During the third quarter of Wednesday night’s game against Wisconsin, Indiana freshman guard Lenée Beaumont weaved through traffic inside the arc as she found space on the left side.
Beaumont tossed it to senior guard Sara Scalia, who took the shot from the top left of the arc.
In front of many of her family members, Scalia’s fourth 3-pointer of the night set the program’s season record for most 3-point shots made in a season.
“I didn’t really know for sure how many I was,” Scalia said. “I was just trying to focus on the game.”
No. 14 Indiana women’s basketball defeated Wisconsin 68-54 on Wednesday night at the Kohl Center.
Indiana graduate student forward Mackenzie Holmes scored 24 points with eight rebounds and four steals.
Senior guard Chloe Moore-McNeil had 12 points, five assists, four rebounds and shot a perfect 4-for-4 from outside. In her past two games, she has gone a perfect 9-for-9 from 3-point range.
Scalia finished with 15 points, three rebounds and four 3-pointers. Her fourth 3-pointer was the 79th of the season, surpassing former Indiana forward Amanda Cahill’s record of 78.
In the first quarter, the Hoosiers struggled. The Badgers worked inside for the most part and drew fouls early. Sophomore guard Yarden Garzon and freshman guard Julianna LaMendola each notched two fouls, the Badgers got eight points in the paint and won the rebounding battle 7-4 to keep the game a close 20-19.
“Well, tonight was a little bit different,” Indiana head coach Teri Moren said. “Uncharacteristic of a night that we didn’t shoot the ball well.”
Despite the close score, Scalia went 2-for-3 from outside and led the team in scoring with six points that quarter. Holmes made her second 3 this season.
Indiana outscored Wisconsin 21-6 and forced seven turnovers in the second quarter. Holmes shot 3-for-4 from the field and had seven points. Fourteen of Indiana’s 21 points came off Badger turnovers and six came within the paint. Scalia would have one more 3-pointer, which tied the record.
Holmes and Scalia each had 12 points at the end of the half. Wisconsin sophomore forward Serah Williams and sophomore guard Ronnie Porter each had eight points to lead their team at the end of the half.
The Hoosiers struggled offensively during the third quarter as they only scored seven points. They shot 3-for-13 from the field and 1-for-6 from outside. Wisconsin was effective as it shot 66.7% from the field and outscored Indiana 14-7 to end the third 48-39. During the quarter, Williams had six while she shot 3-for-5 from the field on her home court.
Scalia drained a 3 with 35.4 to go which not only broke the season record but gave Indiana a much-needed spark going into the fourth.
The fourth quarter once again became an effective use of time for the Hoosiers. IU scored 10 points in the paint and Holmes shot 5-for-7 for 10 points. Sophomore forward Lilly Meister made her first career 3-point shot. Moore-McNeil shot 2-for-2 from the arc and had six for herself to cement the team’s 21st win of the season.
The Badgers shot 30% from the field and 90% from the free-throw line for a 15-point quarter, but it was not enough to combat the Hoosiers late in the game and lost 68-54.
Now 21-3 overall and 12-2 in the Big Ten, Indiana will continue its road travels for a game against Illinois. It is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Monday.
