Second Half Sinks Indiana At No. 12/11 Ohio State
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Indiana built up a double-digit lead in the first half but couldn’t overcome a slow second half as it fell, 81-67, at the Schottenstein Center on Thursday night.
KEY MOMENTS
• In an intense first quarter, the Hoosiers (11-9, 0-8 B1G) started off hot, building a 13-4 lead on back-to-back triples from redshirt sophomore guard Lenée Beaumont and senior guard Shay Ciezki as Ohio State (18-2, 7-1 B1G) called timeout with 5:33 to go.
• Ohio State would respond on a 13-0 run to pull within as few as two as the frame but sophomore forward Zania Socka-Nguemen broke the drought for Indiana late and gave it a 21-17 lead.
• Indiana was able to weather pushes by the Buckeyes in the second quarter as Beaumont and Ciezki pushed IU’s lead back to six, 29-23, with xxx to play. It would regain a double-digit lead on a layup from Beaumont.
• It would stay a 10-point lead at the break (42-32) as the Hoosiers couldn’t overcome third quarter woes again, getting outscored 27-13. IU would have just enough to hang around headed into the fourth as it trailed 59-55 going to the last 10 minutes.
• IU’s offense would muster up just 12 fourth quarter points as it failed to make a field goal in the final 4:18 of play.
NOTABLE
• Indiana had three players score in double figures led by a Big Ten season-high 20 points from Beaumont.
• Ciezki added 19 points and sophomore forward Zania Socka-Nguemen finished the night with her sixth double-double of the season with 11 points and a team-high 10 rebounds.
• The Hoosiers won the battle on the boards, 30-21.
• Senior guard Jerni Kiaku tied a season-high with five points
• On the night, Indiana shot 56.4 percent, 64.7 percent from three and 92.3 percent from the free throw line.
• The Hoosiers connected on 11 3-pointers in the loss, combining for 23 3-pointers in its last two games.
UP NEXT
Indiana resumes action on Thursday, Jan. 22 at No. 14/15 Ohio State. Tipoff at the Schottenstein Center is set for 8 p.m. ET on Peacock