All season long the big three for IU women’s basketball has carried the load. Now, with the Hoosiers in the postseason, nothing has changed.
Throughout 31 games this year, junior guard Tyra Buss, junior forward Amanda Cahill and senior guard Alexis Gassion have been IU’s go-to players. They combined for more than 60 percent of the scoring during the regular season.
How those three played usually determined this team’s success. Yes, there are role players like there usually are on successful teams, but this trio is relied upon game in and game out.
The big three scored 69 percent of IU’s points in its 71-58 home win on Thursday over the Ball State Cardinals as the Hoosiers advanced to the second round of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament.
“Really happy for our players,” IU Coach Teri Moren said. “I thought they came out, especially in the first half, with a lot of energy, hit shots. I thought we were terrific defensively throughout the game.”
Right from the get-go Cahill, Buss and Gassion were on top of their games. Buss started the scoring for IU with a bucket and Gassion quickly added five more points right after that. Cahill also got things going just a few minutes later. That was all part of a 12-0 run that had the Hoosiers out in front early.
Gassion finished with 14 points total, and 13 came in the first half alone, including eight in the first quarter. Gassion has become more of a combo guard this season as she has consistently contributed with rebounding and assists. Yet, her hot shooting start was a bit of a surprise for her.
“I looked at my hands and was like ‘what is going on? This never happens,’” Gassion said. “I just came out hot and my teammates found me when they attacked and dished and I just kept shooting until they tried to stop me.”
The play of Buss kept the Hoosiers ticking on offense as well. In the first half especially, the junior point guard was efficient and effective. She scored 14 of her game-high 19 points in the first 20 minutes and was a big reason why IU had an 11-point lead at the break. Buss also mentioned an aggressive mentality as a main emphasis heading into every game.
“Coach always tells the guards to attack,” Buss said. “Our guards were looking to attack and go into the contact and not shy away from it. I thought we did a pretty good job of that and also knocking down our free throws.”
Once the second half started, Buss and Gassion were stifled. They combined for just six points in the second 20 minutes. That’s when Cahill stepped up Thursday night. The junior forward scored just five points in the first half, but contributed 11 points in the second to keep the Hoosiers in command of things. The Ohio native ended with 16 points.
With the big three still leading the way, the Hoosiers will get the opportunity to keep playing. That opportunity will come Sunday afternoon at home against Saint Louis. Even with the disappointment of not making the NCAA Tournament, Moren and Buss still have their sights set on winning the Women’s NIT.
“You have to put the NCAA thing behind us and move on, and realize there are games to be played,” Moren said. “We have to show up and we got to play them.”
Andrew Hussey contributed to reporting.
