By Nick Jenkinson-SCINN Sports Director<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Indiana Hoosiers Women\u2019s Basketball team returns to hardwood this evening as they host the Samford Bulldogs inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall with the game streaming on Big Ten Network Plus. For the eighth time in the Teri Moren era, Indiana opened the season 3-0 with an 84-56 rout of Bradley on Monday night. Six players scored in double figures again, led by 16 points from second year forward Maya Makalusky. Fifth year Alisa Williams scored 15 points, and fourth year guard Malia Samuels added 13 points as both set new career-highs in scoring in the win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Williams is not only leading Indiana in scoring through three games (13.0 ppg.) but has spared IU’s bench productivity. The Denton, Texas native has scored in double figures in her minutes off the bench but also set a new career-high 15 points in the win over Bradley. With her efforts combined with first year forward Addy Nyemchek\u2019s 9.7 points per game, the Hoosiers bench is averaging 34.0 points per game through three games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taking over as starting point guard, fourth year guard Malia Samuels is posting solid stat lines to start her Indiana career. In three games, the Seattle, Wash. native is averaging 8.7 points, 5.0 assists, 2.7 steals and shooting 50 percent from the floor. The Hoosiers are averaging 86.3 points, 47 rebounds. 10 steals, 3 blocks and 12.7 turnovers per game. Indiana is shooting 47% from the field, 37% from three-point range and 68% from the free throw line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zania Socka-Nguemen averages 13 points, 7 rebounds and 1 block per game. Maya Maklauksy is averaging 11.7 points per game, and Kenzie Hare is averaging 10.3 points per game as the Hoosiers have four players averaging double figures. Head Coach Teri Moren is 267-126 in her 13th<\/sup> season at IU and 466-255 in her 24th<\/sup> season overall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Samford is off to a 2-1 start with wins over Montevallo 102-42 and UNC Asheville 50-40 along with a 84-58 loss at Georgia Tech. They are fresh off an NCAA Tournament appearance under then first year head coach Matt Wise in 2025-26. Three players are averaging double figures on the young season with Kayla Yarbrough leading the way with 13.3 points per game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Briana Rivera averages 11.3 points per game and Natalie Barnes averages 10.7 points per game. Carla Bagdua leads the Bulldogs with 6.7 rebounds per game. Francie Morris leads the team with 4.3 assists. Kayte-Madison Bjornstad leads the team with 2 steals and 2 blocks per game. Samford averages 70 points, 40.3 rebounds, 17.7 assists, 9.7 steals 3.3 blocks and 15.3 turnovers per game. The Bulldogs shoot 39% from the field, 31% from three-point range and 69% from the free throw line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Bulldogs have a 12-player roster that includes 5-11 Freshman Bailey Hape from Evansville, Indiana and graduated from F.J Retiz High School. The Bulldogs have 2 from the home state of Alabama as the school is in Birmingham. Tennessee, Florida, South Carolina, Kentucky, Georgia and Spain are represented. The Bulldogs have 1 Senior, 1 Junior, 5 Sophomores and 5 Freshman. Indiana leads the all-time series 2-0 both in Bloomington as the Hoosiers won 65-56 on December 11, 2016 and 71-26 on December 3, 2020. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Nick Jenkinson-SCINN Sports Director The Indiana Hoosiers Women\u2019s Basketball team returns to hardwood this evening as they host the Samford Bulldogs inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall with the game streaming on Big Ten Network Plus. For the eighth time in the Teri Moren era, Indiana opened the season 3-0 with an 84-56 rout of …<\/p>\n