Indiana Hosts Eastern Illinois in Season Opener Thursday

The Indiana women's basketball season opener is Thursday night at home versus Eastern Illinois. The Hoosiers have won all nine openers under head coach Teri Moren, who is one win away from 400 all-time wins. Moren said Wednesday the team has room to improve defensively.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Following an exhibition win over Division II Northwood last week, No. 9 Indiana women's basketball will open the season Thursday at home against Eastern Illinois. The Hoosiers have won 10 straight season openers and all nine under active head coach Teri Moren. The Panthers lost their opener to IUPUI on Monday.

Eastern Illinois head coach Matt Bolant is in his 22nd season and seventh with the Panthers. Last season, Eastern Illinois went 21-8 and placed second in the Ohio Valley Conference. Junior forward Macy McGlone returns after earning first-team All-OVC honors and averaging 13.2 points and 7.5 rebounds. Freshman guard Lalani Ellis led the team with 21 points at IUPUI.

Though the Hoosiers routed Northwood 111-68 and controlled the contest, they allowed the visitors to shoot 12-for-30, or 40%, from beyond the arc. In fair review, it's only the beginning of the fall season as teams shake the rust. And yet, Moren was honest Wednesday morning in her disappointment and defensive concerns since the onset of the team's closed scrimmages.

"We really have talked nonstop about the defensive side of the ball since we finished that exhibition," Moren said. "I'm hoping that you'll see a completely different level of intensity for 40 minutes, whatever combinations out on the floor. Our ability to not give up a direct drive, a direct line to the basket, not to be in rotations, to get beat in transition, all the things that we talk about that are unacceptable. So I think that's where I'm looking to see the biggest jump."

Moren said that as of Wednesday, the preseason starting lineup, which consisted of Chloe Moore-McNeil, Sara Scalia, Sydney Parrish, Yarden Garzon, and Mackenzie Holmes, will remain unchanged for Thursday night. 

Freshman Julianna LaMendola played 15 minutes in the exhibition, went 1-for-6 from the floor, and picked up five personal fouls. LaMendola had pulled her calf in shootaround prior to the exhibition, and quietly played through the strain. Moren said LaMendola has "been out," and the freshman's availability will be determined at game time.

Traveling to play No. 15 Stanford on Sunday is bookmarked on the horizon for the top-10 Hoosiers. But at the moment, Moren is on the cusp and one win away from her 400th win in 21 seasons, should the Hoosiers prevail on Thursday. The matchup will tip-off at 7 p.m. ET at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, and will air on Big Ten-plus. 

Related stories on Indiana Women's Basketball: 

• TAKEAWAYS FROM INDIANA'S EXHIBITION WIN: Five veterans comprised the starting lineup, while freshmen made their unofficial debuts. Here are some takeaways and observations. CLICK HERE
• UPDATED WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE: Below is the list of the 2023-24 schedule, which will be updated as tip-off times and TV designations become available. CLICK HERE
• PRESEASON STORYLINES: The Hoosiers play Northwood in an exhibition at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall Wednesday night. Below are some storylines heading into this season without the program's all-time winningest player. CLICK HERE
• MACKENZIE HOLMES AP PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN: Indiana forward Mackenzie Holmes was one of six players named to the Associated Press preseason All-American Team Tuesday. CLICK HERE
• YARDEN GARZON CHERYL MILLER AWARD WATCH LIST: Garzon, who set the program's freshman record for made 3-pointers, was named to the 20-player watch list for the Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year Award. CLICK HERE