IU women’s basketball fell from No. 20 to No. 24 in Monday’s AP Poll following a week of shooting woes. This is IU’s lowest ranking since being ranked No. 24 during the opening week of the season.
The team defeated Illinois on the road Feb. 13 after dominating the Fighting Illini in January. The Hoosiers barely escaped from Illinois with a 59-54 victory in the rematch.
IU also lost to Ohio State at home Sunday. The Buckeyes took advantage of the Hoosiers’ missed shots and overcame a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter.
Last week’s games displayed a Hoosier offense that could not convert layups or open jump shots near the basket. Defenders were preventing the offense from scoring in the paint which forced IU to shoot from the perimeter. The team is the second worst 3-point shooting team in the Big Ten.
IU sits in fourth place in the conference standings and plays Saturday against Minnesota. An IU victory would mark its fifth straight road win and could position the program in a more favorable spot for the upcoming conference tournament.
