All Indiana women’s basketball needed to secure a spot in the Big Ten Tournament was to defeat Penn State on Saturday.
The Nittany Lions were on a three-game winning streak and presented a high-scoring duo in sophomore guard Kiyomi McMiller and redshirt junior center Gracie Merkle, who averaged 22.3 and 19.1 points per game ahead of the contest, respectively.
However, Indiana trounced Penn State 93-59 on Saturday at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington. Senior guard Shay Ciezki led the Hoosiers with 29 points off 12-for-18 shooting. While Merkle scored 22 points, the Hoosiers held McMiller to just four.
After stopping back-to-back shot attempts from Merkle, freshman guard Nevaeh Caffey opened scoring for Indiana with a 3-pointer 25 seconds into the contest.
The two squads traded buckets before senior guard Shay Ciezki recorded her first 3-pointer with 6:23 remaining in the first quarter. Penn State recorded a turnover on each of its next two possessions, and freshman forward Maya Makaluksy took advantage with two baskets from beyond the arc for Indiana.
The three consecutive 3-point makes were the start of an 18-0 Indiana run that put the Hoosiers ahead 23-2 before Penn State redshirt junior guard Moriah Murry made a longball of her own.
The Hoosiers then went on a 6-0 run that was once again stopped by a Murry 3-pointer. Ciezki scored a layup with 51 seconds remaining in the first quarter to put the Hoosiers up 31-8.
Despite leading by 23 points at the end of the first period, the Hoosiers didn’t let up in the second. Indiana extended its lead to 34 points before halftime off the back of efficient offensive efforts and a dominant defense.
Four Hoosiers were in double figures at halftime. Ciezki recorded 17 points through two quarters, while Caffey, Makaluksy and redshirt sophomore guard Lenée Beaumont each had 11.
Indiana limited McMiller, who’s scored 30 or more points in each of her last six contests, to just two points in the first half. The Hoosiers shot 59.4% from the field after the second quarter compared to the Nittany Lions’ mark of 28.1%.
The Hoosiers’ lead increased to 35 just over three minutes into the third quarter, but Merkle scored eight consecutive points to pull the Nittany Lions within 27 points halfway through the period.
Penn State and Indiana continued to go on mini runs throughout the third, but back-to-back baskets from Makalusky and junior forward Jade Ondineme gave Indiana a 29-point lead ahead of the fourth quarter.
Merkle opened scoring for Penn State in the final frame, but Indiana responded with a 12-0 run. The Hoosiers then cruised to a 34-point victory over the Nittany Lions.
With the win, Indiana secured a spot in the Big Ten Tournament from March 4-8 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Hoosiers’ opponent and tipoff time are yet to be announced.
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.
