From its 6-0 run to a pair of 7-0 spurts and a 12-0 stretch, Indiana women’s basketball largely dominated the first half.
At the break, the Hoosiers led 54-30 over Bellarmine University on Sunday inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington. Senior forward Karoline Striplin led Indiana with 15 first-half points while the Cream and Crimson went 67.7% from the field alongside 50% from beyond the arc.
Despite the Hoosiers allowing the Knights to score just 31 points over the final two quarters, Indiana head coach Teri Moren said postgame she felt her squad let up defensively. But Indiana still emerged with a 95-61 victory to improve to 8-3 with just one nonconference game left.
Graduate student guard Sydney Parrish, who suffered a left knee injury against Baylor University on Nov. 24, warmed up ahead of the game Sunday. She sported a white brace on her left knee but didn’t play in the contest.
“We talked a little bit about playing some minutes, this was last week, today,” Moren said postgame. “She’s been pleased with how the process has been for her and feels really comfortable with the process and so she and Ben (Tate) and our doctors just felt like maybe giving her another week just to feel more comfortable.”
With another seven days until Indiana’s next matchup, Moren sees a path for Parrish to suit up then.
“She’s yet to be in. She’s been in practice, but not in full speed –– I anticipate that this week,” Moren said. “So, I think we’ll see her in the last (nonconference) game on Sunday.”
While Parrish and sophomore guard Lenée Beaumont are both injured –– the latter having missed each game this season –– it’s allowed players like junior guard Henna Sandvik and sophomore guard Julianna LaMendola to step up.
“I think any time you have adversity the way we’ve had it, other people have to step up and their roles change,” Moren said. “We talk about that a lot. You always have to be on the edge of your seat ready when your number is called.”
Since Parrish got injured, that’s what the pair has done. LaMendola has started in Parrish’s place while Sandvik’s role off the bench has increased. The latter scored a career-high 13 points against the Knights as she finished 4 for 6 from the field alongside six rebounds.
With the victory against Bellarmine essentially sealed, it allowed inexperienced players like junior forward Sharnecce Currie-Jelks, freshman forward Faith Wiseman and freshman guard Valentyna Kadlecova to take to the court.
Kadlecova was the lone member of the trio to score as she drained a 3-pointer with just less than a minute remaining.
“For kids like Faith and kids like (Valentyna), there’s going to be some mess ups with those two guys just because of their youth and their inexperience,” Moren said.
The Hoosiers return to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall to take on Oakland at noon Dec. 22. The contest will stream on Big Ten+.
Follow reporters Dalton James (@DaltonMJames) and Savannah Slone (@savrivers06) and columnist Ryan Canfield (@RyanCanfieldOnX) for updates throughout the Indiana women’s basketball season.
