Today’s Local Sports Headlines are brought to us by . . .
Ali Patberg To Return for Seventh Season Jaelynn Penn To Transfer from Indiana Women’s Basketball
Indiana Women’s Basketball Head Coach Teri Moren got some good news bad news Wednesday when Senior Ali Patberg announced she would return for a seventh season and Senior Jaelynn Penn will transfer out. Both were given an extra year to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Penn opted out of the season February 7th and played in 11 games this season averaging 9.5 points a game as one of Indiana’s starting guards. The Louisville Kentucky Native was a 4-year starter and played an important role in Indiana’s 2018 WNIT Championship and 2019 NCAA Tournament appearance where they lost Oregon in the second round. Penn had offseason surgery to repair her plantar fasciitis before this year, but recovered from it before the season started. Penn Injured her ankle on January 4th which caused her to miss three games, but she returned to court before opting out. Patberg led the Hoosiers to an elite eight appearance where they lost to Arizona Monday Night in San Antonio Texas. She has been at Indiana the last three seasons after starting her career at Norte Dame where injuries derailed her career but found beginning in Bloomington. She Helped the Hoosiers the 2019 NCAA Tournament and were on there way to the tournament in 2020 when it was canceled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Indiana Men’s Basketball Redshirt Junior Parker Stewart to Return to the Team
New Indiana Men’s Basketball Coach Mike Woodson has gotten one of his new players back. Redshirt Junior Parker Stewart announced he will take his name out of the transfer portal and return to the Hoosiers next season. Stewart put his name in the transfer portal after Indiana fired head coach Archie Miller. Stewart arrived at Indiana in December from Tennessee-Martin where he played for his Dad Anthony who passed away in November. Stewart started his career at Pittsburgh averaging 9.1 points per game as freshman in 2017-18. Stewart took a year off after injuring his hip but scored 19.2 points per game as a redshirt sophomore at Tennessee-Martin. He hit 71 3 pointers in each of his two seasons. Stewart joined the Hoosiers program in January, but because of protocols for his intake into the program some involving COVID-19 his integration onto the roster was slow process. Stewart who did not appear for the Hoosiers in the 2020-2021 season will have 2 seasons left at Indiana.
Indiana Men’s Basketball Mike Woodson to Retain Kenya Hunter as Assistant Coach
New Indiana Men’s Basketball Coach Mike Woodson will keep assistant Coach Kenya Hunter as an assistant coach. Hunter was hired by Archie Miller last August to replace Bruiser Flint. Hunter is a native of Arlington Virginia and has strong ties to the Washington DC area is involved with many 2022 recruits. Along with fellow assistant Mike Roberts, Hunter was retained by Athletic Director Scott Dolson as part of transition team after Miller was fired. Hunter as an assistant coach at the University of Connecticut and worked with the big men. He has had several stops along with the way including Nebraska, Georgetown, Xavier, NC State and his alma mater Duquesne.
Indiana Women’s Soccer Beats Michigan State 2-1
Indiana Women’s Soccer beats Michigan State 2-1 in the regular season home finale Wednesday Afternoon at Bill Armstrong Stadium. The Hoosiers are 6-4 on the season and tie the program record for most conference wins in a season. The Last Time the Hoosiers had 6 conference wins in a season was 1998 and 2013. IU Struck first in the 23rd minute as Gabbi Rennie scored her first collegiate goal with an assist from Jennifer Blitchock. Michigan State scored in the 37th minute with a goal from Sydney Kloosterman. IU got the game winning goal in the 47th minute on an Avery Lockwood Penalty Kick. The Hoosiers have won six out of the last seven matchups with the Spartans with the last loss coming in 2015 and lead the all-time series 19-7-2. IU will travel to Purdue This Saturday night at 7 pm to face the Boilermakers on Big Ten Network Plus.