By Nick Jnekinson-SCINN Sports Director
The Indiana Hoosiers trailed the Marian University Knights 14-8 at the end of the first quarter but dominated the rest of the way outscoring the defending NAIA National Champions 79-25 in the final three quarters to win 87-39 Wednesday Night in Simon Skjdot Assembly Hall in the lone extinction game.
The Hoosiers will open the regular season next Tuesday when Florida Gulf Coast comes to Simon Skjdot Assembly Hall next Tuesday Night for a 7 PM tipoff. Marian will head to the Jimmy Faulkner Classic this weekend in Montgomery, Alabama to face Host Faulkner University on Friday and William Carey University from Mississippi on Saturday.
The Hoosiers put four in double figures with Kenzie Hare leading the way 18 points. The Iowa State transfer went 6-10 from downtown and 6-11 from the field along with 8 assists, 5 rebounds and a block. Freshman Addy Nyemcheck added 14 points. Zania Socka-Nguemen scored 13 points and Maya Makalusky added 10 points. Nine of the ten Hoosiers that played scored as Freshman GiGi Battle did not score.
The Hoosiers finished 35-73 from the field for 48%, 12-30 from the three-point range and 5-10 from the free throw line for 50%. The Hoosiers pulled down 50 rebounds, 29 assists, 16 steals, 6 blocks and 12 turnovers.
Bedford North Lawrence Graduate Madisyn Bailey led the Knights with 12 points and had huge cheering section behind the team bench. Taylor Double from Huntington North scored 8 points. Freshman Mayrose Felling who graduated from Triton Central High School, is the granddaughter of former Indiana University Men’s Basketball Assistant Coach Ron Felling and played the final minute of the game which was special moment for her and her family in which her grandfather coached under Hall of Famer Bob Knight.
The Knights were 16-60 from the field for 26%, 3-19 from three-point range for 15%, and 4-8 from the free throw line for 50%. The Knights had 35 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals, no blocks and 19 turnovers.
Indiana jumped out a 5-0 lead and Marian outscored the Hoosiers 14-3 for the rest of the quarter to lead 14-8 as Indiana was 3-22 from the field and 2-12 from three-point range. Indiana Head Coach Teri Moren felt that the first quarter was due to “Playing in front of a crowd for the first time this season and they were excited. Once the Hoosiers settled down, they dominated the rest of the game leading 33-20 at halftime and 61-29 at the end of the third quarter.
Before the game a moment of silence was held for Riichard Moren who passed away in July at age 91 and is the father of Head Coach Teri Moren. Rochard Moren was Indiana University Women’s Basketball’s biggest fan and his seat which the first seat on the Northeast end next to the basket will remain empty for the entire season. Coach Moren and the Hoosiers will have a heavy heart this season and no question this season will be decimated to his memory, but he will be watching from up above as the Hoosiers look to get back to the NCAA Tournament.