Who needs football on Thanksgiving?
IU fans can feast on a top 25 women’s basketball matchup Thursday when No. 21 Indiana meets No. 19 Tennessee in the 2023 Elevance Health Women’s Fort Myers Tip-Off.
Indiana vs. Tennessee will air on national television on Thanksgiving evening.
Here’s what you need to know.
GAME DAY INFO
- #21 Indiana (3-1) vs. #19 Tennessee (3-1)
- Thursday, November 23, 2023 • 6 p.m. ET
- Suncoast Credit Union Arena • Fort Myers, Fla.
- Broadcast: FOX (Lisa Byington, Sarah Kustok)
- Radio: B97 (Austin Render) | Sirius XM 137 or 195
- Live Stats: Statbroadcast
ABOUT THE COACHES
Teri Moren: Career Record: 402-224 (21st Season); Indiana Record: 203-94 (10th Season)
Kellie Harper: Career Record: 375-248 (20th Season); Tennessee Record: 91-40 (5th Season)
ABOUT THE LADY VOLS
No. 19 Tennessee enters the Thanksgiving matchup after a pair of home wins over Memphis (in overtime) and Troy last week. They are led by junior guard/forward Sara Puckett (16.0 ppg., 6.0 rpg.) and senior transfer guard Jewel Spear (15.0 ppg., 6.0 rpg.). Leading scorer senior forward Rickea Jackson (22.0 ppg., 12.0 rpg.) has missed the last two games with an injury. The Lady Vols are averaging 92.0 points per game and shooting 46.5 percent from the floor.
SERIES HISTORY
Tennessee leads 2-1
LAST MEETING
11/14/22 – Indiana 79 Tennessee 67 (Knoxville, Tenn.)
IU NOTES
- Senior guard Sara Scalia was named the Big Ten Player of the Week for her two 20-plus point performances against Murray State and Lipscomb. The Stillwater, Minn. native averaged 23.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists sand held a +8.0 assist-to-turnover ratio combined in her efforts, leading the team in scoring in both games.
- Indiana and Tennessee have met three times overall in the series prior to Thursday, with two of those three meetings coming recently in the 2020-21 and 2022-23 season. The teams split those games with the Hoosiers most recently winning on Nov. 14, 2022 in Knoxville.
- Scalia is a perfect 15-for-15 at the free throw line this season and has knocked down 32 consecutive free throws which dates back to Feb. 5, 2023.
- Sophomore guard Lexus Bargesser has proven to be a key piece off the bench for Indiana this season. The Grass Lake, Mich. native is averaging 8.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists with a +2.5 assist-to-turnover ratio in 21.1 minutes per game through the first four games. She has set career-highs in nearly every category including two double figure scoring games and a career-high 15 points in the opener against EIU.
- Three players are averaging double figures behind Scalia’s 18.5 points per game followed closely by graduate student forward Mackenzie Holmes who adds 17.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game while sophomore guard Yarden Garzon is contributing 10.0 points per outing.
ANOTHER CHALLENGE ON SATURDAY
The Hoosiers face Princeton on Saturday, November 25 to close out play at the 2023 Elevance Health Women’s Fort Myers Tip-Off at 11 a.m. ET.
For complete coverage of IU women’s basketball, GO HERE.
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