BLOOMINGTON, IN – The Indiana University women’s basketball team faced a tough test on Thursday night, hosting the Ohio State Buckeyes at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

BLOOMINGTON, IN – The Indiana University women’s basketball team faced a tough test on Thursday night, hosting the Ohio State Buckeyes at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

The Buckeyes, known for their aggressive full-court press, were looking to disrupt the Hoosiers’ offense and come away with a crucial Big Ten win.

 

But the Hoosiers were more than up to the challenge. Led by senior guard Ali Patberg, IU handled Ohio State’s press with ease, using their quick ball movement and clever decision-making to break through the Buckeyes’ defense and come away with a 78-65 victory.

 

“We knew Ohio State was going to bring the pressure, so we worked on handling it in practice,” said Patberg, who finished with 15 points and 7 assists. “We did a great job of staying calm and making smart decisions. It was a total team effort.”

 

The Hoosiers (15-4, 8-2 Big Ten) got off to a strong start, using their sharp shooting to build a 20-12 lead after the first quarter. Ohio State (12-7, 5-5 Big Ten) fought back in the second quarter, using their press to force several IU turnovers and cut the deficit to 35-29 at halftime.

 

But the Hoosiers regrouped in the second half, using their offense to break through the Buckeyes’ press and build a 10-point lead after the third quarter. Ohio State made a late push in the fourth quarter, but IU’s defense held strong, limiting the Buckeyes to just 12 points in the final period.

 

“I’m so proud of our team’s effort tonight,” said IU head coach Teri Moren. “We knew Ohio State was going to bring a lot of pressure, but our players did a great job of handling it and making smart decisions. We’re playing with a lot of confidence right now, and it’s fun to watch.”

 

The Hoosiers had several players step up and make big contributions on Thursday night. In addition to Patberg’s strong performance, junior forward Mackenzie Holmes added 18 points and 7 rebounds, while senior guard Jaelynn Penn chipped in with 12 points and 5 assists.

 

Ohio State was led by senior guard Braxtin Miller, who finished with 20 points and 5 rebounds. Junior forward Rebeka Mikulasikova added 14 points and 7 rebounds for the Buckeyes.

 

The win was a big one for the Hoosiers, who are now tied for second place in the Big Ten standings. IU will look to keep its momentum going on Sunday, when they host the Michigan Wolverines at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

 

“We’re feeling good right now, but we know we can’t let up,” said Patberg. “We’ve got to keep pushing and stay focused on our goals. We’re excited for the challenge ahead.”