For the primary time in over thirty years, Indiana ladies’s basketball hosted the No. 1 staff within the nation Saturday afternoon. In a midday tipoff in opposition to UCLA, the Hoosiers encountered a tall activity – actually and figuratively.
Led by 6-foot-7 junior middle Lauren Betts, the Bruins had steamrolled almost each one in all their opponents earlier than the Large Ten matchup. Saturday, Indiana supplied a fierce problem for 40 minutes however couldn’t pull off the upset bid in a 73-62 loss.
The Hoosiers’ efficiency was in every single place within the loss. Listed here are three issues that caught out that had been telling of what Indiana is able to in Large Ten play.
UCLA’s physicality is an excessive amount of to beat
Led by the towering Betts, the Bruins boast a frontcourt with three different gamers 6-foot-3 or taller – the identical top as Indiana’s tallest publish figures within the rotation. Not solely do the Bruins play with dimension, however they add to it with energy down low, bruising opponents within the paint.
That fashion of play was on full show in opposition to the Hoosiers, who additionally satisfaction themselves on toughness. Nonetheless, UCLA’s physicality proved an excessive amount of for Indiana to deal with.
“Lilly (Meister) and Strip (Karoline Striplin) had been working their tails off,” Teri Moren stated postgame. “They did every thing they might. We had been making an attempt to push (Betts) out, hold her away from the low block.”
Betts confirmed it early, scoring three of UCLA’s first 4 baskets, establishing her presence within the paint on single protection and ending with finesse across the rim. Indiana determined to ship double groups the remainder of the sport, but it surely typically didn’t matter.
Betts completed the sport with 25 factors and 12 rebounds on 75 % taking pictures and the Bruins had the higher hand in factors within the paint – scoring 40 to IU’s 28 – and on the boards with a 40 to 31 benefit. Normally, Moren’s staff can match anybody it faces bodily. That was not the case Saturday afternoon.
“They did every thing we requested them,” Moren stated. “It’s simply that she’s a rare 5 due to her dimension.”
With a transparent dimension drawback, the Hoosiers had been typically too conservative with their protection of Betts and the frontcourt. In a Large Ten stacked with publish expertise, fixed double groups could also be essential to compensate for the distinction in dimension.
A number of missed alternatives
Indiana’s 11-point loss is tough to explain. At occasions, UCLA seemed dominant and had full management of the sport, however the Hoosiers additionally had a number of surges of momentum with alternatives to make the Bruins sweat. Finally, IU had too many missed alternatives to get the win.
After a 9-0 run to finish the primary quarter and minimize the deficit to 2 factors, Meeting Corridor was booming and the Hoosiers seemed prime to battle with the Bruins. As an alternative, Indiana fell flat within the second quarter and squandered hope on the time.
The Hoosier offense misplaced all movement within the second body, couldn’t run in transition and missed a number of open appears. In what appeared like a flash, the two-point deficit turned 15 factors, as IU went scoreless for the primary seven minutes of the quarter. Indiana trailed by 12 at halftime.
Nonetheless, IU confirmed grit within the second half and made a number of makes an attempt to claw again. Nonetheless, eight factors was the magic quantity, as that was as shut because the Hoosiers would get. Whether or not it was lacking an open 3-pointer or being unable to get yet another cease, Indiana by no means acquired nearer than that.
If something, this may very well be extra indicative of UCLA becoming the invoice as the highest staff within the nation and discovering methods to drag away. Nonetheless, if IU needs to remain in that dialog as a nationwide energy, moments like these require discovering an answer.
Indiana can compete with anybody at full energy
The stat sheet exhibits Indiana’s efficiency included a number of negatives: a 19 % mark from the 3-point line, 40 % from the sphere, 13 turnovers and UCLA’s benefit in most statistical classes. Nonetheless, the sport was one of many Bruins’ hardest challenges this 12 months.
IU’s 11-point loss to the undefeated Bruins was the second-closest outcome to the undefeated Bruins. Louisville performed them inside seven factors within the season opener. No. 2 South Carolina fell to UCLA by 15 factors. The Hoosiers’ efficiency was flawed, but they nonetheless managed to persist till the ultimate buzzer.
After a gradual begin to the season with uncharacteristic losses to Harvard and Butler, Indiana has since discovered its groove exterior of a lopsided loss within the Battle 4 Atlantis Championship to North Carolina, during which Sydney Parrish was injured. Now, the Hoosiers look extra just like the well-oiled machine Moren has constructed in recent times.
The Large Ten slate is brutal – seven groups are at the moment within the AP high 25, 4 within the high 10 – and the Hoosiers are largely unproven on the highway, however Indiana can compete with anybody. Extra constant performances shall be required, but it surely’s onerous to rely out Moren and IU.
(Picture credit score: IU Athletics)
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