Indiana women's basketball needed a signature win. They got it beating Ohio State's press

Indiana women’s basketball needed a signature win. They got it beating Ohio State’s press

Posted by author February 21, 2025 Basketball

Spread the love

BLOOMINGTON — For years, Ohio State’s defensive press has been an enigma for IU women’s basketball.

No matter the location or the stakes, the Hoosiers struggled to break through the Buckeyes’ press when they needed it most. Indiana blew a 24-point lead in the 2023 Big Ten Tournament semifinals because of Ohio State’s suffocating press, then turned the ball over 24 times in a five-point loss in Columbus last regular season.

It was no secret: the Hoosiers struggled against a full-court press.

So, in a week of practice ahead of No. 8 Ohio State’s trip to Bloomington on Thursday, IU sought to rectify that weakness.

“It was everything,” senior Sydney Parrish said. “I think everyone knows that one coming into Ohio State. We’ve gone into games in the past where we’ve lost the game because of the press, and I think we handled it (on Thursday) with grace.”

And the Hoosiers flipped the script. IU blew through Ohio State’s press for multiple wide-open layups in the first quarter — enough so that Buckeye coach Kevin McGuff called the press back to focus on half-court defense.

That was all the confidence IU needed.

WIth Ohio State’s press becoming a minimal issue, Indiana churned out a signature victory, 71-61, at Assembly Hall.

“You guys have been around to see us not be able to (handle the press),” Indiana coach Teri Moren said. “I thought being able to do that, then Ohio State taking off the press, I thought that gave us a lot of confidence that we can get this thing done.”

Indiana clicked for all 40 minutes on the Assembly Hall court — finally putting together another weakness that had been tormenting the Hoosiers the entire season. Indiana rushed to a 26-17 lead following the first quarter and outscored Ohio State in three of the four quarters, using that early dominance to keep separation.

“I think that’s where we get going,” junior Shay Ciezki said of the first quarter. “We feed off those quick plays, and our defense turned into offense tonight, especially in the beginning. We were getting stops, and that allowed us to go into transition and push the ball.”

Parrish, Ciezki and junior Yarden Garzon combined to score 48 of the Hoosiers’ 71 points, with each pouring in 16. Garzon flirted with a triple-double, adding 11 rebounds and six assists.

This night’s win was Indiana’s first over Ohio State since February 2023, and it came at a crucial time for the Hoosiers. It was Indiana’s first win over a top-10 team this season, breathing new life into the Hoosiers for their final three-game stretch before the looming postseason.

“We knew this was an opportunity,” Moren said. “Ohio State is a top-10 team in the country, and we knew it was going to take something extra special, there’s no doubt. I’m just so happy for our kids, because they know that they have it in them.”

This win, too, will likely take Indiana off the bubble for the NCAA Tournament. The Hoosiers had been lurking in the last four byes category, according to ESPN’s bracketology, putting them close to needing a play-in game for the tournament or being left out of the field altogether. Now, with a top-10 win on their resume, the Hoosiers should be firmly in the field.

Indiana is starting to click at just the right time. To keep their hope for the postseason alive and well, the Hoosiers needed a signature win. They got it on Thursday night.