Last season, Indiana racked up its sixth consecutive NCAA appearance and seventh in head coach Teri Moren’s 12 seasons. It was a bit of a struggle for the Hoosiers who finished 20-13 including a 10-8 conference record good for a four-way tie for seventh. IU even lost to Minnesota at Williams Arena 56-66. Indiana had no answers for Battle with 16 points and 7 rebounds; Hart with 14 and 8 and Heyer with 10 and 13. Meanwhile the Gophers contained Hoosier stars Shay Ciezki, 12 points, and Yarden Garzon, 6 points. In the NCAA’s Indiana defeated Utah 76-68 before being sent home by South Carolina 53-64. Then the roster fun begun.
Three Hoosiers, including scoring guard Sydney Parrish graduated. Five, including Lexus Bargasser and Lilly Meister immediately entered the portal. And finally, Indiana’s leading scorer Yardon Garzon capped the festivities by transferring to Maryland. Poof! Nearly 80% of IU’s offense had evaporated.
Teri Moren responded by putting together this season’s 13 player roster including 6 transfers and 2 freshmen. Er…make that 12 players because 6’3” forward Sydney Fenn is out following knee surgery. Er,,,make that 11 players because 10 game starter Valentyna Kadlecova returned to the Czech Republic a week ago to turn pro. Er…Maybe make that 10 because 6-3” sophomore forward and prime UCLA transfer, Zania Socka-Nguemen, whom started the first ten games (13 points and 9 rebounds per game), suffered a leg injury that has her listed as week to week.
Still, Indiana remains a dangerous team. They are 11-2 with losses to Iowa State 95-106 (Audi Crooks dropped 47) and Illinois 57-78 (the Illini scored 58 paint points). Minnesota needs to challenge the Hoosiers inside.
Three Hoosiers have started every game. Senior guard 5’7” Shay Ciezki has upped her play and the former Nittany Lion is averaging 24.2 points and 3.7 rebounds in 34.6 minutes. 6’1” sophomore guard Lenee Beaumont, who sat out last season, is averaging 15.1 points and 4.8 rebounds in 32.1 minutes. And 5’10” freshman guard Neveah Caffey averages 6.6. points and 3.2 rebounds in 27.5 minutes.
The two players filling the starter roles in IU’s most recent game, a win over Western Carolina, were: 6’3” freshman forward Maya Mkalusky 6.2 points and 2.6 rebounds in 18.2 minutes and 6’3” junior forward Edessa Noyan 5.7 points and 5.1 rebounds in 19.7 minutes.
Minnesota probably wins in Bloomington by driving the lane and with Mckinney neutralizing Ciezki. Er…unless Socka-Nguemen returns to the court.
