After a 21-point loss to Illinois in its Big Ten opener, Indiana women’s basketball needed a change. The Hoosiers shot just 27% through the first three quarters of their contest against the Fighting Illini. They allowed 58 points in the paint. They scored just three points off the bench.
Indiana head coach Teri Moren and her staff turned to freshman forward Maya Makalusky for that change. They slotted her into starting lineup over sophomore guard Valentyna Kadlecova for the Hoosiers’ contest against the University of Louisiana at Monroe on Thursday night at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
And from tipoff, Makalusky provided a spark for Indiana.
After a missed layup from the Warhawks and a score from junior forward Edessa Noyan, Makalusky drew an offensive foul from ULM redshirt junior guard Jazmine Jackson to start the contest. Indiana took advantage of the turnover, scoring off a basket from senior guard Shay Ciezki.
Makalusky’s offense was slower to emerge than her defense, but when it came, it was crucial for the Hoosiers. After Makalusky scored her first basket of the night — a 3-pointer with just over a minute remaining in the first quarter — Makalusky hardly slowed down. She scored 22 points in Indiana’s 98-54 win over ULM, going 8 for 12 from the field and 6 for 10 from 3-point range.
“It definitely feels great for your hard work to pay off, but the job’s not done,” Makalusky said postgame. “I gotta continue to maintain that role and do what I need to do to stay on the court. But I think it all comes back to the team giving me the confidence to step in, in that role and to play confidently and shoot those shots.”
Thursday’s win over the Warhawks marked a breakout performance from Makalusky. While her career with the Hoosiers is young, she tallied career highs in several different categories, including points scored, 3-pointers made and assists. She recorded a career-high 34 minutes in her first start.
With the Hoosiers’ depth limited, as three players were ruled out of the contest due to injury or illness, Makalusky stepped into different roles for Indiana. She played on the interior when needed, but also drained her 3-point shots on the outside.
Makalusky said her performance came on the back of her development throughout the season. She’s asked questions. She’s asked for help. She’s made mistakes, and those are what have allowed her to gain “confidence and grit” as she transitioned from high school to college.
But even with the impressive offensive outing against the Warhawks, Moren once again emphasized that Makalusky’s can improve on the defensive front. It’s an aspect of the game Moren has stressed to her squad all season, and it was no different against the Warhawks, despite Indiana holding ULM to just 28% shooting from the field.
“I thought, like I said, she deserved to have an opportunity to be in the lineup tonight, because she talks; she has a great energy level,” Moren said. “Where Maya has to continue to improve on is still on the defensive side of the ball. And she will. That just comes with experience.”
Makalusky hauled in just four rebounds Thursday night, which is an area that Moren emphasized for Makalusky ahead of the contest. It’s part of what earned her a spot in the starting lineup, as Moren cited Makalusky’s six-rebound effort against Illinois as part of why she got the start.
“What I asked her to do before the game was just be a great rebounder for us,” Moren said. “I said, ‘We need you to guard and defend, and we need you to rebound.’ The 3s were just sort of the icing on the cake from her performance. But she’s a kid that she sees that thing go in the way it did tonight, and I think that elevates every aspect of her game.”
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.
