From poor passes to untimely turnovers, last season’s returning starters –– junior guard Yarden Garzon and graduate student guards Chloe Moore-McNeil and Sydney Parrish –– were not the veterans their team needed them to be in Indiana women’s basketball’s 72-68 overtime loss against Harvard University.
“Our scorers in terms of Yarden and Chloe and Syd, you look at their stat sheets, it’s just not good enough going down the stretch there when we’re trying to attack,” head coach Teri Moren said postgame.
While the three contributed 54.4% of the Hoosier’s scoring, Moore-McNeil was the only one of these players to score points during overtime with two free throws. Garzon was the only one to attempt a field goal in overtime –– a 3-pointer that she missed.
“You try to put the ball in their hand, which is what we did, it’s just that they got to be better decision makers when they draw,” Moren said. “In those moments when they’re drawing so much help their willingness to be able to find either the drop and or the kick out.”
Although Garzon contributed to the Hoosier’s offensive efforts, tying junior forward Lilly Meister with a team high 20 points against the Crimson, she tallied seven turnovers for Indiana.
“Yarden got a little overzealous at times,” Moren said. “She’s going to have to do a better job of reading what the defense gives her. She draws so much attention, and she’s such a smart player.”
Garzon was 5-for-12 shooting Thursday and fouled out of the game with three seconds remaining in overtime.
“I think Yarden was trying to will her team a win,” Moren said. “So, if she’s guilty of anything it’s just trying to be a playmaker for us and trying to support.”
Garzon explained she needed to be better and reduce her number of fouls.
Garzon, Moore-McNeil and Parrish each played for over 40 minutes. Parrish scored 7 points and six rebounds. She was 1 for 7 from the field, 0 for 4 from the three-point line and did not record a stat during her four overtime minutes.
Moore-McNeil shot 22.2% from the field with 10 points and four rebounds.
“I came out with intentions to be a better leader, be a better point guard,” Moore-McNeil said. “But with the result and 27 turnovers, I’m very disappointed, not only in my team, but myself just as that leader.”
The three had opportunities to create sparks on offense and defense for the Hoosiers, whether it was making more controlled passes or better guarding the 3-point line, their younger teammates were not able to rely on their veteran presence.
As Indiana heads toward Big Ten play, the Hoosiers will need to depend on the experience of Garzon, Moore-McNeil and Parrish.
The Hoosiers look to bounce back from their loss against the Crimson at 7 p.m. Nov. 13 against Butler University in Indianapolis.
Follow reporters Dalton James (@DaltonMJames) and Savannah Slone (@savrivers06) and columnist Ryan Canfield (@RyanCanfieldOnX) for updates throughout the Indiana women’s basketball season.
