All season long when Indiana has needed a basket, it's been one player.
Answering the call. Raising to the occasion. Making the shots.
All year long it’s been Shay Ciezki. When Indiana needed late baskets against Oregon on Sunday, it wasn’t a question of who would score them, it was a matter of how.
Ciezki, who had the lengthy 6-foot Sofia Bell draped on her all day, came into the fourth shooting 3-for-12 and 0-for-5 from downtown. Her response?
She shot 100% in the fourth, three massive triples, and a perfect trip at the line to cap off an 11-point frame to carry Indiana home on her Senior Day.
It was a triumphant 72-65 victory for the Hoosiers to help honor their seniors, Jerni Kiaku and Ciezki, and all they have done for the program. Indiana moves to 15-13 and 4-12 in conference play as they sit in the driver’s seat for their Big Ten Tournament bid.
Indiana had one of its most balanced offensive attacks of the year with four players in double figures combining for 63 of Indiana’s 72 points on the day. Ciezki led with 20 as Edessa Noyan had a season-high 18-point performance. Lenée Beaumont and Maya Makalusky added 15 and 10 points, respectively.
Despite a rocky start for herself and a rough third period as a team, Ciezki was able to right the ship and push Indiana across the finish line.
“Did not start how I personally wanted individually and we had a rough third quarter as a team, so just to be able to get this win on Senior Night is awesome,” Ciezki said. “To be able to get a win and play with these girls, I know we have another home game but it definitely feels surreal so I’m glad we got to pull it out and make the people proud today.”
Indiana was dominant at times in this one, holding a lead all the way until the final minute of the third quarter when Oregon got its first lead of the game. The lead would change ways five more times until Indiana pulled away with heroic triples from Ciezki and Beaumont.
It's a sweet feeling for an Indiana team that has gone through a sour road to reach this point in the season.
Through teary eyes, Ciezki said just how much this team and their journey meant to her as a senior.
“I’m proud of this team. I had no idea what we were going to do at the beginning of this season. I didn’t even know if we were going to have a full team…we got this group together and I think every day has been a challenge for sure,” Ciezki said about the adversity they’ve faced. “That’s probably the biggest thing that I see with my season, not just the individual things, but what this team has done and how they’ve affected me and how I can carry that after this.”
Ciezki eclipsed a thousand points scored in the cream and crimson en route to the victory.
“It’s always special when you can win on Senior Day,” head coach Teri Moren said about the big day for her seniors. “I’m happy for Shay and Jerni (Kiaku) that we could give them a win today.”
After the result, Indiana sits tied for 14th with the tiebreaker over rival Purdue in the Big Ten standings. As it stands right now, Indiana would face off in a rematch against the 11th seeded Oregon Ducks in Indianapolis for the Big Ten Tournament.
Indiana closes out the year with very winnable matchups when they travel to face Rutgers, who have just one conference win, and return home to face Penn State who sit as the first team out in the Big Ten tournament.
The Hoosiers will be back in action Wednesday night as they head to Piscataway to clash with Rutgers.
