Win-and-in.
Indiana’s (17-13, 6-12) assignment to make the Big Ten Tournament was simple. Beat the Penn State Lady Lions (11-18, 4-14) at home.
The Hoosiers did exactly that in a dominant 93-59 victory over the Lady Lions. After starting 0-10 in Big Ten play, Indiana has clinched a spot in the conference tournament as the No. 13 seed.
If they lost, it would’ve taken wins from Washington, Purdue, and Wisconsin on the closing days of the conference season to deny the Hoosiers a spot in Indianapolis.
Indiana opened up with a 5-2 lead in the first quarter.
That’s as close as Penn State could get to Indiana.
The Hoosiers erupted and ended the first quarter with a 31-8 lead. The Hoosiers would extend the lead out to 57-23 before heading to the locker room at halftime.
All but one starter was in double figures for Indiana in the first half. The Hoosiers sustained one of their most balanced and dominant scoring attacks all season.
Shay Ciezki, in her last appearance at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, exploded for 29 points to lead the Hoosiers in scoring.
Lenée Beaumont and Nevaeh Caffey both added 18 points, the mark was a new career high for Caffey. She also locked up Penn State’s leading scorer, Kiyomi McMiller, holding her to just four points after she came into the game on a six-game streak of scoring 30+ points.
“I thought it started with Nevaeh (Caffey) and the job she did on Kiyomi (McMiller),” head coach Teri Moren said postgame. “The last six games she’s averaged 35 points and to hold her to four points today, I thought it was terrific.”
Maya Makalusky was the last Hoosier in double figures, adding 15 points to the Hoosier tally.
The performance not only secured the Hoosiers a spot in the Big Ten Tournament, but gave Hoosier Nation the perfect game to send off their two seniors, Shay Ciezki and Jerni Kiaku, with curtain call moments.
Ciezki nailed a pull-up triple and exited to a standing ovation that lasted well into the next possession after she got pulled. Kiaku was brought in for Ciezki and exited shortly after to an equally impressive ovation, for the former transfer who only spent one year in Bloomington. Both moments were emotional for all Hoosiers in Assembly Hall.
“[Kiaku] just said I love you,” Moren said through tears. “I think the impact she’ll have on me and this program will last forever. She’s had that kind of special impact on me.”
Indiana fans and Moren will have at least one more chance to watch their seniors as the Hoosiers locked up the No. 13 seed in the Big Ten Tournament.
This locks Indiana into a rematch with the No. 12 seed Nebraska, which Indiana lost to 78-73 in Lincoln earlier this year.
“As we’ve improved, Nebraska has improved as well,” Moren said. “We are going to enjoy this one today and tonight and then we’ll get to work tomorrow on Nebraska but I think it has the makings of being a really good game.”
Indiana and Nebraska will tip off in the first game of the Big Ten Tournament on March 4 at 3:30 p.m. Eastern on Peacock.
