Indiana Takes Down Lipscomb 77-44 Sunday; Scalia And Holmes Score 20-Plus Points Again

Indiana women's basketball coach Teri Moren wasn't pleased with the team's defensive performance Friday night, allowing 79 points. On Sunday, Moren graded the team's defense a solid B, which slightly improved from Friday.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana women’s basketball cruised to a 77-44 win over Lipscomb Sunday, as the Hoosiers swept their brief two-game homestand.

For the second straight game, Sara Scalia and Mackenzie Holmes led the Hoosiers in scoring, with 24 and 23 points, respectively. Scalia went 5-for-7 from deep. The 24 points tied the transfer's Indiana single-game record. Holmes went 11-for-16 from the floor with nine rebounds. 

Scalia’s first three-pointer, with 30 seconds remaining in the first quarter, provided Indiana with an immense boost. The Hoosiers only led 15-12 prior to Scalia’s triple, as the team turned the ball over seven times. Lipscomb’s zone defense collapsed on Holmes whenever she caught the ball and released when the ball kicked-out to the perimeter.

In the second quarter, however, Indiana took off. Spreading the floor created one-on-one openings for Holmes and open three-pointers. By forcing seven Bison turnovers, the Hoosiers outscored Lipscomb 21-6 in the second quarter to lead 39-18 at halftime. Scalia and Holmes scored Indiana’s last 13 points of the half in under two minutes.

Holmes attributed the scoring run to the team’s defense.

“We knew that our defense needed to be better,” Holmes said. “We gave up 12 points in that first quarter. We just really want to be a team that’s stingy on defense. We want to get back to that … we weren't perfect today, but I think we definitely had some moments of improvement.”

Indiana outscored Lipscomb 19-13 in the last two quarters to win by 33 points. Scalia had yet to score midway through the third, though the senior posted three assists in that five-minute span. On Friday, reaching the basket was Scalia’s main source for 22 points. On Sunday, the senior heated up beyond the arc and delivered.

“The only place your confidence comes comes from is your work,” Moren said. “I'm so glad to see those go in for her tonight. They're so critical to us offensively. She's been relentless as far as her work habits. And now I think, again, she looks more comfortable. I just think she looks more confident. I think she's setting herself up to have a really special senior year.”

Indiana gave up 79 points to Murray State Friday night, far above Moren’s goal of holding the Racers to fewer than 60 points. Moren’s objective went unchanged for Sunday, and Indiana held Lipscomb to just 44 points. The head coach thought the team slightly improved defensively. 

Indiana’s next foe, No. 15 Tennessee on Thanksgiving, operates with two forwards. The last time the Hoosiers faced that style of lineup was in their 32-point blowout loss to Stanford last weekend. Indiana had an injury scare Sunday afternoon as starter Sydney Parrish, who tweaked her hamstring Friday night, landed awkwardly and grabbed the muscle mid-game.

Parrish came out of the game as a precaution. Moren said postgame that Parrish told the staff she felt fine. An injury to the starting guard would be detrimental for the No. 18 Hoosiers. The Tennessee game in the Elevance Health Women's Fort Myers Tip-Off will start at 6 p.m. ET on Thanksgiving and air on FOX. 

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