Indiana women’s basketball plays its second regular season game against University of Illinois Chicago at 7 p.m. Friday at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington.
The Hoosiers were victorious in their regular season opener, defeating Lipscomb University 80-46 on Tuesday night in Bloomington.
Indiana struggled all night from behind the arc, shooting 3 for 15 from 3-point range. The Hoosiers proved their physicality in the win, however, with the majority of their success coming from 2-point attempts. The Hoosiers shot 20 less 3-point shots compared to their 100-32 victory over Missouri University of Science and Technology in an exhibition match Oct. 27.
Sophomore forward Zania Socka-Nguemen was a major presence inside for Indiana, scoring all 19 points inside the paint. She also managed to record just one foul compared to four fouls against Missouri S&T.
Senior guard Shay Ciezki led the team with 22 points, shooting 8 for 17 from the field. She was followed by Socka-Nguemen, who took 10 shots.
Freshman guard Nevaeh Caffey logged 31 minutes against Lipscomb, the highest on the team. She collected 9 points, five rebounds and two steals in the regular season opener.
After the Hoosiers’ win Tuesday, Indiana head coach Teri Moren said her squad had defensive and shot-making issues to clean up but praised the team’s physicality and effort.
UIC had a mixed 2024-25 season, having a 15-18 overall record and 10-10 conference record. After winning its first Missouri Valley Conference Tournament game against the University of Evansville 72-62 on March 13, the Flames lost their second-round matchup the following day against Missouri State University, falling 77-70.
Despite finishing the season with a below .500 record, UIC made the 2025 Women’s National Invitation Tournament with an at-large bid. It defeated the University of Alabama-Birmingham 63-48 on March 21 before losing in the second round to Butler University 61-54 on March 23.
Like Indiana, UIC’s roster underwent major turnover in the offseason. The Flames only had four non-senior players on their roster last season. Sophomore guard TuTu Clayton, sophomore center Magdalena Winter, junior forward Julia Coleman and junior guard Megen Sanaj all return for UIC this season.
UIC’s squad is much younger this year, with just four senior or graduate student players on the roster. Forward Amelia Strong, guards Sara Zabrecky and Jessica Carrothers as well as guard/forward Crystal Ortiz make up UIC’s senior and graduate student class.
UIC is currently 0-1 on the season, losing its regular season opener to Robert Morris University 78-63 on Monday. Carrothers was the player to shine in the Flames’ opening game, scoring 28 points while providing four assists and four rebounds. Strong also tallied 13 points and six rebounds in the home defeat.
Indiana and UIC have played on one prior occasion, with the Hoosiers winning the home matchup 81-59 on Dec. 31, 2012.
Indiana faces off against UIC at 7 p.m. Friday at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington. The game will stream on Big Ten+.
Follow reporters Savannah Slone (@savrivers06 and srslone@iu.edu) and Max Schneider (maxschn@iu.edu) and columnist Sean McAvoy (@sean_mc07 and semcavoy@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana women’s basketball season.
