For the first time in over thirty years, Indiana women’s basketball hosted the No. 1 team in the country Saturday afternoon. In a noon tipoff against UCLA, the Hoosiers encountered a tall task – literally and figuratively.
Led by 6-foot-7 junior center Lauren Betts, the Bruins had steamrolled nearly every one of their opponents before the Big Ten matchup. Saturday, Indiana provided a fierce challenge for 40 minutes but could not pull off the upset bid in a 73-62 loss.
The Hoosiers’ performance was all over the place in the loss. Here are three things that stuck out that were telling of what Indiana is capable of in Big Ten play.
UCLA’s physicality is too much to overcome
Led by the towering Betts, the Bruins boast a frontcourt with three other players 6-foot-3 or taller – the same height as Indiana’s tallest post figures in the rotation. Not only do the Bruins play with size, but they add to it with strength down low, bruising opponents in the paint.
That style of play was on full display against the Hoosiers, who also pride themselves on toughness. However, UCLA’s physicality proved too much for Indiana to handle.
“Lilly (Meister) and Strip (Karoline Striplin) were working their tails off,” Teri Moren said postgame. “They did everything they could. We were trying to push (Betts) out, keep her away from the low block.”
Betts showed it early, scoring three of UCLA’s first four baskets, establishing her presence in the paint on single coverage and finishing with finesse around the rim. Indiana decided to send double teams the rest of the game, but it often didn’t matter.
Betts finished the game with 25 points and 12 rebounds on 75 percent shooting and the Bruins had the upper hand in points in the paint – scoring 40 to IU’s 28 – and on the boards with a 40 to 31 advantage. Usually, Moren’s team can match anyone it faces physically. That was not the case Saturday afternoon.
“They did everything we asked them,” Moren said. “It’s just that she’s an extraordinary five because of her size.”
With a clear size disadvantage, the Hoosiers were often too conservative with their coverage of Betts and the frontcourt. In a Big Ten stacked with post talent, constant double teams may be necessary to compensate for the difference in…
Several missed opportunities
Indiana’s 11-point loss is hard to describe. At times, UCLA looked dominant and had complete control of the game, but the Hoosiers also had several surges of momentum with opportunities to make the Bruins sweat. Ultimately, IU had too many missed opportunities to get the win.
After a 9-0 run to end the first quarter and cut the deficit to two points, Assembly Hall was booming and the Hoosiers looked prime to battle with the Bruins. Instead, Indiana fell flat in the second quarter and squandered hope at the time.
The Hoosier offense lost all flow in the second frame, could not run in transition and missed multiple open looks. In what seemed like a flash, the two-point deficit became 15 points, as IU went scoreless for the first seven minutes of the quarter. Indiana trailed by 12 at halftime.
Still, IU showed grit in the second half and made several attempts to claw back. However, eight points was the magic number, as that was as close as the Hoosiers would get. Whether it was missing an open 3-pointer or being unable to get one more stop, Indiana never got closer than that.
If anything, this could be more indicative of UCLA fitting the bill as the top team in the country and finding ways to pull away. However, if IU wants to stay in that conversation as a national power, moments like those require finding a solution.
Indiana can compete with anyone at full strength
The stat sheet shows Indiana’s performance included several negatives: a 19 percent mark from the 3-point line, 40 percent from the field, 13 turnovers and UCLA’s advantage in most statistical categories. Still, the game was one of the Bruins’ toughest challenges this year.
IU’s 11-point loss to the undefeated Bruins was the second-closest result to the undefeated Bruins. Louisville played them within seven points in the season opener. No. 2 South Carolina fell to UCLA by 15 points. The Hoosiers’ performance was flawed, yet they still managed to persist until the final buzzer.
After a slow start to the season with uncharacteristic losses to Harvard and Butler, Indiana has since found its groove outside of a lopsided loss in the Battle 4 Atlantis Championship to North Carolina, in which Sydney Parrish was injured. Now, the Hoosiers look more like the well-oiled machine Moren has constructed in recent years.
The Big Ten slate is brutal – seven teams are currently in the AP top 25, four in the top 10 – and the Hoosiers are largely unproven on the road, but Indiana can compete with anyone. More consistent performances will be required, but it’s hard to count out Moren and IU.
(Photo credit: IU Athletics)
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