No. 14 Indiana Women's Basketball Hosts Michigan State Thursday, 1 Game Back in Big Ten
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — No. 14 Indiana women’s basketball, which dropped four spots in this week’s Associated Press poll following the five-point loss at No. 5 Ohio State, hosts Michigan State Thursday. The Hoosiers (18-3, 9-2) are a game behind Iowa and Ohio State in the Big Ten. The Spartans (17-5, 7-4) are tied for third and have won four straight.
If Indiana beaten Ohio State, the Hoosiers would’ve been in the driver’s seat for the Big Ten title, based on the strength of their remaining schedule. With seven games to go, they aren’t out of the race just yet. But they have to keep winning at home to stay within reach of either Iowa and Ohio State, which makes Michigan State a must-win.
Last month, the Spartans lost at Iowa by three points with Caitlin Clark’s buzzer-beater, and at Ohio State by five points. The Spartans average the fewest turnovers in the Big Ten with 11 per game, and they only had nine versus the Buckeyes. The Hoosiers committed their season-high 23 turnovers Sunday and succumbed to Ohio State’s full-court press in the second half.
Ohio State forces the most turnovers on average in the conference at 21.1 per game, and the Spartans force 18.6 per game. In Michigan State’s most recent victory, over Minnesota on Monday, the Spartans full-court pressed and came up with three steals in under 60 seconds in the third quarter — forcing seven turnovers in the frame. Indiana had 11 turnovers in the third at Ohio State, more than the number of points it scored. The Hoosiers have to be ready for the press.
Michigan State is led by graduate guard Moira Joiner’s 15.2 points per game, shooting 40.6% from three-point this season. The Spartans rely on their guards to score their points. Two other guards are in double figures. Michigan State has some guard-forward utility players on the roster, but it’s not likely any Spartan will be able to match up with Indiana's Mackenzie Holmes in the post. She is 45 points away from breaking the all-time program scoring record.
Thursday night’s game is at 7 p.m. ET and will air on Peacock.
Related Stories on Indiana Women's Basketball
- INDIANA-OHIO STATE GAME STORY: The Hoosiers committed 23 turnovers, their most all season, and struggled to beat Ohio State's press in the five-point loss. CLICK HERE
- INDIANA-MARYLAND GAME STORY: Indiana began its two-game road trip Wednesday night at Maryland and won at College Park for the first time ever. CLICK HERE
- PARRISH OUT INDEFINITELY WITH FOOT INJURY: Moren gave an update Friday on the status of starting guard Sydney Parrish, who did not play in the win last Sunday at Purdue. CLICK HERE
