INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Defeated earlier this year on February 6th by a score of 61 to 65, the IU women’s team got revenge on the Gophers a month later in the Big Ten Tournament. They advance and will face the #2 seeded Iowa Hawkeyes on Friday.
The Hoosiers started off hot with a 10 point lead in the first period (20-10), and the team shot well on the floor and behind the stripe with their rate at 64.3% and 100% respectively.
In the second quarter, Brenna Wise shot established confidence and contributed 12 points to the team (4-5 FG and 3-3 behind the arc). While the Gophers began to slowly close the gap with the Hoosiers using their intense defensive pressures, Indiana maintained the lead behind the fanbase that showed up in Indianapolis to cheer for their team.
Ali Patberg scored 20 points, which marks her 22nd game where she tallied double figures as well as her tenth game with 20 or more points. Brenna Wise scored 19 points, and Jaelynn Penn tacked on another 11 points and led the team with eight rebounds. Although Bendu Yeaney did not score much this afternoon, she simply did not have to. Instead, she facilitated the Hoosier offense and let her teammates do the work. She had an outstanding eight assists, making this her fifth game with five or more of the kind.
Head coach Teri Moren praised the Lady Hoosiers after this tough game. “Defensively, we are pretty terrific.” Although Minnesota hit back harshly in the second half, Moren said she still felt proud that the team finished it out and won the first game in Big Ten Tournament.
The Hoosiers took the loss earlier this month to the Gophers under different circumstances than this evening.
Two of the reasons that led to the failure included Indiana struggling out of the gate where they inconsistently took care of the ball. Additionally, that game was the first time Indiana needed to finish a game with guard Ali Patberg, who was unable to participate due to injury. With those two concerns being irrelevant this afternoon, Indiana saw a different outcome.
Indiana advances into the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals, the 14th time in school history, and will face second seed Iowa on Friday night.
