Hoosiers Hold off Sparty

The # 15 Excel H Sports Ranked Indiana Hoosiers held off the Michigan State Spartans 94-91 Thursday in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall before a crowd of 8, 850. Chloe Moore-McNeil became just second IU Women’s Basketball player to record a triple double as she scored 10 points, 10 rebounds and dished 11 assists. Moore-McNeil joins Grace Berger who did it three times in her career. Mackenize Holmes led the Hoosiers with 28 points and needs just 17 points to break the school’s all-time scoring record held by Tyra Buss who scored 2,364 points from 2014-2018. Holmes has 2,348 points, 935 rebounds, 239 blocks and a school record 956 career field goals made. Holmes will go for the record on Sunday as the Hoosiers host Purdue on Sunday Afternoon at 2pm. Holmes is not thinking about the scoring record she is thinking a bigger picture. “I want to beat Purdue, I want to sweep Purdue for my career.” Holmes said after the game. Indiana is 19-3 overall and 10-2 in the Big Ten. Michigan State leads the all-time series 50-35 as the Hoosiers have won 5 of the last 6 meetings in the series including the last four inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

Sara Scalia scored 21 points, Yarden Garzon added 20 points and Grass Lake Michigan native Lexus Bargesser added 10 points. Henna Sandvik hit a big three in the fourth quarter and Lenee Beaumont scored 2 points. The Hoosiers were 35-52 from the field for 67%, 10-20 from three-point range for 50% and 14-16 from the free throw line for 87%. The Hoosiers pulled down 24 rebounds, dished out 25 assists, 5 steals, 4 blocks and committed 10 turnovers. The Hoosiers had 40 points in the paint.

Julia Ayrault scored 25 points to lead Michigan State as the Spartans put five in double figures. DeeDee Hagemann added 19 points and dished out 10 assists. Moria Joiner added 14 points. Threyn Hallock scored 13 points and Tory Ozment added 11 both off the bench. Joycelyn Tate added 7 points and Abbey Kimball added 2 points. Michigan State had 19 rebounds, 14 assists, 6 steals, no blocks and committed 10 turnovers. The Spartans had 36 points in the paint and 24 bench points.

The pace was fast and furious as both teams were hitting from all over the floor as Michigan State led 32-27 after the first quarter. The Spartans outscored Indiana 21-16 in the second quarter as the Spartans led 53-43 at halftime. Julia Ayrault had 18 points and Theryn Hallock had 11 points off the bench. Sara Scalia scored 12 points, Mackenize Holmes and Lexus Bargesser added 10 points in the first half. Indiana turned it around in the third quarter as they outscored 23-15 in the third quarter as Michigan State led 68-66 at the end of the third quarter. Indiana outscored Michigan State 28-23 in the fourth quarter as the Hoosiers outscored the Spartans 51-38 in the second half as the Hoosiers finished making 10 of their last 11 shots from the field.  “Well, if you did not enjoy that you are not a basketball fan” Indiana Head Coach Teri Moren said after the game.

There were 7 ties and 7 lead changes and for the fans that were in attendance Thursday Night. They were treated to one exciting Women’s Basketball game that was fast paced, hard fought, great shooting, big shots and came down to the wire and there is a big rivalry game on Sunday with Purdue coming in town looking for revenge after the Hoosiers won in West Lafayette earlier in the month.  A chance to watch Mackenize Holmes make history and collect a Teri Moren Bobblehead.