Mackenzie Holmes, Sara Scalia lead No. 16 Indiana past U

Duo combines for 54 points in the Hoosiers' victory

The Gophers women’s basketball team was once again reunited with Sara Scalia Wednesday night.

Scalia, who played at Minnesota from 2019-22, was one half of an Indiana dynamic duo along with Mackenzie Holmes that powered the 16th-ranked Hoosiers to an 85-62 victory over the Gophers Wednesday night in Bloomington, Ind.

Scalia scored 17 of her 22 points in the first half as Indiana (15-2, 6-1 Big Ten) built an 18-point halftime advantage. Holmes also scored 17 in the first half and finished her night with 32 points and nine boards for the Hoosiers.

The Gophers (13-4, 3-3) were unable to keep pace, although they did make things competitive in the second half. They outscored the Hoosiers 18-17 in the third quarter and opened the fourth quarter on an 8-3 run that cut the Indiana lead to 12. But the Hoosiers closed out the contest on a 7-0 run.

Grace Grocholski led the Gophers with 19 points on 8-of-9 shooting, including a 3-for-4 mark from deep. Mara Braun added 14 points, and Amaya Battle scored 13. But it wasn’t enough firepower to contend with the dynamic duo of Holmes and Scalia.

The Gophers return to Big Ten action on Saturday when Michigan State comes to town. Tipoff at The Barn is slated for 2 p.m.