Mackenzie Holmes breaks Indiana women’s basketball’s all-time scoring record against Purdue

Entering Sunday, Holmes had 2,348 points, needing 17 against Purdue to pass Buss’ 2,364 points. The Gorham, Maine, native previously became just the second Hoosier to score 2,000 points in her career. 

Although she is in her fifth season in Bloomington, Holmes broke the record in her 138th game in the cream and crimson while Buss played 135 games as a Hoosier. 

While breaking the record was in reach, Holmes said her focus would be on the bigger picture Sunday. 

“The main focus is beating Purdue,” Holmes said after defeating Michigan State on Feb. 8. “I want to beat Purdue. I want to sweep Purdue for my career. [I] don’t want to lose to them in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.” 

The Hoosiers did just that — sweep Purdue during Holmes’ career. While the Big Ten Tournament looms next month, there’s a possibility the two squads could face off again this season. 

In the first matchup between the two Jan. 21 in West Lafayette, Holmes scored just 15 points in the matchup.  

And while she scored just 6 points in the first half Sunday, she scored 11 in the second half with her final bucket of the day being the record-breaking one. 

“Going into the season, I knew it was within reach for me,” Holmes said postgame. “I didn’t come back for a fifth year to break the all-time scoring record. I came back to win a Big Ten championship, win a national championship and so that’s kind of what I've had to continue to remind myself throughout this process.” 

While Holmes etched her name into the record books Sunday afternoon, her family was in attendance to witness history inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. 

“On a day like today where she could get it in front of a crowd of 13,000 — that’s really special and I’m sure something that she and her family will always remember,” Indiana head coach Teri Moren said postgame. 

With Holmes breaking Buss’ record, Moren was proud of her star forward. Moren said postgame that she knew it would only be a matter of time before Holmes eclipsed the record. While Holmes may have set an impressive record, Moren is proud of how far Holmes has come since she arrived on campus ahead of the 2019-20 season. 

“I’m really proud because she came in here very shy,” Moren said. “Couldn’t give you eye contact. Was not confident. Now I look at her, I’ve seen her grow, I’ve seen her talk not just the media but people and represent our program. And has no problem with eye contact, no problem with articulating thoughts and representing us. That’s what I’m so proud of."