The No. 14 Indiana women’s basketball team defeated Northwestern 84-64 at Welsh-Ryan Arena on Tuesday.
Graduate student forward Mackenzie Holmes had 28 points and nine rebounds while shooting 12-for-13 from the field. Senior guards Sara Scalia and Sydney Parrish both had 11 points. Parrish also had 10 rebounds and eight assists against the Wildcats.
Holmes got off to a perfect start in the first quarter as she shot 4-for-4 from the field for eight points. Scalia and sophomore guard Yarden Garzon combined for three 3-pointers on the team’s nine attempts. The Hoosiers had a slight advantage after shooting 47.4% from the field and scoring 12 points in the paint.
However, Northwestern didn't go away without a fight. Junior guard Melannie Daley and sophomore guard Caroline Lau combined for 15 of the team's 21 points as the Wildcats trailed 26-21.
The second quarter resembled the first for the Hoosiers. Holmes continued to shoot perfectly, this time three for three. Senior guard Chloe Moore-McNeil scored four points to help the Hoosiers with their presence in the paint. The Hoosiers took a 43-33 lead into halftime.
The floodgates opened during the third quarter as Indiana found its rhythm on offense. Holmes broke her perfect shooting streak but she still shot 5-for-6 from the field for 12 points, matching Northwestern’s total that quarter.
Scalia and Parrish each made a 3-pointer and freshman guard Julianna LaMendola had six points on perfect shooting in the quarter. Indiana had a 71-45 lead going into the final frame after scoring 14 points in the paint and 11 off turnovers in the third quarter.
Indiana unloaded its bench in the last quarter and its reserves scored 11 points. Sophomore forward Lilly Meister had the bench unit’s high mark with six points. Northwestern junior guard Hailey Weaver led the Wildcats in the fourth with eight points, but it was not enough, and the Hoosiers went home with a victory.
Indiana secured its 23rd win of the season and the Hoosiers will head back to Bloomington for a game against Maryland. The final game of the regular season is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET on Sunday at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
