Indiana University Women’s Basketball Sweeps Purdue and Extends the Win Streak to 13 straight over their archrivals The Indiana Hoosiers closed out the regular season Sunday Afternoon with a 77-57 win over the Purdue Boilermakers before a crowd of 10,512 fans at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette. Indiana has won 13 in a row over Purdue and the last six at Mackey Arena dating back to 2020. The Hoosiers are 16-28 all-time in West Lafayette against Purdue as the Boilermakers lead the all-time series 53-44. Purdue’s last win in the series came at Mackey Arena on January 20, 2019, 56-53. Indiana finishes the regular season at 18-11 and overall and 10-8 in the Big Ten and will be the Number seed in the upcoming Big Ten Tournament that starts on Wednesday in Indianapolis. Indiana will play at Noon on Thursday against Number 8 Oregon with the winner taking on Top Seed USC at Noon on Friday. Chloe Moore-McNeil played in her program record 149th game breaking the record that Grace Berger set from 2018-23 with 148. Purdue finishes the regular season at 10-19 and 3-15 in the Big Ten and will miss the Big Ten Tournament after Rutgers beat Penn State to slide into the 15th and final spot and send Purdue to 16th place as Rutgers beat Purdue earlier in the season as the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Sydney Parrish led the way with 20 points, Shay Ciezki added 18 and Yarden Garzon scored 15 points to lead Indiana. The Hoosiers finished the game 28-53 from the field for 52%, 7-20 from three-point range for 35% and a perfect 14-14 from the free throw line. Indiana pulled down 36 rebounds, dished out 15 assists, 5 steals, 3 blocks and committed 12 turnovers. Lana McCarthy led Purdue with 15 points and Sophie Swanson added 11 points both off the bench. Purdue finished the game 23-63 from the field for 36%, 5-23 from three-point range and 6-10 from the free throw line for 60%. The Boilermakers pulled down 29 rebounds, 12 assists, 6 steals, 1 block and committed 10 turnovers.
Purdue jumped out to a 6-5 lead McKenna Layden and Destini Lombard hit back-to-back triples to start the game. Indiana went inside to Karoline Striplin to get the Hoosiers on the board and Shay Ciezki hit a three pointer. Yarden Garzon gave the Hoosiers an 8-6 lead with her program record tying 206th career three pointer with 7:09 left in the first quarter tying Kris McGrade who has held the record since 1994. Indiana outscored Purdue 22-3 the rest of the quarter including a 12-0 run to lead the Boilermakers 24-9 at the end of the first quarter. Lana McCarthy who got into early foul trouble in the previous matchup against Indiana scored 7 second quarter points as the Boilermakers got within nine points at 30-21. Indiana increased the lead outscoring Purdue 9-3 the rest of the quarter as the Hoosiers led 39-24 at halftime. Both teams scored 15 points in the second quarter. Sydney Parrish and Shay Ciezki combined for 23 of the 39 points as Parrish scored 12 and Ciezki scored 11 as Lana McCarthy led the Boilermakers with 9 points.
In the Third Quarter Chloe Moore-McNeil picked up her fourth foul with 8:30 left in the third quarter as Boilermakers got within 10 points at 52-42 with 4:07 left in the fourth quarter. The Hoosiers ended the quarter on a 11-2 run as Indiana was in control leading 63-44 at the end of the third quarter as the home crowd headed for the exits with Indiana outscoring Purdue 24-20 in the fourth quarter. In the Fourth Quarter Yarden Garzon hit two three pointers with the first one to set the all-time program record for most three pointers in Indiana Women’s Basketball History and hit the second one to give her 208 for her career two ahead of Kris McGrade. Purdue never got closer than 16 the rest of the way as the Hoosiers continue to dominate the Boilers and spoil their Senior Day.
Indiana University Men’s Basketball Successful in Seattle with a 16 Point win over Washington The Indiana Hoosiers handled the Washington Huskies 78-62 Saturday Afternoon at the Alaska Airlines Arena in Seattle as the Hoosiers made their first ever trip to Seattle and came away with a dominating win. Indiana is 4-1 all time against Washington and have won the last four meetings in this series as the teams met on the hardwood for the first time since 2013 in New York City. Indiana 18-11 and 9-9 in the Big Ten and extends its winning streak to three games. The Hoosiers will stay out West to face the Oregon Ducks Tuesday Night in Eugene before returning to Bloomington to battle Ohio State Next Saturday. Washington drops to 13-16 overall and 4-14 in the Big Ten and need to win their final two games to have any chance of making the Big Ten Tournament which will not be easy traveling to USC and hosting Oregon.
Malik Reneau returned after missing Penn State game Wednesday Night after he was taken to the hospital after he had an allergic reaction to medication after the teams shootaround. Reneau scored 22 points off the bench and was 10-13 from the field, 0-1 from three-point range 2-3 from the free throw line with 6 rebounds and 2 assists. Luke Goode scored 18 points and drilled 5 three pointers. Mackenize Mgbako and Myles Rice added 10 points each. Indiana finished the game 30-61 from the field for 49%, 9-23 from three-point range for 39% and 9-14 from the free throw line for 63%. The Hoosiers pulled down 36 rebounds, dished out 16 assists, 6 steals, 3 blocks and committed 9 turnovers. Zoom Diallo led Washington with 18 points. Franck Kepnang, Tyler Harris and Mekhi Mason all scored 10 points apiece. Indiana held Washington’s leading scorer Great Osobor to 4 points as he went 0-5 from the field, 0-1 from three-point range and 4-6 from the free throw line. Osobor had 4 rebounds, an assist and a steal. The Huskies finished 21-58 from the field for 36%, 6-23 from three-point range for 26% and 14-17 from the free throw line for 82%. The Huskies pulled down 34 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, 4 blocks and committed 13 turnovers.
The Hoosiers built a 21-9 lead in the first 10 minutes and were largely unchallenged from there. Indiana led 44-30 at halftime, but Diallo’s 3-pointer two-and-a-half minutes into the second half capped a 7-0 Washington spurt to reduce the Huskies’ deficit to 44-37. Indiana responded with two free throws from Mgbako, Oumar Ballo made a jumper and 1 of 2 free throws and Indiana led by double digits the rest of the way. Reneau’s layup with 8:10 left gave Indiana its first and only 20-point advantage at 64-44. The Hoosiers outscored Washington 34-32 in the second half. Washington opened the game with a Mekhi Mason three pointer and Mackenzie Mgbako tied the game on a three pointer. Tyler Harris gave Washington the lead 5-3 and the Hoosiers tied the game with a Trey Galloway bucket. Oumar Ballo’s layup with 17:05 left in the first half gave the Hoosiers a 7-5 lead and never looked back. The Hoosiers were wearing black uniforms with red numbers and letters and with a healthy Malik Reneau who was unstoppable, and Indiana took away the Huskies leading scorer in Great Osobor out of his game gives Indiana a boost of confidence as the Hoosiers are looking for another quad 1 win at Oregon Tuesday as Indiana keeps its NCAA Tournament hopes alive with a third straight win.
Indiana University Men’s Swimming Diving wins their 4th Consecutive Big Ten Championship No. 2-ranked Indiana won its fourth consecutive Big Ten Men’s Swimming and Diving Championship on Saturday inside the Jane K. Freeman Aquatic Center on the campus of the University of Minnesota. IU’s 448-point margin is the largest in Big Ten history. Over the four-day meet, the Hoosiers won 11 Big Ten Championships, earned 26 medals, set Big Ten records in the 200 medley relay (1:21.39), 400 freestyle relay (2:45.62) and 200-yard backstroke (Owen McDonald – 1:37.15) and broke championship records in the 400 medley relay (2:59.87), 200-yard IM (Owen McDonald – 1:39.89) and 100-yard breaststroke (Finn Brooks – 49.94).
With his two meet records and individual titles in the 200 IM, 100 back and 200 back, junior Owen McDonald was named the Big Ten Swimmer of the Championships. Indiana’s seniors celebrated a fourth title in four years – IU’s longest streak since winning 20 straight from 1961-80. That group includes Luke Barr, Finn Brooks, Jackson Carlile, Mason Carlton, Quinn Henninger, Josh Matheny, Rafael Miroslaw, Lucas Piunti and Carson Tyler.
The men’s program has totaled 31 Big Ten Championships, including seven of the last nine and eighth during IU head swimming coach Ray Looze’s tenure. IU athletes have combined for 406 Big Ten Championships, including 263 swimming titles, 83 relay championships and 60 diving titles. “What a fantastic way to finish this Big Ten Championships,” Ray Looze said. “I am super proud of everything this team accomplished in this conference, and now, most importantly, we move on to the NCAA Championships!” “I’m so happy for the team and all our seniors,” IU head diving coach Drew Johansen said. “Four Big Ten team titles in the four years they have been here. This was another step towards our goals for the season. “It was a great outing for the team all week. They know how great this week was, and they also know that we have room to improve everywhere. The next three weeks will help make us even sharper for the NCAA Championships.” The Indiana men will prepare for the 2025 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships, slated for March 26-29 in Federal Way, Washington.
David Kovacs and Jay Stewart win Individual State Swimming Championships Bloomington South’s David Kovacs and Bloomington North’s Jay Stewart capped off their High School Swimming Careers Saturday taking home a total of three individual State Titles at the 88th annual IHSAA Boys Swimming State Finals at the Indiana University Natatorium on the campus of Indiana University-Indianapolis.
Kovacs won the 100 Yard Backstroke with a time of 47:63 and the 200 Yard Individual Medley with a time of 1:46:64 as he became the first individual State Champion for the Panthers since Mathew Jerden in 2017. Stewart won the 50 Yard Freestyle with a time of 20:08 and became the first individual State Champion since Max Irwin in 2013. Bloomington South finished 3rd with a score of 184 and Bloomington North finished 14th with a score of 41 points. Carmel won its 11th State Championship in a row with 412.5 points which is the second most in State Finals History. Fishers finished second with a score of 216 and Camel’s 196.5 margin of victory over Fishers is the fourth most in State Finals History.
Bloomington South finished second in the 400 Yard Freestyle Relay with a time of 3:03.19, 4th in the 200 Yard Medley Relay with a time of 132:42 and 10th in the 200 Yard Freestyle Relay with a time of 1:25.94. Freshman Peter Kovacs finished second in the 100 Yard Freestyle with a time of 44.85 and finished 6th in the 200 Yard Freestyle with a time of 139.61. Senior Lukas Paegle finished 3rd in the 100 Yard Butterfly with a time of 48:52 and 4th in the 50 Yard Freestyle with a time of 20:68 Senior Botond Kun finished 12th in the 500 Yard Freestyle with a time of 4:38.27. For Bloomington North Jay Stewart finished 4th in the 100 Yard Butterfly with a time of 48:81 and the Cougars finished 14th in the 200 Yard Freestyle Relay with a time of 1:27.28.
Bloomington North Girls Gymnastics denied Sectional Four Peat The Bloomington North Cougars were looking for a Girls Gymnastics Sectional four peat Friday at Franklin Central as Columbus North won the Sectional with a team score of 109.650 points. Bloomington North finished second with 106.500 points and Roncalli finished third with a team score of 102.950 as all three teams advancing to Regional this Friday at Franklin Central. Bloomington South finished fifth with 100.975 and Edgewood finished seventh with 94.950 as neither team nor any individuals will advance to the Regional. Bloomington North won the last three sectionals and was looking for a four peat when they did it from 1981-84 Columbus North has won 22 Sectional Championships and their first since 2021.
Bloomington North’s Sofia Garcia won the Uneven Bars Reese Euler of Columbus North won the Vault, Floor and the All -Around as Hayden Harper of Columbus North won the Beam. Garcia finished second on the Vault, Beam, Floor and the All Around. Bloomington North’s Hannah Abel tied for 5th in the Floor and Sophie Winkle finished 6th in the beam as the top six in each event including the all-around advance to the Regional.
Ball State Women’s Basketball Clinches a Share of the MAC Regular Season Title For the first time since the 2002-03 season, Ball State head coach Brady Sallee and the Cardinals clinched a share of the 2025 Mid-American Conference regular season title with Ball State’s 55-45E win at Western Michigan Saturday afternoon in University Arena. With the win, the Cardinals’ improved their overall record to 22-7 and 14-2 in MAC play. The Broncos fall to 11-16 overall and 7-9 in league action. For the game, Alex Richard led all scorers with 29 points as the senior went 13-of-18 (.722) from the field. The only other player to reach double-digit scoring was Ally Becki with 10. Defensively, Marie Kiefer came through with 13 rebounds. As a team, Ball State out-rebounded Western Michigan 45-30 while outpacing the Broncos 32-20 in the paint.
It comes to no surprise that as the regular season comes to an end the games continue to be closer. Today’s game started off at a snail’s pace scoring wise which saw Ball State take a slight four-point (8-4) edge over Western Michigan to end the first quarter of play. The Cardinals’ offense got warmer in the second frame as Becki and Richard did most of the scoring allowing Ball State to go up by eight (18-10) with just under two minutes to play. Ball State’s defense continued to give WMU fits and BSU was winning the board game which opened more opportunities to score. Kiefer’s old school 3-point play ended the first half increasing BSU’s cushion to 13-points over Western Michigan at intermission.
After the break, Western Michigan opened the third stanza with a 7-3 run to make it (26-17) ball game at the 6:03 mark. Ball State answered basket-for-basket to keep a double-digit lead throughout the third quarter of play. As the Cardinals continued to dominate the paint, BSU was able to finish the third period up 40-28. The fight to win continued in the final 10 minutes of action with Elise Stuck and Richard making their layups which allowed the Cardinals to keep a comfortable lead (48-37) halfway through the fourth period. The Broncos continued to play close to the Cardinals to come within eight (50-42) with 3:08 on the clock. Luckily, Richard tallied back-to-back layups putting BSU back up by 13 (55-42). Those plays ultimately stopped the Broncos from making any kind of a comeback the remainder of the contest. The Ball State women’s basketball team returns to Worthen Arena next week for its final two regular season home games of the year. The Cardinals will host the Buffalo Bulls Wednesday at 6:30 pm before hosting their annual senior day on Saturday versus Ohio at 1 pm.