After a tough loss to North Carolina in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament, Indiana women’s basketball returned to the court with a dominant 78-53 win over Maine on Sunday.
The Hoosiers were led by Chloe Moore-McNeil, who scored 22 points and played a key role in the offense and defense. Lilly Meister added 18 points and a game-high nine rebounds, while Yarden Garzon contributed 11 points.
Efficient shooting and strong defense propel Indiana
The Hoosiers (5-2) showed resilience after the loss, coming out with energy and focus. Indiana quickly regained its offensive rhythm by shooting an impressive 53% from the field. In contrast, Maine struggled with their shooting, finishing at just 43%.
Indiana’s 3-point shooting also was particularly effective, connecting on 11 of 22 attempts for a 50% shooting percentage from beyond the arc.
“I think we came out with a lot of energy tonight,” Moore-McNeil said. “We wanted to prove we can bounce back after the loss. Our focus was on playing our game, taking good shots, and working together as a team.”
Defense and turnovers key to Indiana’s success
While Moore-McNeil sparked the offense, it was the Hoosiers’ defense that set the tone. Maine’s Caroline Dotsey led the Black Bears with 17 points, but Indiana held the rest of the team in check.
The Hoosiers forced 16 turnovers and stifled Maine’s offensive rhythm throughout the game.
“We were locked in on defense from the start,” Meister said. “We really focused on the little things—boxing out, getting rebounds, and being active on defense. Once we got our defense going, everything else fell into place.”
Indiana dominates the boards
While their consistency on offense and defense made a big difference in the game. Indiana dominated the boards, finishing with 30 rebounds compared to Maine’s 26.
This rebounding advantage allowed the Hoosiers to control the game’s tempo and limit Maine’s second-chance opportunities.
“Everyone contributed, and it was a complete team effort,” Meister said. “We focused on defense, rebounding, and executing on offense.”
Balanced contributions from the Hoosiers
The Hoosiers also got strong contributions from Shay Ciezki, who had seven assists and six points. Ciezki’s vision and composure helped Indiana’s ball movement.
Also Julianna LaMendola added eight points, three rebounds and two assists, providing another spark for the Hoosiers’ offense.
Team depth shines in Parrish’s absence
Even without graduate Sydney Parrish in the starting lineup, the Hoosiers found a way to come together. Parrish’s absence was felt, but the team stepped up, showcasing their depth and resilience.
“Everyone stepped up today,” head coach Teri Moren said. “We had players take on bigger roles with Sydney out, and they responded the way we needed them to. I was especially proud of our defense tonight. We’ve been working on that, and I think we really locked in.”
Moren’s reflection on the game and looking ahead
“This was exactly the kind of performance we needed after the tournament,” Moren said. “We got back to playing our style of basketball, and the team responded in a big way. Chloe and Lily were huge for us, and we saw contributions from all over the lineup.”
Second-half surge seals the win
Indiana took control of the game in the second half, pushing its lead to as much as 27 points with a 9-0 run midway through the period. That stretch effectively put the game out of reach for Maine, and the Hoosiers cruised to a 78-53 victory.
Looking ahead to Southern Indiana
With the win over Maine, Indiana now turns its attention to the next non-conference game against Southern Indiana on Wednesday, where the Hoosiers will continue building on this performance.
“This is a step in the right direction for us,” Moren said. “We’re taking it one game at a time, and we’re looking forward to the challenges ahead. This team is capable of a lot, and we just need to keep putting in the work.”
