#16 Indiana University Women’s Basketball squeaks out a win over Illinois to close out 2023
The 16th ranked Indiana Hoosiers closed out 2023 with a 77-71 win over the Illinois Fighting Illini on New Years Eve Sunday afternoon in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in front of 11,600 which is largest crowd of the season. The Hoosiers are 11-1 on the season and 2-0 in the Big Ten and will host Michigan on Thursday at 7pm. Illinois is 6-6 and 0-2 in the Big Ten and will host Wisconsin next Sunday at 3pm. The Hoosiers have won 16 in a row against Illinois dating back to 2014 along with eight straight wins in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall and lead the All-Time Series 50-30.
Mackenize Holmes scored 30 points as for the first time in program history a Hoosier Women’s Basketball player has scored 30 or more points in three straight games. Holmes joins Sara Scalia who scored 32 points against Bowling Green on December 22, and Yarden Garzon who scored 30 points against Evansville on December 18. Holmes has scored 2,130 career points and she is now 234 points away from breaking the scoring record held by Tyra Buss with 2,364 points. The crowd was on the edge of its seat all day and was treated what we will see all conference season long which is a grind it out battle in one of the toughest conferences in the nation. “Hoosier Nation has the best fans in the country, I’ll die on that hill, because I know it’s true” Mackenize Holmes said after the game.
Chloe Moore-McNeil added 19 points and Yarden Garzon scored 13 points. The Hoosiers finished 27-52 from the field for 52%, 5-13 from three-point range for 38% and 18-22 from the free throw line for 81%. The Hoosiers pulled down 30 rebounds, dished out 17 rebounds, 7 steals, 4 blocks and committed 17 turnovers. Indiana scored 44 points in the paint, 9 bench points with 8 of those coming from Lilly Mesiter and 12 points off turnovers.
Makira Cook led Illinois with 24 Points, Kokomo Indiana and Northwestern HS graduate Kendall Bostic scored 18 points and pulled down 11 rebounds along with 12 points from Genessis Bryant. Illinois finished 27-63 from the field for 43%, 2-10 from three-point range for 20% and 15-18 from the free throw line for 83%. The Fighting Illini pulled down 35 rebounds, dished out 14 assists, 10 steals 1 block and committed 14 turnovers. Illinois scored 36 points in the paint, 8 bench points and 17 points off turnovers.
In the first quarter it was battle of the post players between Bostic and Holmes as they scored first six points for their respective teams. Chloe Moore-McNeil scored to make it 8-6 Hoosiers as they went on a 7-0 run as the Hoosiers lead 17-10 at the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter the Hoosiers increased the lead to nine points as the Hoosiers lead 23-14 with 7:07 left before halftime. Illinois chipped away outscoring the Hoosiers 21-20 in the second quarter and Genesis Bryant’s three at buzzer gave the Illini momentum as Indiana lead 37-31 going into the locker room. Mackenize Holmes had 15 points and Chloe Moore-McNeil added 10 points in the first half. Kendall Bostic led Illinois with 14 points and the two teams combined for 50 points in the paint.
In the third quarter Indiana led 48-37 with 4:13 left in the third quarter. Illinois went on a 10-1 run as Lexus Bargesser hit a free throw to end the third quarter with the Hoosiers leading 49-47 going into the final quarter with Illinois outscoring the Hoosiers 16-12 in the third quarter. Makira Cook tied the game at 56-56 with 7:14 left. Chloe Moore-McNeil drained a three with 4:48 left to make it 59-56. Adalia Mackenize scored on a fast break layup to make 59-58 with 4:33 left in the game. Holmes went to work scoring 7 points including five free throws. Makira Cook took over for Illinois scoring seven points for the Illinois as the Hoosiers led 68-67 with 55.1 seconds left in regulation.
Indiana got a big lift when Yarden Garzon hit a three with a friendly bounce as the Hoosiers led 71-67 with 41.2 seconds. The Sophomore from Israel two free throws to give the Hoosiers a four-point lead 73-67 with 20.6 seconds left in the game. Adalia Mackenize scored for Illinois to cut the lead to 73-69. Sara Scalia who had been held scoreless hit two free throws to put the Hoosiers up 75-69 with 5.7 seconds. Genesis Bryant was fouled on a three-point play as she missed the first and hit the last two free throws to put the Ilini within four points with 2.9 seconds left. Chloe Moore-McNeil sealed the win for the Hoosiers hitting two Free Throws with 2.6 seconds to give the Hoosiers the win.
Before the game Former Indiana Women’s Basketball player and current Indiana Fever player Grace Berger was presented with her 2023 Big Ten Regular Season Championship Ring by Teri Moren. Berger played in Spain before breaking her finger and mutually terminating her contract with her Spanish Team and came back to the United States to rehab and preparing for the 2024 Season with the Indiana Fever in the spring. “I haven’t seen Grace since September” Mackenize Holmes said after the game. “To have her here today and she deserves the standing ovation that she got” Holmes Said. Coach Teri Moren was happy that Grace was here along with Keyanna Warthen who played for the Hoosiers from 2017-2021. Moren wanted to make after the game to state how important it is to have alums come back and support the program.
Malik Reneau’s double-double leads Indiana University Men’s Basketball past Kennesaw State
Malik Reneau scored a career high 34 points and pulled down 11 rebounds as the Indiana Hoosiers beat the Kennesaw State Owls 100-87 Friday Night in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. The Hoosiers are 10-3 on the season and will travel to Nebraska Wednesday Night. Kennesaw State falls to 9-5 on the season. The Hoosiers are 4-0 all time against Kennesaw State with all four matchups coming in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. This is the most points the Hoosiers have scored against the Owls and third time they have scored over 90 points in the series. The Hoosiers won 90-66 in 2013, 99-72 in 2015 and 69-55 in 2022. The 87 points is the most that Kennesaw State has scored in this series. Kennesaw State made the NCAA Tournament a season ago and will be one of the favorites in the Atlantic Sun this season. Reneau scored his previous career high in the last game against North Alabama. The Sophomore from Miami was 13-19 from the field, 1-3 from three-point range and 7-11 from the field. Reneau gets his first career double-double and ties his career high in rebounds that he set in last year’s Big Ten Tournament Semifinal against Maryland. The Hoosiers put six players in double figures with Mackenize Mgbako and Trey Galloway scored 14 points apiece. Kaleb Banks added 12 points 10 points each from Payton Sparks and Anthony Walker. The Hoosiers were without leading scorer, rebounder and shot blocker Kel’el Ware due to a COVID Illness. The Sophomore Ware is averaging 14.9 Pts 8.9 Reb 1.5 Blocks per game and the Hoosiers stepped up.
Bloomington Native Anthony Leal played 13 minutes scored two points with an assist, a block and no turnovers and provided the Hoosiers a spark once he was put in the game with the Owls hanging around. Indiana was up 69-68 with 11:42 left and outscored the Owls 11-3 and lead by 10 81-71 with 7:39 left in the second half. Payton Sparks got his first career start since transferring from Ball State in place of Kel’el Ware produced with 10 points, 8 rebounds, 4 blocks, 2 assists and a steal. Sparks from Winchester, Indiana came into the game averaging 8.3 minutes, 2.2 points, 2 rebounds and 0.2 blocks in 10 games this season. The Hoosiers finished 36-69 from the field for 61%, 7-15 from three-point range for 46% and 21-33 for 63%. The Hoosiers pulled down 43 Rebounds, dished 20 Assists, 9 steals, 7 blocks and committed 18 turnovers. Simeon Cottle who is the Owls leading scorer led Kennesaw State with 21 Points, Terrell Burden added 20 points and Jusaun Holt scored 16 of his 19 points in the first half. The Owls finished 32-71 from the field for 45%, 17-35 from three-point range for 48% and 6-8 from the free throw line for 75%. The Owls pulled down 28 rebounds, 21 assists, 10 steals, 4 blocks and committed 15 turnovers. Demond Robinson who is the team’s leading rebounder at 8.5 per game and the third leading scorer at 12.5 points per game scored five points in 12 minutes but left the game after hurting his left foot in the first half.
Mackenize Mgbako started the game with three 3 pointers as the Hoosiers jumped out 18-8 with 15:49 left in the opening half. The Freshman his fourth three pointer as the Hoosiers lead 27-18 with 12:20 left in the first half. The Hoosiers lead 43-34 with 3:52 left before the Owls made 12-7 run to trail 50-46 at halftime. In the second half the Owls chipped away at the lead as Mike Woodson was given a technical foul with 14:22 left in the game. Kennesaw hit both technical free throws to tie the game at 62-62. Anthony Walker gave the Hoosiers the lead 64-62 but the Owls back-to-back three pointers gave them a 68-64 lead. The Hoosiers went on a 5-0 run sparked by Kaleb Banks and Malik Reneau to give them a 69-68 with 11:42 left and never trailed for the rest of the game. Indiana outscored the Owls 31-19 the rest of the way. Indiana scored 52 points in the paint, 26 bench points as all nine Hoosiers that played in the game scored. Freshman Gabe Cupps continues play well at the point guard spot replacing Xavier Johnson who remains out due to a foot injury. Cupps played 26 minutes scoring 2 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals, one assist and no turnovers.
Phillip Dunnam withdraws his name from the Transfer Portal and will return to the Indiana University Football Team
Indiana got a pleasant New Year’s Day surprise when 2023 starting safety Phillip Dunnam announced he is returning to the Hoosiers. Regarded as one of IU’s best defensive playmakers, Dunnam had three interceptions, 53 tackles and nine passes defensed in 2023. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Miami, Fla. native was one of only two true freshmen in 2022 (Jaylin Lucas) to not redshirt. Dunnam was a relatively unheralded prospect out of North Miami Beach H.S., but he quickly flashed his potential in Bloomington. “I felt like we got a little bit of a diamond in the rough that wasn’t maybe recruited at the level that I thought he should have been,” former coach Tom Allen said in October. “And that was to our benefit because some people overlooked him.”
Prior to Monday, safety was a position of concern for the 2024 season. New head coach Curt Cignetti saw both Dunnam and his fellow starter Louis Moore enter the portal. Moore will play for Ole Miss next season, and to this point Indiana has not landed anyone on the back end via the portal. Now Dunnam should lead the way for Indiana at strong safety, with returners Josh Sanguinetti, Bryson Bonds, Tyrik McDaniel, Amare Ferrell and freshman Jah Jah Boyd also in the mix for snaps.
Two Indiana University Wrestlers compete unattached at the Ken Kraft Midlands Championships
Indiana Seniors Jacob Bullock and Jacob Moran each competed at the 59th annual Ken Kraft Midlands Championships last Friday and Saturday. Both wrestlers are redshirting this season, so they competed in the prestigious event unattached to preserve their redshirt status. Bullock had an impressive showing in the tournament, finishing on the podium with a fourth–place finish at heavyweight. He won three matches in a row to reach the semifinals before dropping to the consolation bracket. Moran worked his way to the fifth round of the consolation bracket at 125 lbs. before falling to No. 9 Eric Barnett of Wisconsin.
Jacob Moran – 125 lbs. R64: Jacob Moran (Unattached-IU) advanced via bye.
R32: Ben Aranda (Cleveland State) def. Jacob Moran (Unattached-IU): Dec. 4-2
C1: Jacob Moran (Unattached-IU) advanced via bye.
C2: Jacob Moran (Unattached-IU) def. Jace Schafer (West Virginia): MD, 11-2
C3: Jacob Moran (Unattached-IU) def. Christian Guzman (North Central): TF, 17-2
C4: Jacob Moran (Unattached-IU) def. Ryan Miller (Penn): Dec. 8-7
C5: No. 9 Eric Barnett (Wisconsin) def. Jacob Moran (Unattached-IU): Fall (2:15)
Jacob Bullock – 285 lbs. R32: Jacob Bullock (Unattached-IU) def. Bryan Caves (CMU): Dec. 9-3
R16: Jacob Bullock (Unattached-IU) def. John Stout (Penn): Dec. 13-6
R8: Jacob Bullock (Unattached-IU) def. Cole Jackson (Cal Poly): MD, 19-8
Semi: Isaac Trumble (Unattached-UNC) def. Jacob Bullock (Unattached-IU): Fall (3:32)
Cons. Semi: Jacob Bullock (Unattached-IU) def. Daulton Mayer (Thomas More): MD, 9-1
3rd: Jimmy Mullen (Virginia Tech) def. Jacob Bullock (Unattached-IU): Dec. 9-6
Indianapolis Colts keep playoff hopes alive with win over the Las Vegas Raiders
The Indianapolis Colts will be ringing in the new year with a win after beating the Las Vegas Raiders 23-20 at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday in a pivotal game in the AFC playoff race. The Colts entered the final two games of the season with the chance to still win the AFC South, earn a wild card berth or miss the postseason entirely. The victory will go a long way in helping secure the team’s first trip to the playoffs since 2020. Rodney Thomas recovered an onside kick with under a minute to play to seal the game.
Both teams scored on their opening possessions. Gardner Minshew connected with rookie Josh Downs for 50 yards before Jonathan Taylor scored from five yards out three plays later to give the Colts an early 7-0 lead. Former Purdue quarterback Aidan O’Connell then led the Raiders on a 12-play, 54-yard drive, capped off by a Daniel Carlson 40-yard field goal to cut into the Indianapolis’ lead. The two teams exchanged punts before the Colts found the end zone again at the end of the first half. Minshew hit his second deep pass of the game, finding Alec Pierce for a 58-yard TD to make it 14-3 at halftime.
Las Vegas received the second half kickoff and marched 75-yards in 15-plays for a score as O’Connell threw a four-yard touchdown pass to Davante Adams to cut the Colts’ lead to 14-10. The Colts answered with a long drive of their own, converting on a third-and-long and a fourth down to set-up a 38-yard Matt Gay field goal to extend the lead back to a touchdown. The teams then swapped field goals to make it 20-13 with four and half minutes to play. The Colts took advantage of two costly Raiders’ penalties to tack on Gay’s third field goal. O’Connell hit Adams for the duo’s second touchdown to make it 23-20 with 40 seconds left before the onside recovery to end the game. With his first catch of the game in the first quarter, Michael Pittman Jr. recorded 100 catches for the season. It’s the first time he reached that milestone in his four-year career. The Colts improve to 9-7 and will wrap up the regular season next week by hosting division rival, Houston at 8:15pm Saturday night with game televised on ESPN and ABC.
2003 Indianapolis 500 Champion Gil de Ferran passes away at age 56
Gil de Ferran, the 2003 Indianapolis 500 winner and holder of the closed-course land speed record, died Friday while racing with his son at The Concourse Club in Florida, He was 56. Fellow Brazilian driver Tony Kanaan said de Ferran was with his son, Luke, at the private course in Opa-Locka, Florida, when he pulled over and said he wasn’t feeling well. Kanaan said de Ferran apparently suffered a heart attack and could not be revived.
Kanaan said he was “devastated” at the loss of the Brazilian icon. “He was one of my best friends and we grew up together and lately and we worked together at McLaren,” Kanaan told The Associated Press. “In the beginning of this year he was a mentor, helping me out. I lost a dear friend. I am devastated. I have to say, he went in Gil style, driving a racecar. If I could choose a way to go, that’s what I could do.”
The French-born Brazilian was rehired at McLaren as a consultant in May. He had been sporting director of McLaren’s failed effort to qualify Fernando Alonso for the 2019 Indy 500. De Ferran won the 2000 and 2001 Champ Car titles driving for Penske, and the 2003 Indy 500 with Roger Penske, as well. He was runner-up in LMP1 class of the American Le Mans Series in 2009 driving for his self-owned de Ferran Motorsports. In 2000 at California Speedway, de Ferran set the closed-course land speed record during CART qualifying with a lap of 241.428 mph — a mark that stands today.
De Ferran was inspired to race by fellow Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi and started his career in karting before embarking on a career in the European ladder system. He lost the British Formula Three title to countryman Rubens Barrichello and David Coulthard in 1991 but won the title the next season. He won seven CART races and five IndyCar races, finishing second in the 2003 standings. He joined Team Penske with its iconic Marlboro sponsorship in 2000. De Ferran is survived by his wife, Angela, daughter Ana, and son, Luke. Ana has become a DJ at Formula One races around the world and the entire family had been posting festive Christmas photos over the last week.
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