Everyone wants the "John Elway" moment. He announced his retirement during the season, and the Broncos won the Super Bowl. Team owner Pat Bowlen famously said, "This one's for John," and handed the NFL Hall of Famer the Lombardi Trophy.
Of course, Mackenzie Holmes wanted head coach Teri Moren to hand her the trophy and say, "This one's for Mack." However, it was not to be. The #1 ranked Gamecocks were too much in the end and the Hoosiers fell 79-75 in the Sweet 16.
South Carolina center Kamilla Cardoso scored 22 points, leading all scorers. The Gamecocks got out to a 22-point halftime lead. However, that didn't deter the Hoosiers. Teri Moren is still one of the best at halftime adjustments, and the Hoosiers showed poise and confidence in the second half.
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Guard Sydney Parrish scored 16 of her 21 points in the second half to lead the Hoosier comeback in the second half. Moren and the Hoosiers knew they would have to shoot and make three pointers to have a shot at this game.
The threes weren't falling in the first half, but they did begin to fall in the second half.
The Hoosiers did not allow the deficit to deter them from thinking they could win the game. Coach Moren even said that no one thought they could win. The funny thing about belief is that the only people who need to believe are the ones in the locker room.
Despite the loss, Indiana's performance is proof of the culture Moren, and her staff has established in the basketball program. The season did not end the way Holmes and the Hoosiers wanted but they have nothing to hang their heads about.
They were all heart and represented the Hoosiers well this afternoon.