With 7:26 remaining in the first quarter Thursday night at Assembly Hall, the Bowling Green Eagles held a 5-4 lead following a Jocelyn Tate free throw.
That lead only lasted for 15 seconds.
With Grace Berger’s layup giving the Hoosiers a 6-5 lead, the onslaught began. Indiana went on a 24-5 run, making eight of its nine field goal attempts to close out the first quarter, and never looked back, eventually winning 96-61.
The Eagles struggled to shoot all night, with a stretch in the first quarter making only one of their eleven attempts without a score in a 3:30 span, as well as a one-for-nine stretch in the second quarter. They ended the night shooting 35 percent from the field.
As for the Hoosiers, it was the night of Sara Scalia. Scalia came into the evening averaging 14 points per game on 39 percent shooting to go along with three rebounds a night. She finished her night with 17 points to go with four rebounds and three assists.
Coach Teri Morin, who now has her fifth 4-0 start in her ninth year at the helm for the IUWBB Hoosiers, preached the importance of the team’s rebound following its 79-67 victory over the eleventh-ranked Tennessee Volunteers, where they won the rebounding battle 35 to 33. The Bowling Green victory was the same, although the margin was not, as Indiana out-rebounded the Eagles 47-28.
Indiana dominated almost all statistical categories tonight by having a higher shooting percentage at all three levels, more team assists, and more combined steals and blocks. That type of domination across the board won’t be the case every night, especially in this talent-packed Big Ten. But if the Hoosiers can consistently play this strongly as a team and unit, then this will be a team to watch out for come March.
Other than Scalia, the key players for the Hoosiers tonight were Grace Berger, Mackenzie Holmes, and Sydney Parrish, who combined for 31 points, 22 rebounds, and eight assists.
This team might be the most talented of the Teri Morin era, but the group has had such early success due to how well the players work together. The team is now averaging 20 assists per game and communicate on the defensive end, as well as any team in women’s college basketball.
For men’s and women’s basketball, Assembly Hall is as vibrant this season as it has been in a long time. A large group of reporters and analysts have Mike Woodson and the Indiana Men’s team high on their list of teams to consider in the Final Four come March.
Teri Morin and her team should be climbing up that list as fast as any team in the country.
