Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall (IUSTV Sports) – Hoops returned to Assembly Hall on Wednesday as Indiana women’s basketball knocked off Division II Maryville in their lone preseason exhibition 95-27. It was the team’s first game action of the season.
“Our kids were super excited about the opportunity,” said Indiana head coach Teri Moren. “I said to them today at shoot-around, I don’t want to treat it like an exhibition game.”
Indiana found themselves without their former All-American forward Mackenzie Holmes for the first time in five years. Junior Lilly Meister, who had understudied for Holmes the past two years, got the start. Meister scored 19 points off 9-of-11 shooting.
“Everything has kind of been the same,” said Meister. I’m just working on my confidence and my mental strength.”
“I don’t want her to feel she needs to be anyone but Lilly,” said Moren.
Indiana got an injury scare in the third quarter after fifth-year guard Sydney Parrish exited with an ankle injury. While Parrish did not return, Moren said she was held out for precautionary reasons. The Hoosiers had three other players miss out due to injury. Junior Lexus Bargesser and sophomore Leneé Beaumont were out with lower leg injuries, with Moren saying neither is expected to be out for long. She also said that freshman Sydney Fenn is out for the season after knee surgery.
Maryville was coming off an exhibition win over Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, their second exhibition win over a Division I side in three years. However, against a top-25 team in Indiana, the Saints were held to nine made field goals and just three from distance off 35 attempts.
“Under 65 [points] was our defensive goal,” said Moren. “We had 12 kills tonight. Kills for us are three stops in a row.”
For four of Indiana’s newcomers, the win was their first game action at Assembly Hall. Penn State transfer Shay Ciezki led the way with 14 points, five rebounds, and five assists.
“She can shoot it. She can facilitate it,” said Moren. I thought she tried to become more of a facilitator in the second half, which I liked.”
Indiana opens their regular season with a pair of Ivy League foes, starting with Brown on Monday. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
