If there were any doubters remaining, they have no doubt gotten on board now.
Trailing by four heading into the fourth quarter, the No. 17 Indiana women put together a dominant final period, outscoring No. 5 South Carolina 24-6 on their way to one of the biggest victories in the history of the program.
Redshirt junior guard Ali Patberg and senior forward Brenna Wise led IU with 16 points apiece as the Hoosiers picked up a signature win at the Paradise Jam in the US Virgin Islands on Thursday night.
Indiana led 38-31 at halftime before a 20-9 third quarter for South Carolina (6-1) gave the Gamecocks the lead and set up IU’s dominant fourth quarter.
The Hoosiers (5-0) scored the first six points of the fourth quarter and outscored South Carolina 12-1 over the game’s final 4:18 to close out the 71-57 upset.
🎥Highlights from the win over South Carolina! #iuwbb pic.twitter.com/PgbjEF2NB2
— Indiana Women’s Basketball (@IndianaWBB) November 29, 2019
A strong defensive effort led the way for IU, as the Hoosiers held South Carolina to 36.9 percent shooting from the field and forced 18 Gamecock turnovers.
Joining Patberg and Wise in double figures were sophomore forward Aleksa Gulbe and junior guard Jaelynn Penn with 10 points apiece. Gulbe scored 7 of her 10 points in the critical fourth quarter. Wise was 4-of-5 from three point range on the night.
The win was IU’s first over a top five opponent since the Hoosiers defeated Ohio State on Jan. 31, 2010.
There will be very little time to celebrate for IU. The challenge will be even greater on Friday as Indiana faces No. 2 and defending national champion Baylor (6-0). That game tips off at 5:45 p.m. ET and can be viewed on subscription based FloHoops.
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