BLOOMINGTON — For the first time since 1983, Indiana women’s basketball is on top of the Big Ten.
The second-ranked Hoosiers defeated arch-rival Purdue, 83-60 on Sunday at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, giving them a 1 ½-game lead over Iowa with one game left in the regular season. The Hawkeyes would also claim a share of the title with wins over Maryland and IU.
Indiana led 37-34 at halftime, but the Hoosiers did not play their best basketball. Purdue employed a box-and-one defense to combat Mackenzie Holmes, and it caused some problems for IU. And while the Hoosiers forced eight Purdue turnovers, they committed seven of their own, and many were unforced errors.
But the Hoosiers pulled away in the third quarter with another explosive offensive period. IU shot 69 percent from the field and out-rebounded Purdue 11-2, and that helped the Hoosiers win the quarter 27-11.
Indiana cut down the nets after the game, to the delight of the first sellout crowd in program history. The Hoosiers also honored seniors Grace Berger and Alyssa Geary for senior day.
Berger made some individual history on the big day, as well. During the second quarter, she passed Ali Patberg to enter the top-10 on the program’s all-time scoring list. Berger finished with her third double-double of the season with 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting, with 10 assists and four rebounds.
Holmes, despite the stingy defense didn’t miss her first field goal until the fourth quarter. She shot 10 of 11 for 20 points with seven rebounds, four blocks, and three steals.
All five IU starters finished with 12 points or more. Sydney Parrish recorded her fourth double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Chloe Moore-McNeil put up 14 points and five assists, and Yarden Garzon went 4 for 8 from 3-point range for 12 points.
The Hoosiers now have a week between games, as they wrap up the regular season next Sunday at Iowa.
See also: Photos | Moren, Berger and Parrish post-game
The attendance record to beat all attendance records. 🤍❤️ pic.twitter.com/50Fhy7A4rr
— Indiana Women’s Basketball (@IndianaWBB) February 19, 2023
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