After wrapping up a strong 11-1 run through nonconference play, Indiana women’s basketball is set to dive deeper into the Big Ten grind with a matchup against Minnesota on Monday night in Bloomington. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, and the game will stream on Big Ten+.
The Hoosiers’ lone blemish outside the conference came in a shootout against then-No. 10 Iowa State in Fort Myers, Florida.
Despite a monster 38-point performance from sophomore guard Yarden Ciezki, Indiana couldn’t slow down Cyclones center Audi Crooks, who dropped 47 points in a 106-95 loss. It was a game where offense was flowing, but defense-particularly interior defense-was clearly an issue.
Unfortunately for Indiana, that defensive vulnerability reared its head again in the Big Ten opener against Illinois. The Hoosiers struggled from the jump in Champaign, falling 78-57 in a game where nothing seemed to click offensively.
Through the first three quarters, Indiana shot just 10-of-37 from the field and managed only two three-pointers. Turnovers were a major problem, too - Indiana coughed the ball up 20 times, including six from redshirt sophomore Lenée Beaumont and five more from Ciezki.
Defensively, the Hoosiers had no answer for Illinois’ inside game. The Fighting Illini carved them up in the paint, scoring 58 points down low and pulling down 11 offensive boards.
That’s been a recurring theme this season - rebounding has been a pain point. Indiana currently ranks last in the Big Ten and 300th nationally in rebounds per game, managing just 34.23 on average.
Those numbers aren’t just concerning - they’re unsustainable for a team with postseason ambitions.
Head coach Teri Moren didn’t mince words after Indiana’s final nonconference win against Western Carolina on Dec. 21. She called out the team’s lack of rebounding grit, emphasizing that it’s not just about technique - it’s about heart and toughness.
“Rebounding is more heart, toughness, determination, than it is anything else,” Moren said postgame. “We have to continue to emphasize it, but we have to continue to demand it.
At some point, they’re going to have to take pride in doing it. Because if they don’t, that’ll be one of the reasons why we’ll have a hard time having any level of success.”
That message will be put to the test Monday night against a Minnesota squad that’s been cleaning the glass with purpose. The Golden Gophers are averaging 42.5 rebounds per game - good for fifth in the Big Ten - and they’re led by senior guard Amaya Battle, who’s been a force on the boards with 7.8 rebounds per game.
Minnesota comes into the matchup with a 9-3 record, with their losses coming against Kansas, Alabama, and No. 7 Maryland.
That Maryland game - their only Big Ten outing so far - was a double-overtime thriller that ended in a narrow 100-99 defeat. Grace Grocholski, a junior guard/forward who leads the Gophers in scoring at 13.3 points per game, exploded for 31 in that one.
She was one of five Gophers to hit double figures, showcasing the team’s offensive depth.
Maryland ultimately pulled it out behind a 30-point effort from redshirt senior Saylor Poffenbarger and 25 from junior Oluchi Okananwa. Freshman Addi Mack and former Hoosier Yarden Garzon added 16 and 15 points, respectively, in a game that showed just how dangerous Minnesota can be when they’re clicking offensively.
Beyond Grocholski, Minnesota also gets consistent scoring from sophomore guard Tori McKinney (12.8 ppg) and redshirt junior Mara Braun (11.3 ppg). That trio gives the Gophers a balanced attack that can hurt teams from multiple spots on the floor - something Indiana’s defense will have to be locked in on.
For Indiana, this game is more than just a bounce-back opportunity. It’s a tone-setter.
After Minnesota, the Hoosiers are staring down a brutal six-game stretch where five opponents are ranked in the AP Top 25 - No. 24 Michigan State, No.
7 Maryland, No. 20 Nebraska, No.
14 Iowa, and No. 19 Ohio State.
That’s a gauntlet by any measure, and it makes Monday night’s contest feel like a must-win if Indiana wants to keep pace in the Big Ten race.
The good news? The Hoosiers have the talent. The question is whether they can clean up the turnovers, commit to the glass, and reestablish the defensive identity that’s been a hallmark of Teri Moren’s program in recent years.
We’ll find out Monday night in Bloomington.