With the Indiana Hoosiers now three games into the 2024-25 campaign, it is clear this team has their work cut out for them. On Wednesday night in Indianapolis, the Hoosiers traveled to take on a 2-0 Butler Bulldogs squad at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Butler, a program coming off of four straight losing seasons made a statement, defeating Indiana 56-46.
Fresh off of an overtime loss to Harvard six days prior, Indiana had a bad taste in their mouth, and looked to get on the right track for a winnable game against Butler. But, the Bulldogs had other plans, selling out a record high 4,135 women's basketball fans in Hinkle Fieldhouse and beating Indiana by double-digits for the first time in history.
“I’m just disappointed that we came in here tonight and had moments where we had the lead and let it go,” Head Coach Teri Moren said. “Down the stretch we couldn’t get the stops we needed or the scores.”
In the 10-point loss, the turnover bug continued to plague the Hoosiers, and has been Indiana’s achilles heel three games in. The Hoosiers turned the ball over 16 times on Wednesday, with an average of 20 turnovers per game.
Even after the squads first win over Brown in the season opener, coach Teri Moren made it clear that their performance would not win them any Big Ten games. Since that statement from Moren, the Hoosiers have lost back-to-back, and are in search of consistent ball handlers.
“That’s part of the game planning for Indiana is to be super physical with our guards, and they don’t like that,” said Moren. “Right now that’s what teams are doing to us, and we have to just be tougher and embrace it.”
In the first half, Indiana started the contest 3-for-3 behind the arc, and initially seemed as if Indiana’s offense found their rhythm. Leading 13-11 after the first, the Hoosiers gameplan hadn’t been foiled just yet by the gritty Bulldogs.
After taking a six point lead halfway through the second quarter, forcing a Butler timeout, the Hoosiers had the opportunity to put the Bulldogs away, something this Indiana program has been able to do in the years past. But, with turnovers and long dry spells offensively, Butler fought their way back time and time again, making it a two point deficit, 28-26 by halftime.
In the second half, Butler seemed to put it all together, outscoring Indiana 30-18 in the final two quarters. Caroline Strand led the way for Butler, scoring 14 points and collecting eight rebounds, ending as Butler’s leading scorer.
In this one, Indiana’s offense was an abysmal 17/50 from the field, shooting just 34% as a team, and were outrebounded 36-30 against the Bulldogs. Butler’s tough on-ball pressure at all stages of the game seemed to be the difference between winning and losing. The ball pressure wore down Indiana’s guard play, with the Bulldogs walking away with a program changing victory.
The Hoosiers, now 1-2 will look ahead for a matchup against #24 Stanford Cardinals back in Bloomington on Sunday, November 17th.
