No. 8 Indiana women’s basketball returns to the court at 7 p.m. Wednesday night to take on Butler University at the Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Indiana defeated the University of Indianapolis in a scrimmage 97-43 Friday night at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Butler also won its scrimmage at home, 68-61 over Trine University.
Despite a dominant win over Indianapolis, Indiana head coach Teri Moren saw things her team could improve on ahead of the regular season opener.
“I thought tonight our effort was there,” Moren said after the game. “It wasn’t, by any stretch, a great offensive performance. I was frustrated with our free-throw shooting, obviously, and the fact that we got out-rebounded.”
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The Hoosiers shot 64% from the free-throw line and were out-rebounded 42-39.
“There's a lot to learn from this game,” junior forward Mackenzie Holmes said. “Even though we won by a wide margin, there’s still a lot of learning pieces and a lot of places to grow before we play Butler.”
The Hoosiers’ attention turns to the Bulldogs, who finished second to last in the Big East Conference in 2020-21 with a 3-17 overall record and a 3-15 conference record.
Butler also lost key contributors from last season’s roster, including leading scorer Okako Adika who transferred to Texas Christian University, and four of their five leading scorers transferred in the offseason. Butler returned six players from last year, then added three transfers and five freshmen to the roster.
“We’re really looking forward to the IU game,” Butler graduate student guard Genesis Parker said to The Butler Collegian. “I think it’s going to be a test for us to see where we’re at, and I feel like that will help us throughout the course of the season.”
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For Indiana, this season is an opportunity to build off of its best year in program history. It comes into the season ranked No. 8 in the AP Poll, the highest spot in program history, and is picked in the Big Ten coaches’ and media poll to finish second in the conference.
The Hoosiers are ready to start their season with both internal and external expectations at an all-time high.
"We are looking forward to this year,” Moren said at Hoosier Hysteria last month. “To get to the Sweet 16, to play in the Elite Eight, to be one game away from the Final Four. And that's the goal, to be playing in Final Fours.”
Follow reporters Patrick Felts (@patrickjfelts) and Amanda Foster (@amandafoster_15), and columnist L.C. Norton (@ByLCNorton) for updates throughout the game and the rest of the Indiana women’s basketball season.
Location: Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
Streaming: Big East Digital Network on FloSports
Radio: WHCC 105.1 FM
