Indiana Women's Basketball Shuts Down Purdue in Second Largest Victory at Mackey Arena
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Indiana women's basketball dominated Purdue 69-46 in front of a Boilermakers crowd of nearly 15,000 fans for its eighth straight victory and second largest win at Mackey Arena over the rival.
Purdue's 46 points were the fewest by any Big Ten opponent this season despite the team coming off three big wins over Minnesota and a ranked Illinois and Ohio State.
"I am really proud of our gang for playing in such a ruckus environment but also really keeping their cool," Indiana head coach Teri Moren said.
"I don’t think it affected us from an emotional standpoint, and that’s what happens when you have a veteran team the way we do."
Four Hoosiers reached double-figure scoring, not an unusual stat anymore, as junior guard Sydney Parrish and senior forward Mackenzie Holmes led the way with 15 a piece.
Senior guard Sara Scalia came off the bench for a 14-point night while junior guard Chloe Moore-McNeil tallied 13 off of three triples and recorded a team-high nine boards.
"I thought they had a week to prepare for us, and we went to the game, and they decided to play a little bit off Chloe and try to clog it in with the double with Mack," Moren said.
It didn't matter because Purdue's game plan failed as Indiana only gave up two points in the third quarter, the fewest since the quarter system started in the 2015-16 season.
"We decided where we're going to win is getting stops defensively," Moore-McNeil said.
Defensively, Indiana recorded 11 steals, seven blocks and won the battle of the boards 41-34 all while generating their own energy from the smaller portion of cream and crimson fans in attendance.
"They said it was sold out, so we took it for what it was," Moren said. "What a great opportunity for us to play in this environment, for people to come out and support and watch women's basketball."
In the first quarter, Indiana established dominance early as it kept Purdue scoreless until around the six-minute mark. At the media timeout, Parrish helped the Hoosiers maintain the lead with her first three of the night for a five-point lead.
A small lag set in as Indiana didn't score for the remainder of the first frame but it still kept a good lead off of sound defense.
The Boilermakers heated up in the second frame and even swapped leads with the Hoosiers a few times. Moore-McNeil started to settle in and scored 10 of her 13 points in the second quarter.
"I thought Chloe did a tremendous job at handling herself and not just hitting down the threes but taking the opportunities to attack as well," Moren said. "I am really proud of the way she handled herself."
As Purdue cut its deficit to just one point, senior guard Sara Scalia hit a triple to distance the Hoosiers who then reached a 31-26 lead at the half.
"Coming out in the third quarter, we knew we just had to keep our foot on the gas and just keep playing hard," Parrish said. "Our runs will come, and their runs will come too."
Indiana continued its excellent defense in the third only allowing the Boilers to score two points off a layup while the Hoosiers popped off for 19. Then Holmes took over the offense as she collected 11 of her 15 points in the third.
"She's obviously a terrific sprinter up and down the court committed to transition offense," Moren said. "It's Mack just making decisions, the right decision."
For good measure, Parrish totaled seven points in the final quarter to bring the Hoosiers yet another victory.
"I think it was a little more personal this year just cause I am the only Indiana kid on this team, so I had to kind of step up and be that person on our team to show who the best team in Indiana is," Parrish said.
Moren played college ball at Purdue and still manages a soft spot for the Boilers even when facing them on the road. She said she is friends with Purdue head coach Katie Gearlds, who has texted her this season expressing her congratulations on the Hoosiers' success.
"It is a rivalry, but there's also a friendship there," Moren said. "When they're not playing Indiana, deep down, I'm always rooting for the Boilermakers."
It was a booming Mackey Arena, but Indiana proved it was the better team today as Purdue will get another stab at it come Feb. 19.
"We have played in front of crowds like this before at our place," Moren said. "Usually there is more red in the place than there was this afternoon. I am really happy to be a part of this game today with a really good Purdue team.”
Up next the Hoosiers will return home to face No. 6 Iowa for a battle where the winner will be the top team of the conference.
Related stories on Indiana women's basketball
- INDIANA - PURDUE MATCH NOTES Sunday afternoon, Indiana women's basketball will head to West Lafayette to face rival Purdue. The annual Barn Burner Trophy is up for grabs as the Hoosiers have kept it in their possession for their past seven consecutive wins. CLICK HERE
- HOOSIERS TAKE DOWN GOLDEN GOPHERS ON THE ROAD Sydney Parrish and Mackenzie Holmes led Indiana women's basketball to a large win over Minnesota on Wednesday in spite of poor guard play from the Hoosiers on a not-so friendly homecoming night for Sara Scalia. CLICK HERE
- INDIANA - MINNESOTA MATCH NOTES The Hoosiers will head to Minnesota on Wednesday to begin a two-game road stretch after a successful two wins at home over Ohio State and Rutgers. The Golden Gophers have been struggling this season and will surely be awaiting the return of their former teammate Sara Scalia, except she's now in cream and crimson. CLICK HERE
