nebraska at 2 p.m. this Sunday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
