No. 21 Indiana Beats No. 19 Tennessee 71-57; Garzon Scores 23 Points In Career Night

Indiana opened the Fort Myers Tip-Off by beating No. 19 Tennessee 71-57 on Thanksgiving night to improve to 4-1 on the season. Yarden Garzon shot 5-for-6 from three-point range and finished with a career-high 23 points. Indiana will play Princeton Saturday morning.

With 48 seconds prior to halftime, Indiana guard Yarden Garzon laughed side-by-side with teammate Mackenzie Holmes as the pair ran back to defend. The sophomore just sank her fourth three-pointer of the half — and two in 44 seconds — to put No. 21 Indiana up 33-21 over No. 19 Tennessee at halftime. Indiana went on to win 71-57 Thursday in the Fort Myers Tip-Off.

“When she was shooting it at the clip she was shooting it, it was hard not to smile,” Holmes said post-game. “We work out together a lot, I know how much time Yarden’s put into her game. Her and I try to take some pride in our two-man game and playing off of each other. I know if I pass that ball to Yarden beyond the arc, it probably has a good chance of going in.”

Garzon’s 23 points on Thanksgiving night, which was also her birthday, slightly bested the sophomore’s previous career-high of 21 in late November last season. Garzon’s five-three pointers also tied her career-high. The Hoosiers shot 10-for-22 from beyond the arc, or 45%. The Lady Volunteers went 6-for-20 and totaled nine fewer assists than Indiana.

The Hoosiers led 12-9 in an unsightly first quarter as the teams shot a combined 9-for-41. But Indiana outscored Tennessee 21-12 in the second quarter — like what the Hoosiers did in their prior victory — to establish a comfortable lead. Indiana outscored Tennessee 19-15 in the third quarter and traded buckets with the Lady Volunteers in the fourth to close it.

Indiana also outrebounded Tennessee, 42-39. For the third straight game, the Lady Vols were without forward Rickea Jackson, who led Tennessee in average scoring and rebounds.

“From an offensive perspective, neither team I thought looked like they were clicking right on all cylinders in that first half,” Indiana head coach Teri Moren said. “But give our kids credit for chipping away, chipping away, building the lead a little bit … I'm more proud of their heart and what they showed on the boards tonight, because we knew that was going to be the game.”

Moren said it was the type of game Garzon needed. Last season, Garzon broke the freshman three-point record. Prior to Thursday, she was shooting just 3-for-12 beyond the arc. The Hoosiers also received two three-pointers each from Sara Scalia and Sydney Parrish. Holmes posted the second-most points with 17 and had a team-high six rebounds.

Holding Tennessee to 57 points is stark improvement from Indiana’s 32-point blowout loss to No. 4 Stanford, when the Hoosiers allowed 96. They also gave up 79 points to Murray State in the following contest. 

The Hoosiers will play Princeton to conclude their two-game Fort Myers Tip-Off slate. Princeton is coming off an upset victory over No. 22 Oklahoma on Thursday afternoon. The Tigers have held opponents to 62 points a game. The game will be at 11 a.m. Saturday and will be available to watch on [FSWBucs.com].

“This is a business trip for us,” Moren said. “The goal is to be 2-0 by the time you guys see us next.” 

Related Stories on Indiana Women's Basketball

• IU-LIPSCOMB GAME STORY: On Sunday, Moren graded the team's defense a solid B, which slightly improved from Friday. CLICK HERE
• IU-MURRAY STATE GAME STORY: Though it was an excellent night for the offense, head coach Teri Moren wasn't pleased in the post-game press conference about the team's defensive effort. CLICK HERE
• IU-STANFORD GAME STORY: Indiana women's basketball traveled to Stanford for a top-15, early season road test. The Hoosiers lost for the first time this season as Stanford's Cameron Brink and Kiki Iriafen each scored 20 points. Indiana All-American Mackenzie Holmes was held to just eight points. CLICK HERE
• INDIANA BEATS EASTERN ILLINOIS IN TERI MOREN'S 400th WIN: Indiana's season officially began Thursday. The Hoosiers beat EIU 96-43 as four players scored double-figures in Teri Moren's 400th all-time win. CLICK HERE