Down 7 points with six minutes remaining, all 2,500 fans at Bankers Life Fieldhouse knew IU needed a bucket to jumpstart a run.
“Let’s go, Hoosiers” chants erupted as junior guard Grace Berger beat a Michigan State defender off the bounce, evaded another one and finished the layup. Cheers from fans, about 95% of them sporting cream and crimson, filled the mostly vacant arena.
In the past, underclassmen Kiandra Browne, Hannah Noveroske and other reserves used their booming voices to energize their teammates from the bench. Tonight, they played the role of conductors and let the fans do the rest.
The crowd was full of numerous parents and kids – the same ones that filled Assembly Hall in previous seasons. Young fans created signs, “Aleksa, Play ‘Get a victory’” being my favorite, to create an IU home-court advantage one hour north of Bloomington. Even Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb attended the event sporting an IU polo.
Despite the emphatic crowd, Michigan State continuously answered down the stretch. The Spartans hit a necessary 75% of their free throws, especially in the final minutes when the Hoosier faithful was loudest. Guided by junior guard Nia Clouden’s 27 second-half points, the Spartans made enough shots in the final moments to secure the victory.
“It makes me sick to my stomach that we performed like that,” senior guard Ali Patberg said. “We’re thankful they were there but frustrating that’s how we performed for them.”
In their first game with fans all season, the Hoosiers fell to the Spartans 69-61 in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday night in Indianapolis.
After exiting the tournament in the semifinals last season, IU had aspirations for a three-day trip this year. But missed opportunities, especially easy ones they have converted so frequently this season, cost them.
“Point-blank layups at the rim that they just missed,” head coach Teri Moren said. “Then you get to the free-throw line and you miss your free throws.”
The Hoosiers finished 14 of their 27 layup attempts and shot a poor 61% from the free-throw line.
After controlling most of the first half and entering halftime with an 8-point advantage, IU came out flat in the second. Michigan State started the third quarter on a 12-1 run to take the lead.
The Hoosiers’ shot selection was fine — they just fell cold. The crowd volume quieted, and their performance on the court worsened.
“I thought their energy level was better than ours [to start the third quarter],” Moren said.
Although the Hoosiers fought until the final buzzer, the loss was still a tough pill to swallow.
Their previous nine-game win streak started with a 79-67 victory over the Spartans in which they finished the game strongly. This time, Michigan State made the clutch plays to upset the No. 9 team in the nation.
Disappointment was evident, which is understandable, but the season is not yet over. The Hoosiers must implement short-term memory, and Moren said she has no doubt her group has the capability to do so.
“I have one of the most competitive groups in that locker room that I’ve ever had,” Moren said.
IU will find out its NCAA Tournament assignment Monday night on ESPN when the bracket is revealed. A No. 3 or No. 4 seed is likely after the early exit from the Big Ten Tournament. All games will be played in San Antonio, Texas.
Despite being frustrated with an early exit of the Big Ten, sophomore forward Mackenzie Holmes said she believes the team is still focused to extend its postseason.
“The mindset stays the same,” Holmes said. “It’s not readjusting, but just learning from our mistakes.”
