Indiana University
10-7, 2-3
MICHIGAN STATE
12-4, 3-2
Indiana Downs No. 18 Michigan State, 81-65
1/13/2016 9:12:00 PM | Women's Basketball
By: Sam Beishuizen, IUHoosiers.com | Twitter
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Minutes after upsetting No. 18 Michigan State 81-65 at Assembly Hall on Wednesday, Karlee McBride tried to put the win in perspective.
"It's awesome, especially against Michigan State," McBride said. "They're always good in the Big Ten and ranked, too. It's definitely good for us."
The Hoosiers (10-7, 2-3) led the Spartans (12-4, 3-2) wire-to-wire in their 16-point victory. The win was IU's second win over a ranked opponent this season, joining a Preseason WNIT win over then-No. 24 Chattanooga. Something an Indiana team hasn't accomplished since 2009-10.
"As I expressed to our players tonight, I hope this win gives them a dose of confidence," head coach Teri Moren said. "And they believe when they communicate, when they stay connected defensively, when they hit shots—they're going to be in the game and win a lot of ball games. That's my hope that this win gives our kids a shot in the arm that they can play with the best teams in the Big Ten…I'm just really, really proud."
Indiana opened the game on a 13-0 run, holding Michigan State scoreless for more than four minutes before then surrendering an 8-2 run. The Hoosiers hit six of their first seven shots while the Spartans made just one of their first seven shots to give Indiana a 13-point edge just over five minutes into the game.
Indiana continued to have the better of Michigan State in the second quarter, pulling ahead by as many as 18 points just under 16 minutes into the first half. The Hoosiers went into the locker room at halftime with a 14-point advantage thanks, in part, to scoring 27 first-half points off 14 Spartan turnovers.
Turning turnovers into points became a trend for Indiana throughout the game. The Hoosiers scored 41 points off 24 Spartan turnovers.
"We just really talked defensively, and I think they were flustered and they were throwing the ball around," Tyra Buss said. "I just think our defensive pressure and our defensive communication was what really frustrated them."
Michigan State cut Indiana's lead to nine points with 1:32 left in the third quarter, but that was as close as the Spartans would ever get to threatening the Hoosiers' lead. Moren opted to go with a somewhat unconventional 2-3 zone throughout the night—a decision she herself even admitted briefly questioning pregame—and used it to stymie the normally sound Michigan State offense.
Most notably, Indiana held Aerial Powers, the Spartans' leading scorer, scoreless in the first half en route to 14 points on 4-of-22 shooting. It was a rare poor shooting night for the junior forward who had been averaging just shy of 19 points per game.
"She obviously is a really great player, just putting up insane numbers in the Big Ten so far," sophomore forward Amanda Cahill said. "I think we did a good job of packing in and really finding her and trying to target her a little bit, trying to limit her offensive looks. I think we did a good job of that."
Meanwhile, Buss had 24 points on 5-of-10 shooting to pace the way for Indiana. Cahill and McBride both had 17 points and junior guard Alexis Gassion had 10.
The 17-point outing was one of the best games of McBride's career to date. She got her first career starting nod and was a perfect 5-of-5 shooting, including a perfect 3-for-3 beyond the arc, and hit all four of her free-throw tries.
"It definitely feels good. I'm glad I can help (the team) in this way," McBride said. "I know they appreciate it, and I appreciate them helping me. I wouldn't be here without them."
Indiana's upset win was yet another example of what Moren described as a "mess" of a Big Ten conference where it appears no team is safe. Just a few weeks ago, the Spartans nearly defeated Ohio State, a team that handled the Hoosiers last week.
More than anything else, Moren said she wants her team to use Wednesday's win as evidence they can compete in the conference night in and night out regardless of the competition. Now that they've experienced an upset win in conference, she's looking for them to repeat it.
"It's a big confidence boost," Buss said. "We believe in each other. If we talk like that on defense and if we move the ball around on offense and set good screens for each other, we can compete with anyone in the Big Ten. I truly believe that."
