COLUMBIA, S.C. — Indiana women’s basketball nearly defeated the University of South Carolina in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 last season. However, the Hoosiers fell then.
With an opportunity to notch perhaps the largest upset of the entire tournament, the No. 9-seeded Cream and Crimson faced off with the No. 1-seeded South Carolina on Sunday. Despite leading at halftime, the Hoosiers couldn’t control the second half as they fell 64-53 inside Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina.
The Gamecocks controlled much of the opening quarter as they led by as many as 5 points halfway through the period. However, the Hoosiers finished the quarter on a 7-0 run to take a 3-point lead after 10 minutes of play.
Graduate student guard Chloe Moore-McNeil scored 8 points over the last four and a half minutes of the period to lead the Hoosiers.
Indiana led by as many as 8 points in the second quarter, but that was until South Carolina went on its run. The Gamecocks scored 8 consecutive points over a less than two-minute stretch to take a 2-point lead.
Junior guard Shay Ciezki and graduate student guard Sydney Parrish responded with a layup and 3-pointer, respectively, as the Hoosiers eventually took a 26-25 lead into the locker room at halftime.
South Carolina came back emphatically in the third quarter, outscoring Indiana 20-7 over the first nearly five and a half minutes. Now trailing by 12 points, the Hoosiers were searching for their own response.
Garzon drained a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to single digits, but the Gamecocks bounced back with their own buckets to lead by 11 with just 10 minutes left.
Despite pulling within 7 points in the early stages of the final quarter, Indiana couldn’t draw any closer as it fell by 11 points to end the game.
Ciezki led Indiana with 12 points while Moore-McNeil and Parrish added 10 and 6 in the final game of their collegiate careers.
Indiana finished its season with a 20-13 record, bowing out of the NCAA Tournament to South Carolina for the second consecutive season.
Follow reporters Dalton James (@DaltonMJames) and Savannah Slone (@savrivers06) and columnist Ryan Canfield (@RyanCanfieldOnX) for updates throughout the Indiana women’s basketball season.
