Indiana women’s basketball returned home Sunday to face off with Nebraska inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington. The Hoosiers led for over 36 of the 40 minutes en route to a 76-60 victory.
The Cornhuskers scored first, but both squads began to trade baskets and go on small spurts before the Hoosiers went on an 8-0 run to take a 7-point lead with just under three minutes left in the first quarter. The hosts eventually led by 5 at the end of the quarter.
The Cream and Crimson began the second quarter with 13 consecutive points to jump out to an 18-point lead.
However, Nebraska responded with a 9-0 run to bring its deficit to single digits with just over two minutes remaining in the first half. Each team hit a free throw before Indiana junior guard Yarden Garzon drilled a 3-pointer as the Hoosiers held a 36-24 lead at halftime.
Graduate student guard Chloe Moore-McNeil and Garzon each scored 9 points in the first half to pace the Hoosiers offensively.
Unlike the second quarter, the Cornhuskers and the Hoosiers went back and forth over the course of third period as the latter outscored the former by just 4.
After Nebraska began the final quarter with 7 consecutive points, Indiana junior guard Shay Ciezki and Garzon each responded with 3-pointers. Immediately after, the Cornhuskers took a timeout as they trailed by 15 with just over six and half minutes left.
The Hoosiers extended their lead to as many as 21 points over the latter half of the fourth quarter, eventually securing a 16-point victory. The win marks Indiana’s first inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall since defeating Wisconsin on Dec. 28, 2024.
Garzon led all scorers with 19 points while Moore-McNeil notched 15.
After struggling to defend dominant centers in UCLA’s Lauren Betts and Illinois’ Kendall Bostic, the Hoosiers contained Cornhuskers senior center Alexis Markowski. The Lincoln, Nebraska, native scored just 8 points and recorded three rebounds.
The Hoosiers (14-7, 6-4 Big Ten) now have four days until their next matchup, which is slated for 6 p.m. Thursday against Rutgers (9-13, 1-10 Big Ten) inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington. The contest will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network
Follow reporters Dalton James (@DaltonMJames) and Savannah Slone (@savrivers06) and columnist Ryan Canfield (@RyanCanfieldOnX) for updates throughout the Indiana women’s basketball season.
