Facing another ranked opponent, on the road, Indiana women’s basketball made it look easy.
The second-ranked Hoosiers ran away with an 83-59 win over No. 13 Ohio State on Monday in Columbus. It’s IU’s seventh top-15 win of the season, and second on the road.
The Hoosiers thoroughly dominated the Buckeyes in the first half, with perhaps their best offensive display of the season. Indiana led 54-29 at the break, a season-high in points for IU in any half. The Hoosiers scored an overwhelming 1.636 points per possession, while shooting 74 percent as a team. Sara Scalia hit a season-high five 3-pointers in that half alone.
Ohio State fought back in the third quarter, however, as Indiana’s offense cooled off. The Buckeyes got the deficit down to 10 points, but IU got it back up to 15 by the end of the period.
But IU regained control in the fourth quarter by clamping down defensively, holding Ohio State to six points and a 23 percent clip from the field.
For the whole game, IU shot 60 percent from the field, 45 percent from 3-point range, and scored 1.339 points per possession.
Mackenzie Holmes was nearly unstoppable on Monday when Indiana got her the ball inside. The senior enjoyed one of her finest games as a Hoosier, setting career-highs with 33 points and 15 made field goals (out of 18 attempts). She added five rebounds and a block.
Scalia finished with a season-high 24 points on a 9-for-12 line, including a 6-for-8 mark from 3-point range.
Grace Berger recorded her second double-double of the season, with 16 points and 10 rebounds. She also dished five assists.
Chloe Moore-McNeil made steady contributions, as usual, with seven rebounds, seven assists, and two steals.
Indiana returns to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall to host No. 12 Michigan.