Mackenize Holmes becomes Indiana University’s time leading scorer and Sweeps Purdue
The Indiana Hoosiers handled the Purdue Boilermakers 95-62 before a crowd of 13,304 Sunday afternoon in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. The Hoosiers are 20-3 overall and 11-2 in the Big Ten. Indiana reaches the 20-win mark for the ninth straight season and 15th overall in the 52-year history of Indiana University Women’s Basketball. With 5:15 left in the game Mackenize Holmes layup gave her 17th point of the game and became the school’s all-time leading scorer with 2,365 points which is one more than Tyra Buss who scored 2,364 points from 2014-2018. After the game there was a video played in which Buss, along with Amanda Cahill, Grace Berger, and Denise Jackson-Salters offered their congratulations to her and she received a standing ovation.
Coach Teri Moren is very proud of Mackenzie and how far she has come. “I am really proud because she came in very shy couldn’t give you eye contact and was not confident,” Moren said after the game.
“The fans here just get It,” Mackenzie Holmes said after the game, and she is thankful to be a part of program who has believed in her.
Chloe Moore-McNeil knows what to expect when she is out on the court with Holmes. “She amazes me every time I step on the court with her,” Moore-McNeil said after the game.
Holmes finished the game 7-14 from the field and 3-3 from the free throw line. She pulled down 4 rebounds and dished out 2 assists. She now has 2,365 points, 939 Rebounds, 239 Blocks, 26 Career Double-Doubles, along with school records with 972 Field Goals made and 120 career wins in her five seasons at IU. Wearing the #54 Jersey, Holmes reminds fans of another Hoosier who wore Number 54, and that is Kent Benson, who was the 1976 NCAA Tournament MVP, two time All Big Ten, and the first pick in the 1977 NBA Draft, having a 14-year pro career, averaging over 10 points and 10 rebounds per game.
Chloe Moore-McNeil led the Hoosiers with 22 points going 5-5 from downtown and 8-11 from the field. Sara Scalia added 19 points with four three pointers and Lexus Bargesser added 12 points. Yarden Garzon scored 9 points, Juliana LaMendola added 8 points, Lenee Beaumont and Lilly Meister added 4 points apiece as Henna Sandvik and Arielle Wisne played but did not score. The Hoosiers finished 36-61 from the field for 59%, 13-21 from three-point range for 62% and 10-13 from the free throw line for 77%. Indiana pulled down 32 rebounds, dished out 19 assists, 8 steals, 2 blocks and committed 10 turnovers. The Hoosiers scored 42 points in the paint, 16 bench points and 12 points off turnovers.
Purdue is 10-13 overall and 3-9 in the Big Ten was led in scoring by Freshman Mary Ashley Stevenson with 16 points. Stevenson played with a protective mask for the second game in a row after suffering a broken nose and then have surgery last Tuesday. Caitlyn Harper added 13 points and Sophie Swanson added 11 points off the bench. Purdue finished 23-51 for 41% from the field, 5-13 from three-point range for 38% and 11-12 from free throw line for 91%. The Boilermakers had 21 rebounds, dished out 12 assists, 5 steals, 4 blocks and committed 14 turnovers. Purdue had 26 points in the paint and 21 points off turnovers.
The Hoosiers led 18-14 after the first quarter as Holmes scored the first bucket of the game. Indiana outscored Purdue 23-16 in the second quarter and led 41-30 at halftime as Purdue kept hanging around. The third quarter is when the Hoosiers started to open the game up as they outscored the Boilers 31-17 and went 6-7 from three-point range as the Hoosiers led 72-46 going into the final ten minutes. Indiana made sure to get Holmes the ball and make history and then once that happened, she along with the rest of starters were taking out as Indiana outscored Purdue 23-16 in the final quarter and the Hoosiers hit their last six field goals. “We were going to get it one way or another” Indiana Head Coach Teri Moren said after the game.
The Hoosiers have won 11 since 2019 and Holmes is now 10-0 against Purdue in her five years but there is a chance they could meet once again in the Big Ten Tournament, but the regular season series is complete and as Indiana Head Coach Teri Moren noted when she played for Lin Dunn at Purdue she never lost to Indiana. Now that Mackenize Holmes is now the all-time leading scorer in Indiana Women’s Basketball History a huge wait has been lifted off her shoulders and now the Hoosiers can focus on the rest of the season that includes the race for the Big Ten Regular Season title, the Big Ten Tournament and the NCAA Tournament.
#2 Purdue hands Indiana University Men’s Basketball a 20-point beatdown in Mackey Arena
The #2 ranked Purdue Boilermakers handed the Indiana Hoosiers a 79-59 loss Saturday night at a sold-out Mackey Arena in West Lafayette. Purdue beat the Hoosiers in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall 87-66 on January 16. Purdue leads the all-time series 127-92 and sweeps the series for the first time since 2021. Purdue is 22-2 overall and leads the Big Ten at 11-2 with 7 games remaining as they will host Minnesota on Thursday Night. Indiana drops to 14-10 overall and 6-7 in the Big Ten and will have a week to get ready for Northwestern at home next Sunday afternoon which is the only Big Ten team that Indiana Head Coach Mike Woodson has not gotten a win against as the Hoosiers head coach.
Zach Edey led the way with 26 points and 13 rebounds and for the first time his career he hit a three pointer in just his second career attempt after missing one against Eastern Kentucky on December 29, 2023, Edey was at the top of the key with a defender guarding him and he decided to take it and banked it in with 6:35 left in the game sending the home crowd into a frenzy. The 7-4 300 pounder from Toronto went 7-15 from the field, 1-1 from three-point range and 11-16 from the field. Edey had 4 assists, 2 blocks, 1 steal and committed 1 turnover. Braden Smith added 19 points. Purdue finished the game 25-59 from the field for 42%, 8-21 from three-point range for 38% and 21-33 from the free throw line for 63%. The Boilermakers pulled down 46 rebounds, dished out 12 assists, 10 steals, 9 blocks and committed 3 turnovers.
C.J. Gunn scored 13 points off the bench for Indiana. Mackenize Mgbako added 12 points, Kel’el Ware added 11 points and 8 rebounds along with 10 points. Leading scorer Malik Reneau was held to 6 points and 5 rebounds. Anthony Walker added 6 points off the bench and Payton Sparks had 1 point. Gabe Cupps and Anthony Leal did not score as Cupps committed 1 turnover starting in place of Xavier Johnson who remains out with an elbow injury. The Hoosiers finished 23-55 shooting for 41 % from the field, 4-16 from three-point range for 25% and 9-15 from the free throw line for 60%. The Hoosiers had 31 rebounds, dished out 15 assists, 5 steals, 2 blocks and committed 12 turnovers.
The game went back and forth for the six and half minutes as the Hoosiers led 12-11 with 13:44 left in the first half. Braden Smith’s layup at the 13:28 mark gave Purdue the lead at 13-12 as the Boilermakers never trailed for the rest of the game. The Hoosiers got it with one on two occasions when Trey Galloway made a jumper with 11:02 left to make it 15-14 and Reneau got a layup with 10:13 left to make it 17-16. Purdue outscored Indiana 20-8 to go into the locker room up 37-25 at halftime.
In the second half Purdue outscored the Hoosiers 42-34 as Purdue extended the lead to 22 at 47-25 with 15:47 left when Lance Jones hit a three pointer. Indiana could get no closer then 18 points the rest of the way. Purdue led 61-35 with 9:57 to give them their largest lead of the game to that point at 24. With 7:44 left Braden Smith’s jumper made it 65-39 giving Purdue a 26-point lead which was the largest of the game. Indiana cut to 18 with 2:44 left in the game but Purdue increased it back to 20 to close out the game.
The Hoosiers have had four losses by over 20 points or more and seven by double digits. Indiana is 2-5 in true road game this season. After this team was down 18 Tuesday night at Ohio State and came back to win by three points. There was an expectation that going into the Purdue game they were going to show a little more then they did back in January. Purdue made sure that did not happen and got revenge last year when the Hoosiers swept the season series.
Bloomington South Wrestler Evan Roudebush Wins the Individual Semi State Title
Bloomington South Junior Evan Roudebush will make a return trip to the Ford Center in Evansville this Friday for the IHSAA State Wrestling Finals after winning the 165-pound Individual Semi State title on Saturday at the Ford Center. Roudebush is 40-2 on the season after pinning his first three opponents Miller Clayton of Columbus East in 39 seconds, Matthew Pegram of Evansville North in 1:28 and Oliver Hallett of Indian Creek in a minute flat before knocking off Jesse Derringer in Brownsburg in the final 7-6. Bloomington North Senior Cael Hickok will be the first Cougar since Hunter Dalton in 2016 to compete in the State Finals after a fourth-place finish at 157 pounds. Hickok is 25-5 on the season after he pinned Cody Fitts of North Posey in 45 second and took care of Eiljah Guyer of Indian Creek 6-1 in the Quarterfinal to qualify for the state meet as top four finisher. Hickok lost in the semifinals to Lost to Silas Sitts of Center Grove 9-3 and Lost to Mason Day of Brownsburg 6-1 in the third-place match.
The other eight Monroe County Wrestlers did not advance to the state finals. Bloomington South’s Wyatt Cooksey Pinned Owen Trimpe of Frankin 3:37 and lost to Reece Courtney of Center Grove 10-2 which was a Major Decision at 144 pounds. Edgewood’s John Orman John Orman beat Berke Eisenhower of Heritage Hills 4-3 and lost to Charlie LaRocca of Center Grove by Pin 3:19 at 120 Pounds in the Quarterfinals.
The remaining six wrestlers fell in their opening match. Bloomington South’s Jaxsen Jean 106 Pounds Lost to Eli Ogle of Brownsburg by pin 1:37 at 106 Pounds, Armin Pratt Lost to Kellan Carter of Scottsburg by pin in 37 seconds at 132 pounds and Tristan Hicks Lost to Sam Howard of Boonville 17-2 at 175 pounds. Bloomington North’s Trae Hopkins Lost to Cohen Long of Columbus North 12-3 which was a Major Decision at 132 Pounds and Jeremiah Casillas Lost to Oliver Hallett of Indian Creek 6-2 at 165 Pounds. Edgewood Michael Neidigh lost to Cale Bonenberger of Evansville North by Technical Fall at 4:53 and by a score of 16-1 at 150 pounds.
Brownsburg won the team title with a score of 199 as Center Grove finished second with a score of 190. 5. Bloomington South finished 12thwith 30 points, Bloomington North was 19th with 10 points and Edgewood tied for 33rd with 2 points. The State Finals will be held this Friday and Saturday at the Ford Center with Gainbridge Fieldhouse unavailable due to the NBA All Star game being held in Indianapolis. Roudebush and Hickok will compete in the first session on Friday at 3pm Bloomington Time which is 2 pm Evansville time as the 152–285-pound weight classes will compete first followed by the 106–144-pound weight classes at 6:30 pm Bloomington time which is 5:30pm Evansville time.
Carmel Wins its National Record 38th Straight IHSAA Girls Swimming State Title Since 1987 the Carmel Greyhounds have owned the Girls Swimming State Championship and on Saturday at the IHSAA State Finals at the Indiana University Natatorium in Indianapolis they extended that national record streak to 38 in a row taking home the state championship with a score of 433 points as once again they dominated the meet as second place Penn finished with a score of 212 points. Carmel won its first Girls Swimming State title in 1982 and since 1987 they have added that state title to its trophy case every year and it doesn’t look like they will stop adding that trophy case anytime soon. Carmel head coach Chris Plumb has won the last 18 state titles as the Greyhounds have been led by five different coaches since winning the title in 1982 under Ray Lawrence who started the streak winning five in a row from 1987 to 1991. Tony Young won the next nine state tiles from 1991 to 2000. Ken Stopkotte won the next three from 2001-03 followed by Tom Burchill from 2004 to 2006 and Plumb since 2007.
Carmel won eight of the 12 events with Sophomore Molly Sweeney winning the 200 Individual Medley and the 100 Meter Breaststroke. Junior Alexandra Shackell won the 100 Meter Butterfly and the 100 Meter Backstroke. Junior Lynsey Bowen won the 200 Meter and 500 Meter Freestyle along with the 200 Medley relay and the 400 Freestyle Relay. Penn’s Lillian Christianson closed out her HS career by winning the 50 and the 100-meter freestyle along with winning the 200 Meter freestyle relay. Junior Amelia Reinhart won the one-meter diving state championship.
Bloomington North’s Ashley Freel finished 4th in the 100-yard Butterfly with a time of 54:63 after she finished 5th in the prelims on Friday with a time of 55:08. The Senior finished 10th overall in the 100 Meter Backstroke with a time of 56.46 which was second in the B final after she finished 10th in the prelims with a time of 56:12. Freel was the only competitor for the Cougars at the State Meet as she scored 22 points to tie for 21st place in the team standings with Hamilton Heights.
Bloomington South finished with 11 points and tied with Fort Wayne Wayne for 30th place in the team standings. Sophomore Harper Eakin finished 12th overall in the 500 Yard Freestyle with a time of 5:03.00 which was 4th in the B Final after finishing 10th in the prelims with a time of 5:02.25. Junior Anna Asplund finished 13th overall in the 100-Yard Backstroke with a time of 57:63 and 15th overall in the 100 Yard Freestyle with a time of 52.59. The Junior finished tied for 14th in the prelims with a time of 52.56 in the 100-yard freestyle and 16th in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 56:86 as the top 16 times in each event moved to the consolation and championship finals. The Panthers had two individuals and all three relay teams that did not make it out of Friday Night’s Prelims. The 200 Yard Medley Relay finished 21st overall with a time of 150.63, The 200 Yard Freestyle Relay finished 25th overall with a time 141.94 and the 400 Yard Freestyle Relay team finished 24th with a time of 3.40.68. Sophomore Harper Eakin finished 24th overall in the 200 Yard Freestyle with a time of 156.44 and Senior Kate Seidenfaden finished 24th overall in the 200 Yard Individual Medley with a time of 2:12.91.
Former Indianapolis Colt Dwight Freeney to be Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Dwight Freeney has reached NFL nirvana. The long-time irresistible defensive force with the Indianapolis Colts and across the NFL landscape has been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which was announced Thursday night during the NFL Honors in Las Vegas. Freeney earned a forever place in Canton, Ohio as a member of the Class of 2024 in his second year of eligibility. He was among the 15 modern-era finalists last year but failed to garner the required support. Not so in year two. That includes his wife, Brittany, NBA legend and close friend Michael Jordan, and everyone who helped his evolution from standout defensive end at Syracuse to first-round draft pick and All-Pro pass rusher with the Colts to Canton.
Freeney’s path to Canton is littered with crumbled quarterbacks. He piled up 125.5 sacks during a career that spanned 16 seasons and stints with six teams, the first 11 seasons and 107.5 sacks were with the Colts and is tied for No. 3 all-time with 47 forced fumbles. Perhaps it’s appropriate one of the other four modern-era inductees is Julius Peppers. They entered the NFL in 2002 – Peppers as the No. 1 overall pick by Carolina and Freeney as No. 11 to Indy – and Peppers is the player who shares the forced-fumbles mark with Freeney. The entire Class of 2024: Freeney, Peppers, kick return specialist Devin Hester, linebacker Patrick Willis, wide receiver Andre Johnson and senior nominees Steve McMichael and Randy Gradishar. Truth be known, Freeney believes his inclusion is a year late. He expected a call from the Pro Football Hall of Fame 12 months ago.
The modern-era members of the Class of 2023, Freeney’s first year of eligibility consisted of defensive end DeMarcus Ware, offensive tackle Joe Thomas, linebacker Zach Thomas and cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Ronde Barber. It was Thomas, a six-time first-team All-Pro who was selected in his first year of eligibility, who described Freeney as “the best pass rusher I faced in my 11 seasons. I don’t think anyone was more of a game-changer that I played against.’’ Not being selected last year altered Freeney’s approach in Year two. As much as possible, he ignored the weeks and months leading up to when the Class of 2024 would be determined. Canton is Freeney’s final football destination but wasn’t a driving motivation as he transitioned from Bloomfield (Conn.) H.S. to Syracuse to the NFL.
Indiana University Baseball player Devin Taylor selected to the 2024 Golden Spikes Preseason Watch List
Sophomore outfielder Devin Taylor was named to the 55-man preseason watch list for the 2024 Golden Spikes Award, as announced by USA Baseball on Friday afternoon. The Golden Spikes, the premier individual award in college baseball, selects the best player in college baseball each year. Previous winners include World Series Champions and MVP’s such as Buster Posey and Kris Bryant. Taylor, a unanimous pick for Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year among the major outlets, broke onto the scenes as a freshman last season in Bloomington.
The Cincinnati, Ohio native hit .315 with 16 home runs and 59 RBI’s enroute to becoming the third player in program history to be named Big Ten Freshman of the Year. He set the freshman RBI record at IU and finished second in home runs as a freshman, only behind teammate Carter Mathison 19; 2022). Taylor will help anchor an impressive collection of talent in the IU lineup that also features juniors Mathison, Brock Tibbitts, Nick Mitchell and Josh Pyne. He and Iowa pitcher Brody Brecht were the only Big Ten players selected to the initial 55-person list.
The Golden Spikes Award will continue to monitor the talent in college baseball throughout the year and will reveal a midseason watch list in April before announcing semifinalists in May and finalists in June. Taylor is the sixth Hoosier to make the Golden Spikes Preseason Watch List and the first since IU’s dynamic duo of Kyle Schwarber and Sam Travis in 2014. IU begins its 2024 campaign this Friday against No. 12 Duke in the “Baseball at the Beach” event in Conway, S.C.
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