Following a 3-0 week for Indiana women’s basketball, senior forward Mackenzie Holmes was awarded ESPNW and Big Ten Player of the Week and freshman guard Yarden Garzon earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week, according to the publications. This is the third time for each player to receive the Big Ten honors.
Holmes continued a dominant month in her three outings this week. Against then-No. 13 Michigan, then-No. 2 Ohio State and Rutgers, Holmes put up an average of 24 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game on 70% shooting from the field.
After a 25-point game against the Wolverines and a 26-point game against the Buckeyes, Holmes became only the second collegiate basketball player — men’s or women’s — to produce three consecutive 25-or-more point games against ranked opponents in the past 20 years. She shared the Big Ten honor with Iowa junior guard Caitlin Clark, who averaged 30.5 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in two games.
Garzon averaged 14.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game in the Hoosiers’ three wins. She shot a combined 10-of-18 from 3-point range — 56.7% — and earned her first career double-double in Indiana’s win over Ohio State. She became one of three Big Ten freshmen with three or more Freshman of the Week awards alongside Ohio State forward Cotie McMahon and Rutgers forward Kaylene Smikle.
The Hoosiers’ successful week also prompted a rise in the AP Poll. Indiana jumped from No. 6 to No. 4, leapfrogging the Buckeyes and No. 5 University of Connecticut. The Hoosiers were one vote short of the No. 3 ranking.
Follow reporters Will Foley (@foles24) and Matt Sebree (@mattsebree) and columnist Matt Press (@MattPress23) for updates throughout the Indiana women’s basketball season.
