It is redemption Sunday in Indianapolis.
IU women’s basketball head coach Teri Moren was less than pleased with the way the Big Ten plugged make-up games into her team’s schedule in late February. One of the results was two games against Iowa in three days. Indiana lost both contests, and that cost them the Big Ten regular season title.
Now the Hoosiers get Iowa for a third time in two weeks, and this time the Big Ten Tournament title is on the line, possibly even a No. 1 seed, and at least a No. 2 or 3 in the NCAA Tournament. The Hoosiers were projected as a No. 4 before the Big Ten Tournament.
IU has knocked-out the No. 1 seed Ohio State and No. 4 seed Maryland to advance to the conference final.
“We’re just giving everything we have,” guard Ali Patberg said after IU advanced on Saturday. “It’s literally one game (on Sunday). So we’re going to, you can bet we’re going to give it our all, and we’re going to fight.”
All eyes will be on senior forward Aleksa Gulbe during pre-game warmups. The veteran starter was ill on Saturday and only played 14 minutes for the Hoosiers. Gulbe averages 12.1 points and 6.3 rebounds in 34.3 minutes per contest on the season.
Despite the two losses, IU should enter the game against Iowa confident they can win against the No. 2 seed.
In the first meeting with the Hawkeyes in Bloomington on Feb. 19, IU trailed by as much as 24 in the third quarter before posting a program record 42 points in the fourth to nearly complete the comeback.
In the second meeting on Feb. 21 in Iowa City, Indiana led by as many as 12 but let the lead slip away in the second half.
The Hoosiers were in first place in the league before their pair of losses to Iowa.
- What: No. 5 Indiana (22-7) vs. No. 2 Iowa (22-7)
- When: 4 p.m. Eastern on Sunday
- Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Ind.
- Watch: ESPN2
- Tickets: Ticketmaster
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