Indiana women’s basketball returns to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington to take on Western Michigan University on Wednesday.
The Hoosiers head back to Bloomington after a three-game stretch at the Alico Arena in Fort Myers, Florida, which ended with their first loss of the season, a 106-95 defeat to No. 10 Iowa State University on Sunday.
Iowa State was led by junior center Audi Crooks, who racked up 47 points on 19 for 25 shooting in an unstoppable performance for the Cyclones.
The Hoosiers scored 95 points, their highest mark so far this season. Senior guard Shay Ciezki totaled 38 points, her highest tally in an Indiana jersey. Ciezki shot 13 for 14 from the line, also her highest free throw attempts and makes as a Hoosier.
Ciezki’s previous season-high was 35 points in a 72-56 victory over the University of Illinois Chicago, which earned her Big Ten Player of the Week honors.
Sophomore forward Zania Socka-Nguemen, who leads Indiana with nine rebounds per game, sat out the entire contest against Iowa State due to a lower body injury. Junior forward Edessa Noyan started in her absence, picking up eight points, eight rebounds and fouling out in 27 minutes played. It was the third time this season that Noyan fouled out of a contest. She was not alone, however, as Ciezki also fouled out in the final minutes against Iowa State.
Before Iowa State, Indiana picked up wins against Florida Gulf Coast University and Gonzaga University, winning 82-64 and 76-72, respectively.
Now, with Indiana’s stretch of games in Florida behind it, the Hoosiers turn back to mid-major competition in Western Michigan.
The Broncos are currently 1-4 on the season, with their only win coming in a 65-64 victory on the road against the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Most recently, Western Michigan lost 82-70 in overtime at home to NCAA Division II opponent Roosevelt University.
Redshirt senior forward De’Ahna Richardson leads the Broncos with 12.3 points per game, also pulling down 6.3 rebounds per contest. Senior guard Alli Carlson, who leads Western Michigan with 34.2 minutes played per game, averages 7.2 points, 5.6 assists and 2.2 steals.
Indiana holds an 8-4 record against Western Michigan, with its last matchup resulting in a 67-57 home victory for the Hoosiers on Dec. 19, 2021. The two teams frequently faced off against each other in the 1970s, with the matchup being held 10 times between 1974 and 1982.
On Saturday, Indiana travels to Champaign, Illinois, to play its first Big Ten opponent of the season against Illinois. The Fighting Illini have made the NCAA Tournament two of their last three seasons.
Indiana lost its only game against Illinois last season 68-54 at home on Jan. 16. The Hoosiers currently hold a 49-31 series lead over the Fighting Illini.
Before then, Indiana takes on Western Michigan at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington. The match will be streamed 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.
