
Indiana University Women’s Basketball Knocks Off #23 Iowa at Carver Hawkeye Arena Sunday Afternoon The Indiana Hoosiers knocked the #23 Iowa Hawkeyes 74-67 Sunday Afternoon at Carver Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City. The Hoosiers have won their third game against a ranked opponent this season after November wins against Stanford at Home and Baylor in the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas. Indiana is 12-4 on the season and 4-1 in the Big Ten and will host Illinois on Thursday Night at 7 PM inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Iowa falls to 12-5 on the season and 2-4 in the Big Ten. The Hawkeyes have lost three straight games and will host Nebraska on Thursday Night. The Hoosiers snap a three-game losing streak in Iowa City and beat the Hawkeyes in Iowa City for the first time since February 7, 2021, when they won 85-72. The Hoosiers have won two in a row against the Hawkeyes as Iowa leads the All-Time Series with the Hoosiers 54-24 and Indiana gets their fifth win all-time in Iowa City in 37 tries.
Yarden Garzon scored 21 points on 7-of-8 shooting, including 5 of 5 from 3-point range, Chloe Moore-McNeil added 18 points and Sydney Parrish made three 3s and finished with 15 points for Indiana. The Hoosiers have won eight of their last nine games with their lone loss coming at home against No. 1 UCLA, 73-62, on Jan. 4. Garzon made a layup to open the scoring 44 seconds into the game, Moore-McNeil added a basket in the lane and Parrish added two free throws to make it 6-0 and Indiana never trailed. Garzon made a jumper and then hit a 3-pointer to give the Hoosiers a 15-point lead matching their largest of the game two minutes into the fourth quarter. Allyiah Guyton and Taylor McCabe each hit a 3-pointer as Iowa scored 13 of the next 15 points to cut its deficit to 66-62 with 1:52 remaining but the Hawkeyes got no closer.
The Hoosiers went 10-24 from three-point range for 41%, 26-53 from the field for 49% and a perfect 12-12 from the free throw line. Indiana pulled down 31 rebounds, dished out 18 assist, 9 steals, 9 blocks and committed 17 turnovers. The Hoosiers used the defense to turn into offense scoring off turnovers pushing in transition and making the right plays at the right times to get bucket. Indiana held Iowa leading scorer Lucy Olsen to 8 points and it’s the second time that she has not scored in double digits all season as the Villanova Transfer averaged 17.1 points coming into the game. Hannah Stuleke was held to 5 points and averages 13.3 points per game.
Taylor McCabe scored 15 points, including four 3-pointers, and Addison O’Grady added 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting for Iowa. Iowa finished the game 21-62 from the field for 34%, 6-19 from three-point range for 31% and 19-23 from the free throw line for 62%. Iowa pulled down 38 rebounds, dished out 15 assists, 8 steals, 4 blocks and committed 14 turnovers. Freshman Alliyah Guyton played 17 minutes off the bench scoring 9 points on 3-9 from the field, 1-3 from three-point range and 2-2 from the free throw line along with an assist and a steal. Guyton’s father A.J. is the fifth all -time leading scorer in Indiana University Men’s Basketball History as she faced her dad’s alma mater for the first time in her college career.
The Hoosiers led 18-13 after the first quarter and outscored the Hawkeyes 18-17 in the second quarter to lead 36-30 going into the locker room. Indiana outscored Iowa 23-19 in the third quarter to lead 59-49 going into the final ten minutes. Iowa made a run late outscoring Indiana 18-15 in the fourth quarter. Indiana gets a huge road win to stay in the top 6 of the Big Ten standings and Iowa drops to 13th as the top 15 make the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis in March. Indiana and Iowa always play each other tough and the Hoosiers hot shooting from deep and their defense propelled them to this win and Iowa is trying to get out of their slump after dropping their third straight game but the Hawkeyes will rebound and make noise the rest of the season as these two could meet again in March but Indiana leaves Iowa City with the win in the latest chapter of this Women’s Basketball Rivalry that was played in front of 15,000 in Iowa City.
Iowa hands Indiana University Men’s Basketball its Fourth Double Digit Loss of the Season The Indiana Hoosiers saw its five-game win streak come to an end Saturday Night with an 85-60 to the Iowa Hawkeyes in Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City. The Hoosiers are 13-4 Overall and 4-2 in the Big Ten while Iowa improves to 12-4 overall and 3-2 in the Big Ten. Indiana has lost all four games by double digits and is 2-4 in games away from Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall and 0-2 in true road games and 2-2 in neutral sites games going 1-2 in the Bahamas and winning against Penn State in Philadelphia.
Iowa used a 2-3 zone to smother the Hoosiers as Indiana had season high 12 first half turnovers. The Hawkeyes connected on 11 three pointers to pull away from the Hoosiers. Owen Freeman had 16 points and 12 rebounds for his third double-double of the season. All five Iowa starters scored in double figures with Payton Sandfort scoring 23 points, Josh Dix and Drew Thelwell added 12 points apiece and Brock Harding had 10 points and 10 assists for his second double-double of the season. Iowa finished 32-59 from the field for 54%, 11-24 from three-point range for 45% and 10-18 from the free throw line for 56%. The Hawkeyes pulled down 37 rebounds, dished out 18 assists, 11 steals, 6 blocks and committed 13 turnovers. Myles Rice led Indiana with 12 points and Oumar Ballo got his fourth double-double of the season with 10 points and 13 rebounds. Bryson Tucker and Kannan Caryle added 9 points each as Langdon Hatton scored 8 points all off the bench. Mackenize Mgbako scored 6 points after a scoreless outing against USC. Luke Goode and Anthony Leal scored 3 points apiece and Trey Galloway was held scoreless. Indiana went 24-59 from the field for 40%, 4-16 from three-point range for 25% and 8-13 from the free throw line for 61%. The Hoosiers pulled down 31 rebounds, dished 15 assists, 4 steals, 1 block and committed 16 turnovers.
Iowa outscored Indiana 43-33 in the first half as it was a game of runs as Indiana jumped to a 4-0 lead as the Hawkeyes scored the next 15 points to lead 15-4 with 15:21 left in the first half. Iowa led 23-13 with 11:05 left when the Hoosiers scored the next 11 points to lead 24-23 with 8:03 left in the first half. The Hoosiers led 28-25 with 6:38 left in the half when the Hawkeyes outscored the Hoosiers 18-5 including a 12-0 run. Iowa put the game away in the second half as the Hawkeyes went inside to Freeman and continued to knock down the outside shot and disruptive Indiana’s offense holding the Hoosiers to 27 second half points while scoring 42. Iowa increased the lead to 30 points 85-55 with 1:39 left in the game as Hawkeyes are 49-43 all-time against the Hoosiers in Iowa City and Mike Woodson is winless against Iowa in Iowa City as the Hoosiers last beat the Hawkeyes 81-69 on January 21, 2021. Indiana leads the all-time series 106-82.
Indiana returns to home on Tuesday to face Illinois and the Hoosiers are 11-0 at home this season but it’s the four losses away from home that concern Hoosiers fans losing to Louisville by 28, Iowa by 25, Nebraska by 17 and Gonzaga by 16. Indiana still has 7 conference road games left and need to be able to steal some of these road wins, so they do not miss out on the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row.
Bloomington South advances Four Wrestlers to the Inaugural IHSAA Girls State Wrestling Finals Bloomington South advanced four wrestlers to the Inaugural IHSAA Girls Wrestling State Finals that will take place next Friday at the Corteva Coliseum at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis after they finished in the top four of the respective weight classes at Friday’s Regional at Mooresville. Columbus East won the Regional Team title with 164 points as Whiteland was second with 154 points followed by Mooresville with 131 points and Franklin with 129.5 points.
Mariah Pope and Abigail Goodwin finished second and Kaylee Minton finished fourth and was a last minute callup at 145 pounds after a 5th place sectional finish due to a wrestler from Seymour who finished ahead of her in sectional not being able to compete. Minton took the advantage of her opportunity as they all had to win two matches to advance to the semifinals to be assured of a spot in the State Finals. Pope advanced at 100 pounds, Goodwin who was the Sectional Champion at 135 and Faith Hand finished fourth at 125 pounds. Jacyln Hillenburg won her first match a 195 Pounds and lost her second match while Lila Pierce-115 and Lexi Parker 170 lost their opening round matches for the Panthers. Bloomington South finished fifth in the team standings with 72.5 points.
Edgewood finished 27th with 8 points as Katelyn Holmes-105 pounds and Laylaa McCormick-140 pounds won their first-round match and lost in the Quarterfinals. Helen Bower-170 Pounds and Ayrica DeHart-235 pounds lost their opening round matches. Bloomington North did not score as Alexzandra Burns-130 pounds, and Moxie Juers-135 pounds lost their opening round matches.
No. 2/6 Indiana Swimming and Diving Celebrates Senior Day with Win Over No. 13/7 Michigan Wolverines No. 2/6 Indiana swimming and diving defeated Big Ten rival and No. 13/7 Michigan handily Friday inside the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center, posting marks among the best in the nation. The Women won 160-103 and the Men won 176-118. Prior to the meet, Indiana celebrated 28 seniors and eight managers that have contributed to the program over the last five years. The 2025 class, which has won four Big Ten Championships and has never finished below 11th at the NCAA Championships, features nine Olympians, eight NCAA medalists and 17 All-Americans. “This group has transformed our program,” IU head swimming coach Ray Looze said. “We were a good program, but they’ve elevated us to a national title contender. I think the women are close to that level too, and time will tell.
“They want to leave a legacy that lasts. It’s amazing how connected and locked in they are, and they want the program 10 year, 20 years from now, to be at this level.” “It was a great day for our seniors,” IU head diving coach Drew Johansen said. “Morgan Casey, Quinn Henninger, Carson Tyler and Skyler all had a great day – Carson especially, in his first platform event since the Olympic Games. Quinn and Morgan delivered some great competitions, while we saved Skyler for Purdue.”
The Hoosiers broke three pool records on Friday, marking the first CBAC standards to come down since 2022. Indiana’s 200 medley relay quartet – freshman Miroslav Knedla, graduate transfer Brian Benzing, senior Tomer Frankel and junior Matt King – started the meet strong with a 1:22.64. That season-best time beats the NCAA ‘A’ standard and ranks No. 6 nationally. Senior Carson Tyler celebrated his final home meet with a dual meet record, posting a 479.50 while diving from platform. Tyler’s dives scored 78.30, 84.00, 73.50, 73.95, 83.25 and 86.40 points. Senior Anna Peplowski and junior Owen McDonald, the reigning Big Ten Swimmer of the Week award winners, maintained their form with sweeps of their individual events. Peplowski tweaked her program slightly, opting to swim, and win, the 100-yard freestyle (47.68), 200-yard freestyle (1:41.63) and 500-yard freestyle (4:38.56). Her time in the 200 free set the nation’s fastest time. McDonald continued his dominance of the 100-yard backstroke (45.00), 200-yard backstroke (1:39.91), and 200-yard IM (1:42.63). The first-year Hoosier set the national standard in the 200 back as well as the pool record, beating Wisconsin’s Andrew Teduits’ 1:39.98 from 2013. In his first collegiate meet since winning the 800-meter freestyle world title in December, junior Zalán Sárkány swept the distance events, winning the 500 free (4:13.75) and 1,000 free (8:43.80). Indiana will take a week before traveling to Purdue on Saturday, January 25, for dual meet action.
Indy Ignite win their Inaugural Pro Volleyball Federation Match at Sold Out Fishers Event Center Saturday Night After a nervous, out-of-rhythm first set that ended in a 25-13 loss to the Orlando Valkyries, the light turned on for the Indy Ignite who promptly swept the next three sets for a season-opening win inside the sold-out Fishers Event Center. The victory was a team effort led by a dynamic duo of outside hitter Leketor Member-Meneh and opposite Azhani Tealer, who combined for 44 kills and 49 points of the Ignite’s 88 total points scored. Inside the arena, official attendance of 6,089, the fans were rowdy and raucous. “Thank you fans for making history with us,” the announcer shouted. This was Indy’s newest chapter in women’s professional sports.
“It reminded me a lot of the Fever games,” said Mandy Gripe, a season ticket holder for the Ignite and Fever. “I think that women’s sports have crossed the tipping point, and it just feels really cool to see it and witness all of it. It’s history.” The Ignite played behind until the second set when the team took a 15-14 lead after a string of kills by Member-Meneh. Next point? Another kill by Member Meneh. After setter Sydney Hilley dumped on two, the Ignite were up 18-16. The Valkyries, who swept their season opener Thursday against the San Diego Mojo, didn’t take another lead the rest of the match. Set two: 25-19. Set three: 25-17. Set four: 25-21.
Hilley racked up 44 assists and libero Kylie Murr scoured the floor for 12 digs and five assists. Rounding out the key players of the match with five points each were middle blocker Blake Mohler, outside hitter Nina Cajic and middle blocker Caroline Crawford. After the match, hundreds of fans waited in line for autographs from Ignite players. Luke Miller and Asher Wilson came to the opener not knowing what to expect. “I’ve always been a little bit of a fan of volleyball, so I thought I’d come check it out, you know?” said Miller. “I was surprised how electric it was. (Member-Meneh) has some hops. She can jump.” Member-Meneh, who serves at more than 60 miles per hour, also had 18 digs.
In attendance for the team’s first win were Indianapolis Colts player Kenny Moore, commissioner Jen Spicher of the Pro Volleyball Federation and every mascot in the city, including the Colts’ Blue, there to support Ignite mascot Pepper’s debut. “What most struck me upon entering was the number of young girls with their parents,” said Jake Query, sports radio host of ‘Query & Company’ on 107.5 The Fan. “I love that they have another option for role models.” One role model who stood out was Member-Meneh, he said. “Leketor is Gary Brackett, Lance Stephenson and Brian Cardinal. The kind of selfless lunch pail athlete Indy loves.” After attending the Ignite match, Query said he believes the team will catch on. “Volleyball is a rhythm, momentum sport,” he said. “It is fast paced and a roller coaster.”
For Annabell Gripe, who plays for the Monon Select Club, she said there was a “wow” factor inside the arena. “It was more than I expected it to be,” she said. “This is crazy that it’s a sold-out women’s sport. Women’s sports are so underrated.” Her grandmother Gail Gripe, who coached volleyball at Lafayette Jeff and was there before Title IX was enacted, said the Ignite were another step toward gender equality in sports. “I think that the Fever and the women’s Olympic soccer team and all of this has started this really good ignition. Women’s sports has really been taken notice of,” she said. “They’re so good at what they do. The fact that this was sold out, that’s very important. There are going to be more people that have to come back for this.” The Ignite’s next match is 7 p.m. Thursday against the Grand Rapids Rise at the Fishers Event Center.
Notre Dame beats Penn State in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Orange Bowl Riley Leonard concedes he gave a lot of different answers when people asked him why he entered the transfer portal after last season and chose Notre Dame. “But the truth is, I came here to win a national championship, and to go to the best team that would give me the best chance to do that,” he said. What a move. And now, the quarterback, who reportedly made more than $1 million in NIL by coming to the Fighting Irish from Duke, gets some much-needed rest before he plays for that title on Jan. 20. A day after Leonard emerged from the medical tent after being checked for a concussion to lead Notre Dame to a 27-24 win over Penn State and will face Ohio State who beat Texas 28-14 in the other Semifinal Friday Night at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic in Arlington, Texas.
That Notre Dame would earn the trip to Atlanta for the championship game felt farfetched late in the second quarter at the Orange Bowl on Thursday. Hounded by Penn State’s defenders, the Irish had amassed 90 yards, five first downs and no points when Leonard got sandwiched by Zane Durant and Dvon J-Thomas. With Leonard in the medical tent, backup Steve Angeli came in and quickly engineered a drive that led to a field goal and trimmed the deficit to 10-3. Leonard returned for the third quarter looking like a new quarterback, and the Fighting Irish looked like a different team. “When I saw Riley come back in, I said ‘this guy’s a fighter,’” Notre Dame tight end Mitchell Evans said. “He has the most heart. You could see it the way he runs the ball. No matter how, he’s going to find a way to get us there.” Using his arms and his legs, Leonard engineered drives of 75 and 72 yards to lead Notre Dame to two touchdowns in the third quarter. Trailing 24-17 in the fourth, he made the easiest throw of the night, finding Jaden Greathouse after a Penn State defender slipped. Greathouse’s 54-yard TD tied it at 24. The stars at the end were Christian Gray and Mitch Jeter. Gray’s sliding interception of a Drew Allar pass set up a 41-yard game-winning field goal by Jeter. It buys Leonard and the whole team one more game, and a chance to bring a national title back to the Golden Dome for the first time since 1988. That is why Leonard chose Notre Dame. “Obviously this is the right place, and I made the right decision,” Leonard said. “That’s why I came here, at the end of the day.”