IU women’s basketball routs Purdue 77-57, completes season sweep

WEST LAFAYETTE – Less than 30 minutes before Sunday’s tipoff, Sydney Parrish and IU assistant coach Linda Sayavongchanh moved to the side and started warming up alone. The rest of the team stayed on the floor while the player-coach duo grabbed a pile of basketballs and set up on the perimeter.

Parrish wasn’t doing anything out of the ordinary from her normal routine. Sayavongchanh set up five feet away from Parrish to feed the fifth-year senior. She settled on the left wing and began taking 3-pointer after 3-pointer.

Parrish made all but two of those warmup 3s, with multiple shots falling perfectly in the hoop. This set the tone for the afternoon for Parrish and the Hoosiers.

Indiana wrapped up the regular season with a decisive 77-57 win against the Boilermakers in Mackey Arena. The Hoosiers earned their 13th consecutive win against their rival and finished the regular season 18-11 overall and 10-8 in Big Ten play.

The first quarter was where Indiana generated the infectious energy that carried it throughout the rest of the game. The Hoosiers went 9-for-14 from the field in the first 10 minutes, outscoring the Boilermakers 24-9. Purdue’s defense struggled to contain the combo of Parrish and Shay Ciezki the entire night, but it all started in the first quarter.

Parrish and Ciezki set the tone by running the floor in transition, which led to open 3s and downhill drives to the basket. Parrish led IU with 20 points, her third game with 20 or more points this season. Ciezki added 18.

“I thought our kids came out with great intent,” Teri Moren said postgame. “I thought their focus, how they got off defensively. We started the game very locked into the game plan, very locked in together, how they played together, and how they communicated throughout, which was great to see. I thought we executed especially in the first half.”

The rest of the game shared much of the same spirit from the Hoosiers. Much of what’s been displayed from the last few seasons in the Indiana-Purdue matchups took place on Sunday. The Hoosiers were too quick on offense, leading to open baskets and efficient offense.

However, the Hoosiers paired a strong offensive showing with a great defensive effort. Indiana forced 10 Purdue turnovers and held the Boilermakers to 36.5 percent shooting.

Moren’s team always prides itself on defense and Sunday was a strong example of playing both sides of the ball well.

“If we are defensive-minded, then our offense comes easily for us,” Parrish said. “I think we see that a lot in games. You know, when we’re getting stops and we’re running out really hard, then it’ll lead to us hitting shots.”

Parrish and Ciezki led the charge on a night when several Hoosiers gave IU quality minutes. But Yarden Garzon also had a productive night.

Garzon scored 15 points on 6-for-10 shooting to go along with seven rebounds. Garzon was 3-for-6 on 3s and 25 seconds into the fourth quarter, she knocked in a triple to give her 207 for her career, a new program record.

With the regular season complete, Indiana will begin postseason play on Thursday in the Big Ten tournament in Indianapolis.

“We needed this one tonight for momentum going into the Big Ten tournament,” Parrish said. “We have to have good practices leading up to games. I think before the Maryland game, we didn’t have great practices leading up, and some of those other losses in the heat of the season. So just always reminding each other, like good practices lead to good games, and we’re gonna have to bring it.

“We had a great game in Eugene (against Oregon) when we went out there; we thought we had the game in our hands,” Parrish continued. “So if that’s who we end up playing, then we’re gonna bring it, bring it on Thursday to make a run in the tournament.”

(Photo credit: IU Athletics)

Category: Women's Basketball

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