Hoosiers WBB Grit Out Win At Rutgers
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Indiana used a 27-point fourth quarter to get past Rutgers, 79-69, on Wednesday night at Jersey Mike’s Arena.
KEY MOMENTS
- In a quarter of runs, Rutgers (9-19, 1-16 B1G) kicked off the first quarter on an -0 run that led to a 13-3 lead with 5:10 remaining. Indiana (16-13, 5-12 B1G) countered with their own 8-0 run and eventually tied the game at 17-all on a redshirt sophomore guard Lenée Beaumont 3-pointer.
- The Scarlet Knights used five-straight points to finish off the first with a 22-17 lead. The Hoosiers used a triple by freshman forward Maya Makalusky and a drive at the rim by freshman Nevaeh Caffey to bring the game back to a tie.
- The two teams would exchange buckets for much of the second quarter, as Rutgers pulled ahead in the final minute to take a 34-30 halftime lead. It was a lead that extended to 10 early in the third quarter before IU came back within striking distance on a pair of Caffey layups and Makalusky 3-pointer.
- Facing a four-point deficit going to the fourth quarter, Ciezki pulled her team within one, 60-59. It was all part of a 27-point fourth quarter effort where IU shot 60 percent from the field.
- Senior guard Jerni Kiaku came up with a big and-1 to tie the game at 64-64. After the Scarlet Knights went up on a pair at the line, the Hoosiers started a 10-0 run where they took control with 3:08 remaining.
NOTABLE
- Ciezki led the way with 21 points as one of four players to score in double figures. Makalusky added 19 points while Caffey (14) and Beaumont (12) all finished in double digits.
- Noyan finished with a career-high 15 rebounds helping IU outrebound Rutgers, 33-24. She pulled down five offensive boards.
- Beaumont added a team-high four assists.
- Makalusky and Ciezki each hit four three’s and combined to hit eight of IU’s 11 triples.
- Indiana improved to 10-6 in the all-time series with Rutgers, winning its seventh-straight game in the series dating back to 2019.
UP NEXT
The regular season comes to a close on Saturday, Feb. 28 when IU hosts Penn State in a 2 p.m. ET tip.