Indiana beats Ohio State on a Very Emotional Senior Day and Mike Woodson’s last Home Game The Indiana Hoosiers closed out the regular season with a 66-60 win over the Ohio State Buckeyes Saturday Afternoon in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Indiana is 19-12 overall and 10-10 in the Big Ten. The Hoosiers will be the number 9 seed in the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis next week and will face the 8 Seed Oregon Ducks in the second round on Thursday at Noon. Indiana is projected to make the NCAA Tournament and could one of the last four teams in the field of 68. Ohio State finishes the regular season at 17-11 and 9-11 in the Big Ten as the Buckeyes are the Number 10 seed for the upcoming Big Ten Tournament and will play at 6 PM on Wednesday night in the first round. Ohio State could be on the outside looking in for the NCAA Tournament and they will find out if they are in the field of 68 on Sunday March 16, at 6 PM when the NCAA Tournament field is announced on CBS.
Senior Trey Galloway became the latest member of the 1,000-point club scoring 16 points and dishing out 6 assists becoming the 56th player in Indiana University Men’s Basketball History to score 1,000 points. Malik Reneau scored 16 points and went a perfect 5-5 from the free throw line. Luke Goode scored 11 points and went 8-10 from the free throw line. Senior Oumar Ballo scored 9 points and add 7 rebounds. Senior Anthony Leal scored 4 points. Indiana finished 19-54 from the field 35%, 5-20 from three-point range for 25% and 23-31 from the free throw line for 74%. Indiana pulled down 40 rebounds, dished out 11 assists, 5 blocks, 3 steals and committed 9 turnovers.
Micah Parrish led the Buckeyes with 19 points and Devin Royal added 13 points. Leading scorer Bruce Thornton was held to 9 points. Ohio State finished the game 21-55 from the field for 38%, 8-26 from three-point range for 30% and 10-15 from the free throw line for 66%. Ohio State pulled down 31 rebounds, 12 assists, 7 steals, 4 blocks and committed 10 turnovers. Ohio State did not score a field goal for the last five minutes in fifty seconds as the Buckeyes missed their last six field goals and went 1 for 11 from the field down the stretch. The game featured six ties and six lead changes as the Hoosiers led for 29:11 and the Buckeyes led for 7:31. Ohio State lead 29-25 at halftime and the Hoosiers outscored the Buckeyes 41-31 in the second half. Ohio State led 46-36 with 12:16 left in the second half for their largest lead of the game at 10 points. Indiana went on a 10-0 run and led by seven points with 26 seconds left by seven points.
Trey Galloway hit the big shot to ice the game and head coach Mike Woodson said it was only fitting that his senior hit the big shot. “I couldn’t be prouder of Trey Galloway and the career he’s had on this basketball floor.” Mike Woodson said. After the game Indiana Head Coach Mike Woodson was doing a postgame interview with CBS, and he was surrounded by the entire team as the surrounded him as his final home game as the Indiana Head Coach and hugged him after the interview was over. Woodson’s has not changed his mindset from his time when he took the job to now. “I just want the program to be successful. That’s all I ever thought about when I took the job, and that’s all I want now.” Woodson Said.
After the game the nine Senior Managers and Eight Senior Players were honored. Dallas James did not go through Senior Day as we thought he would since James did not appear in a game for the Hoosiers this season it is possible for him to return for another year. Anthony Leal, Trey Galloway, Luke Goode, Oumar Ballo and Langdon Hatton Walk On’s Jadden Bobbett, Jackson Creel and Shaan Burke were all honored and did a video presentation thanking all their friends and family along with the coaching staff and players. There was also a video tribute to Indiana Head Coach Mike Woodson who announced a month ago he was stepping down at the end of the season. Anthony Leal stepped to the microphone and spoke on behalf of the entire team thanking everyone for their support and since he is a license real estate agent, he reminded fans “If you ever need a house, I am your realtor” Leal said after the game. Leal gave head coach Mike Woodson a shutout at the of the press game press conference “Shoutout to coach. It’s his last game here before he steps down. He means the world to us. Shoutout to coach Woodson.”
Mike Woodson beat Ohio State on his Senior Day in 1980 and his final game in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall as after a four-year run as Indiana Head Coach in 2025 he beats the Buckeyes for a second time. Woodson said on the CBS Broadcast after the game “Maybe I’m leaving too soon, I don’t know.” In the post-game press conference, he was asked about his comment. “There’s always going to be that thought. But at the end of the day, it’s not about me right now. It’s about this team and us going up to Indianapolis and trying to win the Big Ten Tournament.” Woodson Said. There is a lot of basketball left to play, and the Hoosiers are going to do everything they can to extend the season for as long as they can. One thing is certain in the four years under Mike Woodson the Hoosiers have had a winning season and have been to two NCAA Tournaments and they are in line for third Big Dance in Four Years and no matter what the fans think of Mike Woodson he is always has been and always will be a winner.
#9 Seed Indiana Pushes Top Seed USC to Limit in the Big Ten Tournament The top seed USC Trojans made their Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament debut getting all they could handle from the #9 seed Indiana Hoosiers 84-79 Friday Afternoon at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis in the Quarterfinals presented by TIAA. USC is 27-2 and will play in the Semifinals tomorrow at 3 PM against Michigan or Maryland. Indiana is 19-12 and will wait for the NCAA Selection Show on Sunday Night March 16, at 8 PM on ESPN to find out where the Hoosiers will be for the big dance. Big Ten Player of the Year JuJu Watkins led the Trojans with 31 points and 10 rebounds for her 7th double double of the season. The Sophomore from Los Angeles went 10-19 from the field, 1-3 from three-point range and 10-13 free throw line. Watkins had 3 steals, 2 assists and a block.
Kiki Iriafen scored 21 points and pulled down 10 rebounds for her 10th double double of the season and fouled out with 54.1 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Avery Howell added 10 points as the Trojans finished the game 29-62 from the field for 46 percent, 6-21 from three-point range for 28 percent and 20-31 from the free throw line for 64 percent. Without Center Rayah Marshall who was out due to illness. The Trojans pulled down 40 rebounds, 17 assists, 8 steals, 5 blocks and committed 16 turnovers. USC who did not score a point from its bench against Indiana in January got 7 points off its bench from Clarice Akunwafo who had 4 points and 3 points from Malia Samuels.
Yarden Garzon led Indiana with 23 points and drained five triples and went 6-6 from the free throw line. Chloe Moore-McNeil added 17 points going a perfect 10-10 from the free throw line. Shay Ciezki scored 15 points and Karoline Striplin added 10 points. Sydney Parrish scored 8 points. Lilly Meister added 4 points, Lexus Bargesser scored 2 points and Juliana LaMendola played but did not score. Indiana finished the game 23-58 from the field 39 percent, 8-19 from three-point range for 42 percent and 25-27 from the free throw line for 92 percent. Indiana pulled down 35 rebounds, dished 16 assists, 6 steals, 6 blocks and committed 15 turnovers.
There were 5 ties and 9 lead changes as the game was battle throughout as USC led 23-18 after the first quarter. USC led 29-21 with 6:56 left in the second quarter as Indiana fought back to get within two 31-29 with 2:50 left in the second quarter. USC led 38-34 at halftime as Indiana outscored USC 16-15 in the second quarter. Indiana tied the game at 40-40 on two free throws by Chloe Moore-McNeil and took the lead 42-40 on two Shay Ciezki free throws. USC tied the game at 42 in a Kiki Iriafen bucket and Ciezki gave the Hoosiers the lead 44-42. Lilly Meister went down with 5:53 left in the third quarter and returned with 1:13 left. Indiana outscored USC 23-21 in the third quarter but trailed 59-57 at the end of the third quarter. USC outscored Indiana 25-22 in the fourth quarter as the Trojans got back-to-back three pointers from Talia Von Oelhoffen and JuJu Watkins to push the USC lead to 77-68 as Indiana could not get over the hump as the Trojans hit 7 three throws to seal the win.
#2 Seed UCLA Takes Down Top Seed USC to Win the Big Ten Tournament The #2 UCLA Bruins beat the #1 USC Trojans 72-67 in the Championship Game of the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament Presented by TIAA Sunday Afternoon at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. UCLA is 30-2 and clinches the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. USC is 28-3 and will find out next Sunday evening at 8 PM if they are number 1 seed for the upcoming NCAA Tournament. USC beat UCLA in both regular season meetings 71-60 at the Galen Center on February 13, and 80-67 at Pauley Pavilion on March 1. The Bruins showed it’s hard to how it is to be a team three times in one season. The Los Angeles Schools came into the Big Ten on a mission and they delivered being the top two teams in the regular season with the Trojans only conference loss coming at Iowa 76-69 on February 2.
Lauren Betts was named the Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player and scored her 1.000th career point after she transferred in the off-season from Stanford. Betts scored 17 points with 13 coming in the second half. She pulled down 5 rebounds, 4 steals, 4 blocks and had 2 assists. Kiki Rice and Londynn Jones scored 13 points apiece UCLA finished 23-44 from the field for 52 percent, 8-15 from three-point range for 53 percent and 18-21 form the free throw line down 85 percent. UCLA pulled down 27 rebounds, dished 17 assists, 10 steals, 5 blocks and committed 24 turnovers. JuJu Watkins finished with 29 points, 6 rebounds, 4 steals along with 2 assists and was named the All-Tournament Team. Kiki Iriafen scored 10 points and was named to All-Tournament Team with Iowa’s Lucy Olsen and Michigan’s Syla Swords rounding the five player selections. USC went 24-70 from the field for 34 percent, 8-28 from three-point range for 28 percent and 11-13 from free throw line for 84 percent. The Trojans pulled down 38 rebounds, dished out 15 assists, 12 steals, 3 blocks and committed 19 turnovers.
USC led 24-19 after the first quarter and outscored the Bruins 21-16 in the second quarter to lead 45-35 at halftime. UCLA outscored USC 17-9 in the third quarter as USC led 54-52 at the end of the third quarter. USC wore down in the fourth quarter after playing a tight battle with Michigan yesterday while UCLA was able to rest its starters in a blowout win over Ohio State. UCLA took control outscoring USC 20-13 in the fourth quarter. UCLA becomes the 9th school since the tournament began in 1995 to win the Postseason Tournament. The Big Ten expanded to 18 teams this season and for the first time only 15 teams qualified as Purdue Northwestern and Penn State were left out. The Big Ten is projected to get 12 teams in the NCAA Tournament which will announce its field of 68 next Sunday at 8 PM on ESPN. One thing is for sure the Big Ten has always been good at Women’s Basketball and with the addition of UCLA, USC, Washington and Oregon. That level went up another notch as there are no easy games in the Big Ten and anyone can beat anyone at any given time. The Los Angeles Schools are both poised to make a run at the final four but know the Big Ten is going to make a lot of noise in the NCAA Tournament that is a fact.
UCLA Blows Out Ohio State to Reach Big Ten Title Game The Second Seed UCLA Bruins blew out the Third Seed Ohio State Buckeyes 75-46 in the Semifinals of the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament presented by TIAA Saturday evening at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. UCLA is 29-2 on the season and faces it Crosstown rival USC tomorrow at 4;30 PM in the Championship Game on CBS as the Los Angeles Schools meet for the third time with USC winning both regular season matchups. Ohio State drops to 25-6 on the season and will wait a week to hear their name called for the NCAA Tournament Next Sunday Night at 8 PM. Londynn Jones led the Bruins with 22 points, Lauren Betts and Gabreilla Jaquez added 12 points apiece and Angela Dugalic added 10 points. UCLA went 32-63 from the field for 50%, 11-24 from three-point range for 45% and did not attempt a free throw. UCLA pulled down 43 rebounds, dished out 25 assists, 6 steals, 4 blocks and committed 16 turnovers.
Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Year Jaloni Cambridge led Ohio State with 10 points. The Buckeyes finished the game 19-57 from the field for 33%, 3-10 from three-point range for 30% and 5-11 from the free throw line for 45%. Ohio State pulled down 25 rebounds, dished out 9 assists, 9 steals, 5 blocks and committed 12 turnovers. UCLA controlled the game start to finish leading 22-8 after the first quarter and outscoring the Buckeyes 22-13 in the second quarter for a 44-21 halftime lead. UCLA outscored Ohio State 23-9 in the third quarter as the Bruins went up 67-30 going into the final ten minutes. Ohio State outscored UCLA 16-8 in the final ten minutes as the Bruins move on to the Championship game tomorrow in their first year in the Big Ten.
USC Wakes Up in the Second Half to Beat Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament The Top Seed USC Trojans outscored the # 5 Seed Michigan Wolverines 53-39 in the second half to win 82-70 in the Semifinals of the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament Presented by TIAA at Gainbridge Fieldhouse Saturday Afternoon in Indianapolis. USC improves to 28-2 and will face either UCLA or Ohio State tomorrow afternoon in the Championship Game at 4:30 PM on CBS. Michigan drops to 22-10 and will wait to learn their NCAA Tournament Path Next Sunday Night at 8 PM. Michigan led 12-9 after the first quarter as the Trojans outscored Michigan 20-19 in the second quarter. Michigan led 31-29 at halftime but the Trojans came out in the second half and outscored Michigan 24-21 to lead 53-52 going into the final ten minutes. USC used a big run to put the game away outscoring Michigan 29-18 in the fourth quarter to advance to championship game in their first year in the conference.
Kiki Iriafen led the Trojans with 25 points and 11 rebounds. Sophomore sensation Juju Watkins scored 20 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. Freshman Avery Howell added 11 points. Rayah Marshall returned to the starting lineup after missing Friday’s Quarterfinal game with Indiana due to Illness. Marshall scored 9 points, 3 rebounds and dished out 2 assists. USC finished the game 29-65 from the field for 44%, 5-18 for 27% and 19-26 from the free throw line for 73%. USC pulled down 42 rebounds, dished out 19 assists, 10 steals, 4 blocks and committed 17 turnovers. Freshman Syla Swords led Michigan with 26 points. Big Ten Co-Freshman of the year Olivia Olson added 13 points and Jordan Hobbs scored 12 points. Michigan went 26-65 from the field for 38%, 4-15 from three-point range for 26% and 16-17 from the free throw line for 94%. Michigan pulled down 33 rebounds, dished 10 assists, 10 steals, no blocks and committed 17 turnovers.
#3 Ohio State Survives #11 Iowa in the Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals Cotie McMahon’s two free throws with 6 seconds left gave #3 Ohio State the 60-59 won over #11 Seed Iowa Friday Night in the Quarterfinals of the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament Presented by TIAA at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Ohio State is 25-5 and will play #2 Seed UCLA in the Semifinals tomorrow at 5:30 PM while Iowa drops to 23-10. Cotie McMahon ked the Buckeyes with 18 points, Taylor Thierry added 14 points. Ajae Petty pulled down 12 rebounds and scored 6 points. Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Year Jaloni Cambridge was held to 6 points. Ohio State went 23-63 from the field for 36 percent, 7-18 from three-point range for 39 percent and 7-9 from the free throw line for 77 percent. The Buckeyes pulled down 38 rebounds, 16 assists, 8 steals, 3 blocks and committed 14 turnovers.
Iowa got 14 points apiece from Lucy Olsen, Sydney Affolter and Hannah Stuelke who also pulled down 12 rebounds. Ava Heiden added 10 points off the bench. Iowa went 23-59 from the field for 39 percent, 7-21 from three-point range for 33 percent and 6-8 from the free throw line for 75 percent. The Hawkeyes pulled down 37 rebounds, 18 assists, 5 steals, 4 blocks and committed 16 turnovers. Ohio State led 14-9 after the first quarter. Iowa opened the second quarter on a 9-4 run with Lucy Olsen draining a three pointer to force and Ohio State timeout to tie the game 18-18 with 6:59 left before halftime. Ohio State came out of timeout and went on a 6-0 run increased the lead 24-18 with 5:08 remaining in the second quarter.
Iowa outscored Ohio State 10-4 led by back-to-back buckets from Ava Heiden. Taylor Thierry gave Ohio State the lead 29-28 with 16 seconds left completing a three-point play as the Buckeyes went to the locker room with a one-point lead. Iowa outscored Ohio State 19-15 in the second quarter. Lucy Olsen led the Hawkeyes with 12 first half points. The third quarter was a back-and-forth battle as Ohio State outscored Iowa 19-18 in the third quarter as Ebony Walker gave Ohio State the lead on a put back to beat the third quarter buzzer and lead 49-48 at the end of the third quarter. The fourth quarter was a back-and-forth affair like the rest of the game as both teams scored 11 points in the fourth quarter and Iowa had two chances to win it at the end of the game as Affolter and Stuelke both missed, and Ohio State is on the to the Semifinals tomorrow.
#2 UCLA handles #10 Nebraska in Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals The #2 Seed UCLA Bruins took care of the Nebraska Cornhuskers 85-74 in the Quarterfinals of the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament Presented by TIAA Friday Night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. UCLA improves to 28-2 and Nebraska drops to 21-11. UCLA advances to face either Iowa or Ohio State Tomorrow at 5:30 in the second semifinal. Big Ten Defensive Player of Year Lauren Betts scored 28 points, pulled down 13 rebounds and blocked 7 shots. The 6-7 Betts has been a force all season for the Bruins with her 17th double-double of the season and her seven blocks is the most since she had 7 against Penn State on January 15.
Gabriela Jaquez scored 23 points hitting three triples and going 4-4 from the free throw line. Kiki Rice added 14 points. UCLA went 30-68 from the field for 44 percent, 6-29 from three-point range for 20 percent and 19-23 from the free throw line for 82 percent. UCLA pulled down 39 rebounds dished out 24 assists, 9 blocks, 7 rebounds and committed 11 turnovers. Freshman Britt Prince scored 24 points to lead Nebraska as she hit four three pointers. Alexis Markowski had 11 points and 4 rebounds, but she fouled out in the fourth quarter. Alberte Rimdal scored 10 points off the bench. Nebraska went 30-52 from the field for 48 percent, 7-18 from three-point range for 39 percent and 7-8 from the field for 87 percent. The Huskers pulled down 27 rebounds, dished out 16 assists, 4 steals, 4 blocks and committed 15 turnovers.
UCLA led 27-17 after the first quarter. Nebraska responded in the second quarter outscoring the Bruins 22-14 as the Bruins led 41-39 at halftime. UCLA took control in the second half outscoring Nebraska 44-35 in the second half. UCLA led 62-55 at the end of the third quarter. Nebraska was playing their third game in three days and while the Huskers gave it their all they ran out of gas, and they couldn’t stop Betts inside and Betts made her presence felt on defense and Jaquez came out to the start the game on fire as UCLA looks to be on a collision course with crosstown rival USC if they both survive the semifinals.
Michigan Destroys Maryland in the Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals The #5 Seed Michigan Wolverines handled the #4 Seed Maryland Terrapins 98-71 in the in the Quarterfinals of the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament Presented by TIAA Friday Afternoon at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Michigan will face top seed USC tomorrow at 3 PM in the first semifinal. Michigan is 22-9 on the season and Maryland falls to 23-7. Michigan jumped out to a 27-6 lead after the first quarter as Maryland outscored the Wolverines 31-14 in the second quarter as the Wolverines led 41-37 at halftime. Michigan went on a 28-12 third quarter run to lead 69-49 at the end of the third quarter. Michigan had the game in hand outscoring Maryland 29-22 in the fourth quarter.
Jordan Hobbs led Michigan with 23 points along a combined 42 points from the Freshman duo of Syla Swords and Olivia Olson. Swords had 22 points, and Olson has 20 and the trio scored 65 of the teams 98 points. Michigan went 36-59 from the field for 61 percent, 12-23 from the three-point line for 52 percent and 14-20 from the free throw line for 70 percent. Michigan pulled down 31 rebounds, dished 28 assists, 11 steals, 3 blocks and committed 17 turnovers. Michigan loves to score in transition and their ability to share the ball and knock down the triple and owned the boards led to the Wolverines keeping their Big Ten Tournament hopes alive.
Sarah Te-Bissau led Maryland with 25 points and playing all 40 minutes. “Sarah is a warrior out there and did a great job of leading us in the comeback” Maryland Head Coach Brenda Freese said after the game. Christina Dalce scored 19 points and Michigan did.a good job of holding Kaylene Smikle to 10 points. Maryland’s leading scorer Shyanne Sellers was held to 2 points on 1-3 shooting. Mir McLean added 10 points off the bench. Maryland finished the game 27-56 from the field for 48 percent, 4-13 from three-point range for 30 percent and 13-20 from the free throw line for 65 percent. The Terrapins pulled down 27 rebounds, 10 assists, 7 steals, 1 block and committed 21 turnovers. “Everybody comes ready to play in March and we need to reevaluate after this game and get ready for the NCAA Tournament” Maryland Head Coach Brenda Freese said after the game. Both of these teams will be in the NCAA Tournament and Maryland will wait nine days to learn who and where they are playing when the NCAA Tournament Selection Show announces the field of 68 on Sunday March 16th at 8 PM on ESPN.