In a game that featured a multitude of scoring runs by both teams, the No. 4 USC Trojans had a big run in the fourth quarter when it mattered most in its 73-66 win over the Indiana Hoosiers.
The 12-0 run that decided the game began with a made three from Oregon State transfer Talia von Oelhoffen. This Trojan run lasted 3 minutes and 14 seconds.
Two Indiana turnovers by a senior leader were ultimately the dagger to the Hoosiers’ chances at an upset.
“Chloe (Moore-McNeil) came down and turned it over back to back times,” Indiana head coach Teri Moren said. “That sort of took the wind out of us.”
Sophomore guard JuJu Watkins was the difference-maker for USC. The Big Ten’s leading scorer showed how dominant she can be, scoring seven of the Trojans’ 12 points during this run.
“I think what JuJu does a really good job of is learning on the fly throughout the game,” USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb said. “I think that’s an unheralded ability.”
Despite scoring 22 points, just under her season average of 25.3, Watkins was harassed by Moore-McNeil all game long. This defense by Moore-McNeil and her teammates held Watkins to just 6-of-16 shooting from the field for the game.
However, IU’s great defense on Watkins and graduate forward Kiki Iriafen, the Trojans’ top two scorers, was not enough to overcome the Hoosiers’ poor shooting night. IU shot 38 percent from the field and 28 percent from three and lost its third straight game at home for the first time since the 2018-19 season.
“We just got to hit shots,” Moren said. “It is that easy, that’s the lesson we got to learn.”
Indiana’s 29 three-point attempts were the most in a single game this season. If the Hoosiers want to get over the hump in these close games, they will need to knock down shots at an efficient rate.
Moore-McNeil, who scored her 1,000th point in Sunday’s game, said surrounding those who are going through slumps will keep the team’s confidence high and will allow them to knock down more shots going forward.
Another simple way for the Hoosiers to get back on track is by eliminating turnovers. IU turned the ball over 15 times against the Trojans, leading to 17 USC points. If Indiana fixes this, it can get over the margins in this long season.
“We got just got to keep our heads down and keep grinding,” Moren said. “And realize that it’s a marathon, not a sprint.”
The Hoosiers will now get a few days off before they make their way to the West Coast for games against new league members Oregon and Washington. The road trip begins on Friday night in Eugene against the Ducks at 9 p.m. and can be streamed on Big Ten Plus.
Gallery: Indiana vs Ohio State
