Indiana avoids Trap, Rallies to defeat Penn State

Indiana women's basketball used a big third quarter to defeat the Penn State Nittany Lions and avoid losing the proverbial trap game 75-67 at Assembly Hall last night. Mackenzie Holmes had a double-double, scoring 21 points and grabbing 13 rebounds in the win. Sydney Parrish added 20 points as the Hoosiers extend their streak to 13 games.

The Hoosiers (14-1, 5-0) used a 21-12 third quarter to erase a four-point halftime deficit and a 41-28 second half to secure the home victory. Now, their sole focus is #3 Iowa this Saturday. Head coach Teri Moren understands that you have to win your clunkers, and last night was a clunker.

The Hoosiers committed a season-high 20 turnovers, shot 42 percent from the field, and 29 percent from the three-point line. Though Wednesday evening was not their best performance, Indiana found a way to win.

Head coach Teri Moren chalks the comeback to a "heart to heart" during a timeout early in the third quarter. Penn State's lead had grown to nine points early in the third quarter. Coach Moren called a timeout after Mackenzie Holmes hit a layup to cut the lead to seven points.

“It took us going down by nine to have a really good heart-to-heart in that timeout. I had to get after them, and they responded,” Moren said after the game. “I thought Syd was great inside of that timeout as well, and Chloe, I think, spoke up. It was a gut-check time, but it was about pride and being able to guard our man better. But also being able and willing to help each other guard the ball better. It took that timeout to get all of us back headed in the right direction.”

Now, it's onto Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City to take on Caitlyn Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes in front of a national audience Saturday night.