IU South Bend Wins the IU Battle
GARY, Ind. – After an up-and-down first half at the Savannah Center, IU South Bend settled in, clamped down defensively, and powered past IU Northwest 65-46 on Monday evening. The win moved the Titans to 19-7 overall and 14-4 in CCAC play with two games to go.
The Titans came out firing, shooting 66.7 percent in the opening quarter and using a late 11-3 burst to take control. With the score 13-8, IUSB strung together consecutive baskets from Fulks, Arcella, and Ava Grant — capped by Grant’s right-wing three with 2:26 remaining — to build a 20-8 lead. Phelps added a pair of free throws and Arcella scored in transition to close the quarter with a 24-11 advantage.
But the second quarter swung the other way. The Titans went 3-for-18 from the field and 0-for-6 from three, struggling to find rhythm against IU Northwest. The RedHawks took advantage, scoring 17 points to eliminate a double-digit IUSB lead and trimming it to just 30-28 at halftime.
The game flipped again after the break.
IU South Bend dominated the third quarter with a suffocating defensive performance, holding IU Northwest to 0-for-10 shooting and just seven total points. The Titans forced seven turnovers in the period and allowed no field goals across the entire 10 minutes.
Offensively, the Titans rediscovered their flow. Aubrie Booker erupted, scoring 15 points in the third on a perfect 5-for-5 shooting stretch, including two straight makes — a driving layup, and a transition three — that pushed the lead back to double digits at 38-28. After a RedHawk free throw broke the run, Booker buried another deep three at the 3:19 mark to extend the lead to 44-32. By the end of the quarter, the Titans led 49-35, firmly back in command.
IUSB maintained its cushion through the fourth behind smart shot selection and continued pressure on the defensive end. Ava Grant added 11 points off the bench — including a three at 1:10 that pushed the lead to 65-46, finishing the game in style.
Stat Leaders
Aubrie Booker – 18 points (3 threes), 4 rebounds
Kenzie Fulks – 6 points, 2 rebounds, team-high 6 assists
Ava Grant – 16 points (4-of-6 from three)
Tenleigh Phelps – 11 points, 6 rebounds
Bradie Chambers – 8 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals
The Titans held IU Northwest to 25.6 percent shooting, forced 23 turnovers, and outscored the RedHawks 26-6 off those mistakes — a decisive difference in a game full of runs.
IU South Bend will be back in action on Wednesday, facing Calumet College of St. Joseph at 6:00 pm in Whiting, IN.