Indiana Women’s Basketball: NCAA Tournament Berth Still Exciting Despite Becoming a Routine
For the Indiana women’s basketball team, earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament has become a regular achievement under coach Teri Moren, but the excitement still remains. The Hoosiers earned their sixth consecutive bid, landing a No. 9 seed in the South Carolina Regional, where they will face No. 8 seed Utah on Friday at 1:30 p.m. ET in Columbia, S.C.
Selection Sunday is always a moment of anticipation for every team, and despite the Hoosiers’ streak of tournament appearances, they took a moment to celebrate the achievement. Senior Sydney Parrish emphasized the significance of the moment, noting that reaching the tournament is a big deal, and many teams don’t get that opportunity. The team relished hearing their name called, but quickly shifted their focus to preparing for Utah.
The Hoosiers enter the tournament with a 19-12 record, 10-8 in the Big Ten, and a 1-1 showing in the conference tournament. While their seed is a bit lower than the top seeds they’ve earned in previous years, they’re heading into the tournament with momentum after competitive performances in their last two games away from home.
Coach Moren reflected on the challenges and growth her team has experienced, particularly with the tough losses in the Big Ten Tournament. Despite the setbacks, she believes her team has gained valuable confidence and competitiveness, which will be key in the NCAA Tournament.
The team’s leadership will come from seniors Parrish and Chloe Moore-McNeil, but several other players have tournament experience, including Yarden Garzon, Lilly Meister, Lexus Bargesser, and Henna Sandvik, all of whom have appeared in the last three tournaments. Transfer Karoline Striplin brings three years of experience from Tennessee. This depth of experience will be invaluable as they prepare for the postseason.
Though the team is no stranger to tournament play, it’s a first NCAA appearance for Penn State transfer Shay Ciezki, adding to the excitement of the moment for her. Parrish noted that having time between the conference tournament and the NCAA Tournament has allowed the Hoosiers to rest and regroup. They’ve focused on high-intensity practices to maintain their competitive edge.
Indiana will now focus on Utah, a team with a unique season under new head coach Gavin Petersen. The Utes finished 22-8 overall and placed fourth in the Big 12. They are led by senior guard Gianna Kneepkens, who averages 19.2 points per game. The Hoosiers and Utes share common opponents, with Indiana winning both their games against Northwestern and Washington, while Utah split with them.
Although Moren doesn’t have in-depth knowledge of Utah yet, she is confident that Big Ten coaches will share helpful insights as they prepare. While Indiana is focused on Utah, they are also aware that last year’s tournament exit could bring them face-to-face with South Carolina in the Round of 32.
“Not looking ahead – but South Carolina being able to host,” Moren said. “We’re very familiar with them.”
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