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The Indiana Daily Student

sports women's basketball

No. 4 Indiana women’s basketball defeats in-state foe Butler 67-50

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After a slow start, No. 4 Indiana women’s basketball found its consistency and defeated in-state opponent Butler University 67-50 in its final nonconference game of the season.

The Hoosiers began the game poorly and by the first media timeout had already commited four turnovers, all of which had come off missed passes and miscommunication. However, even while being disjointed offensively, the Hoosiers locked down defensively and forced the Bulldogs into mistakes of their own, allowing Indiana to keep a slight lead throughout most of the first quarter.

[Related: COLUMN: Mid-season report card: Indiana women’s basketball remains perfect after Butler beatdown]

On the first possession of the second quarter, with a 17-13 lead, Indiana worked the ball down to senior forward Mackenzie Holmes who made a move on Butler junior guard Caroline Strande to create space and make the shot while drawing a foul. At the line, Holmes converted her second and-one of the day — part of her game-high 21 points, 10 of which came in the second quarter alone.

The play sparked an 18-3 run which saw the Hoosiers clean up their mistakes take control of the game. Across the over six-minute-long run, the Hoosiers forced five Bulldog turnovers while only committing one themselves.

After the game, Indiana coach Teri Moren said the team did well getting a healthy lead in the second quarter, but it has to sustain that kind of play during the entire game.

“That's a challenge for us, not as just as a staff, but as a team,” Moren said. “Again, you build the league in the second quarter but, unfortunately, there's 40 minutes to play.”

Entering halftime, the Hoosiers looked dominant having just won the second quarter 20-7 to take a 17-point lead. However, they were plagued by the same issues as the first quarter coming out of the break to start the second half.

In the first five minutes of the third quarter, Indiana again struggled taking care of the ball and commit five turnovers, allowing Butler to cut the lead to just 10 points. The Bulldogs had a chance to cut the lead to single-digits and further shift momentum, but sophomore forward Sydney Jaynes was unable to convert the and-one free throw.

“We caution our kids all the time at halftime — last year, one of our Achilles’ heels was that third quarter,” Moren said. “So trust me, it's a discussion all the time about being able to start the third quarter with more energy, more enthusiasm, trying not to be flat.”

Although Indiana struggled at times in the second half was unable to win as convincingly as Sunday’s 87-24 obliteration of Morehead State University, it still managed to regrow its lead and win by the same margin as it led by at the half. With normally consistent guards junior Chloe Moore-McNeil, senior guard Sara Scalia and junior Sydney Parrish having difficulty shooting the ball — their combined field goal percentage was 31% — freshman guard Lexus Bargesser stepped up as the bright spot of second half.

Bargesser’s first points of the game stopped Butler’s run at the start of the second half and on the next possession, earned a trip to the line after converting a fast break layup to complete the three point play and swing momentum back to Indiana. She finished with eight points — all of which came in the second half — six rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal.

After the game, Bargesser said her run was just a product of her teammates looking for her on the outlet pass in transition.

“I think what helps us best is when we really push the floor,” Bargesser said. “When we're looking up the floor, trying to get run outs, trying to get those easier points to get us going again.”

With the win, Indiana concluded its nonconference games undefeated, 12-0, and will look to take that momentum into Big Ten play. Its next chance to do that will come against Michigan State, when the Hoosiers will face the Spartans at 3 p.m. on Dec. 29 in East Lansing, Michigan.

Follow reporters Will Foley (@foles24) and Matt Sebree (@mattsebree) and columnist Matt Press (@MattPress23) for updates throughout the Indiana women’s basketball season.

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