Indiana's Mackenzie Holmes Makes John R. Wooden Award National Ballot

Indiana women's basketball senior forward Mackenzie Holmes has been named to the John R. Wooden Award National Ballot, perhaps the most prestigious award in college hoops.

Los Angeles, Calif. — Indiana women's basketball forward Mackenzie Holmes has been named to the John R. Wooden Award National Ballot, the Los Angeles Athletic Club announced Saturday afternoon.

The Gorham, Maine native is one of 15 candidates for the Wooden Award All-American Team and Wooden Award Trophy as the most impressive athletes in women's college basketball.

Just last week, Holmes was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, the first in program history for the Hoosiers, and was named to the All-Big Ten first team, her second all-time selection in her career.

She could have just as easily won the conference's player of the year, but Iowa's talented Caitlin Clark claimed that title. Holmes is an excellent shooter averaging a team-high 22.7 points per game and 7.3 boards. She's second in the nation and first in the Big Ten with a 69.3 percent from the field. She also leads the league with 1.9 blocks per game.

She's led the Hoosiers in scoring on 23 occasions including Friday's Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament quarterfinals win versus Michigan State with 27 points.

A proficient player on both sides of the ball, Holmes has been the difference maker for the Hoosiers all season long with more work to do.

Up next, Holmes and her top-seeded Hoosiers will face No. 4 seed Ohio State in the tournament semifinals. The winner will advance to the Big Ten championship game Sunday at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN. Either No. 2 seed Iowa or No. 3 seed Maryland will be the opponent.

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• KIANDRA BROWNE INJURY UPDATE Following the Indiana, Michigan State game, Hoosier head coach Teri Moren gives a brief update on the injury status of junior forward Kiandra Browne. CLICK HERE