Indiana University women's basketball has sprouted into one of the powerhouse programs in the entire NCAA women's hoops landscape. After an uber-impressive 2022-2023 campaign, the team followed up their strong showing a season ago with yet another major regular season in 2023-2024.
Teri Moren's 12th-ranked squad finished the season at 24-4 (15-3 in conference play), and they are riding a 3-game winning streak into their Big Ten tournament opener tomorrow evening. As the ladies prepare for the most meaningful moments of the college basketball season, we took a moment to reflect on some of the best memories so far in the 2023-2024 campaign for IUWBB.
1. Beating Purdue.... Twice
Any IU victory over Purdue, regardless of the sport, is worth clapping for. A season sweep of Purdue, though? That is worth celebrating. The Hoosiers marched into Mackey Arena back in late January and came away victorious. Then, they turned around and obliterated the Boilermakers by 33 at home in mid-February. However, the outcome on the scoreboard in that one was not the most special part of that particular contest...
2. Mackenzie Holmes Breaks IU's All-Time Scoring Record
Following an iffy first half (6 points on 3-7 shooting from the floor), many wondered whether Mackenzie Holmes would break the record in February's edition of the famous rivalry game. However, she was able to turn things around in the second half. She finished the game with 17 points, which put her 1 point ahead of the former all-time leading scorer Tyra Buss.
Congratulations again Mackenzie!
3. Beating Caitlin Clark and Iowa
Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes absolutely mopped the floor with Indiana during the first regular season matchup between these schools back in mid January. However, Holmes and the Hoosiers flipped the script in round two at Assembly Hall in late February. IU crushed Iowa by 17, easily their largest margin of defeat this season.
Redemption is always most satisfying when served in combination with revenge!
4. Four Hoosiers Recognized on All-Big Ten Teams
Indiana was well represented when the All-Big Ten teams were announced. Mackenize Holmes (to no one's surprise) and Sara Scalia were each pegged as first-teamers, while Chloe Moore-McNeil landed on the second-team and Yarden Garzon was an honorable mention selection. We could make the argument for Sydney Parrish's inclusion on at least the honorable mention list, but instead we will remain positive and thankful that the conference committee acknowledged our other 4 starters.