Rutgers women's basketball battles but falls to No. 16 Indiana in 1st Big Ten game of season
The Rutgers women's basketball team fell to Indiana by a score of 66-56 in its first Big Ten game of the season at Jersey Mike's Arena on Livingston campus. The Scarlet Knights (6-6, 0-1) fought until the last minute, but the Hoosiers (8-1, 1-0) were able to secure the 10-point victory.
Indiana produces off-open looks
Rutgers led No. 16 Indiana 10-9 at the end of the first quarter and only trailed by 5 points at the end of the first half, as the Hoosiers took a 27-22 lead heading into the locker room.
The Knights stayed in the game every step of the way and found themselves down 51-46 at the 6:54 mark of the fourth quarter. Indiana, though, was able to quell Rutgers' bursts of momentum by finding open players in the paint for easy buckets.
"They run good stuff, and when they're running their offense, you're worried about one person, and they do a good job of cutting and moving without the ball," head coach Coquese Washington said after the game.
The Hoosiers were not very successful beyond the arc against the Knights, shooting 3 for 16 from three-point range. It was Indiana's presence near the basket that propelled it to victory, as it scored 44 points in the paint.
Head coach Teri Moren of the Hoosiers spoke on why Indiana was so successful with the open looks in the paint.
"When your three ball's not falling, you got to figure out how to use some of your actions that you rep every single day and make sure that your kids continue to cut hard," Moren said. "The passer has to be on target, on time and making some of those plays."
Mackenzie Holmes plays at her best
Mackenzie Holmes lifted the Hoosiers to victory with a team-high 25 points on Saturday. It was her highest-scoring game this season.
"That chick does not miss," Washington said of Holmes' performance. "She's an outstanding player — an outstanding post player."
Just like most of Indiana's players, Holmes was able to get open in the paint for the majority of the game.
Holmes went 12 for 15 from the field while also corralling in eight rebounds.
Moral victory?
Despite taking the loss, Rutgers was able to duke it out with one of the best teams in the country when facing the Hoosiers. It was similar to how the Knights performed against Texas Tech and Boise State during the South Point Classic a few weeks ago.
"We know the Big Ten is going to be tough," Washington said. "There's not going to be any easy nights. It doesn't matter what the records are (or) what the rankings are. It's gonna be a battle ... Mentally and emotionally, (the Knights are) ready for the Big Ten battles that are to come, and I think you saw that tonight that we came and gave everything we had."
Rutgers will not play against a Big Ten opponent until December 30 when it takes on Northwestern, but the Knights will be tested once again versus in-state rival Princeton on the road this Wednesday. The game will tip off at 7 p.m. at the Jadwin Gymnasium in Princeton and will be broadcast on ESPN+ and 88.7 WRSU-FM.
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