THE OPENING TIP
Ninth-seeded Indiana will take on eighth-seeded Georgia in the first round of the 2016 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship Tournament on Saturday, March 19 at 9 p.m. ET insde Purcell Pavilion on the campus of the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Ind. The game will air live on ESPN2 with Dave Pasch and Debbie Antonelli on the call. The contest can be heard on the state-wide IU Radio Network with Greg Murray behind the mic.
No. 9 Indiana (20-11) vs. No. 8 Georgia (21-9)
NCAA Tournament • First Round
Saturday, March 19 • 9 p.m. ET
Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center • Notre Dame, Ind.
Television: ESPN2 or WatchESPN
Radio: IU Radio Network (Greg Murray)
TICKETS: Click to buy Tickets
FAN BUS TICKETS: Click to buy seat for bus to South Bend
DID YOU KNOW?
• Indiana is making its fifth appearance in the NCAA Tournament (1983, 1994, 1995, 2002, 2016) and the program's first since 2002.
• The Hoosiers received an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1995 when IU was a No. 14 seed that season.
• IU and Georgia will meet for the fourth time ever and for a third time in NCAA Tournament play as the Hoosiers and Bulldogs clashed in tournament play in 1983 in South Bend and again in 1995 in Athens, Ga. The last meeting in the series took place in November 2010 in Athens.
• Indiana is a No. 9 seed for the first time and it is the program's third-best seed in NCAA Tournament history as the Hoosiers were a No. 6 seed in 1983 (36-team field) and a No. 12 seed in 1994, a No. 14 seed in 1995 and No. 8 seed in 2002, all in a 64-team tournament field.
• IU's fourth place regular season finish in the Big Ten standings was Indiana's highest conference placing since tying for third place in 1997-98.
• Teri Moren was named Big Ten Coach of the Year for the 2015-16 season, becoming just the second coach in program history to earn the award (Maryalyce Jeremiah, 1983).
• Tyra Buss was named First Team All-Big Ten by the conference coaches and media. She is the first Indiana player to earn First Team accolades since 2006 (Cyndi Valentin).
• Amanda Cahill earned Second Team All-Big Ten honors by the conference media and honorable mention accolades from the coaches.
• With both Buss and Cahill receiving All-Big Ten recognition, it was the first time a pair of Hoosier players had earned all-conference honors in the same season since 2010.
• Indiana's 20 wins this season are the most regular season victories in program history. The school's most wins in a single year (including Big Ten Tournament and postseason) is 21 (five times).
• IU's 12 Big Ten triumphs this season were the second-most conference victories in program history and the school's most since 1982-83 when IU won a share of the conference title with a 15-3 record.
• The Hoosiers were a perfect 14-0 in Assembly Hall, the longest such streak without a loss at home and tied for most home wins in school history. IU was the only Big Ten team without a home loss in 2015-16 and one of only 15 teams nationally without a home defeat (as of March 14).
• IU defeated three ranked opponents this year, tying for the most wins over ranked foes in regular season play in program history. It was just the fourth time ever that IU had defeated three ranked foes in regular season play, the last coming in 1997-98.
• Indiana enters the NCAA Tournament having made the third-most free throws as a team in a single year in program history with 493. That total ranks seventh in the country this year heading into the tournament. IU has outscored opponents 493-290 (+203) from the free throw line this season.
• IU shot 50 percent or better from the field in eight games this season, the most games of shooting better than 50 percent in a single year for an Indiana team since doing so eight times in 1997-98.
• Sophomore Tyra Buss broke the school record for most points scored in freshman and sophomore seasons played as she enters the NCAA Tournament with 949 career points. Buss' 587 points this season are the fifth most points ever scored in a single year in program history. She has scored in double figures in every game in 2015-16 and in 35 straight dating back to last year, the longest such streak for IU player since 1998.
• Buss also holds the school record and ranks sixth in Big Ten history for most free throws made in a single season with 195.
• Cahill has 11 double-doubles on the year, the most for an IU player in single year since 2007-08. In Big Ten games only, Cahill averaged 15.5 points and 9.4 rebounds per game, making her one of only three players in the conference to average those totals in league play.
GEORGIA AT A GLANCE
Georgia enters the tournament with a 21-9 record and finished in sixth place in the SEC standings with a 9-7 mark in conference play. The Bulldogs are second in the country in 3-point field goal defense (.242), 14th in field goal defense (.348) and 18th in scoring defense (.538). UGA averages 15.5 assists per game, good for second in the SEC, and were second in the conference in assist/turnover ratio (1.00). Tiaria Griffin leads the perimeter attack for Georgia, averaging 14.6 points per game while leading the team in 3-point field goals made (72). Merritt Hempe ties for the team lead in field goal percentage (.474) while scoring 9.4 points per contest. Georgia will be without senior Shacobia Barbee (12.7 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 3.9 apg) due to an injury.
INDIANA IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
Indiana is making its fifth appearance in the NCAA Tournament and the program's first since 2002. The Hoosiers went dancing previously in 1983, 1994, 1995 and 2002. IU's last at-large bid prior to this year was in 1995. The 2002 Hoosiers earned their way into the Big Dance by winning the Big Ten Tournament title. The 1983 tournament featured 36 teams and the field has been 64 teams in all of IU's NCAA Tournament appearances since then. IU owns a 1-4 record all-time in the NCAA Tournament with the victory coming in an 87-76 win over Kentucky in 1983 in Lexington.
Indiana and Georgia will meet for a third time in NCAA Tournament play as the two teams played each other in the 1983 and 1995 tournaments. The Hoosiers and Bulldogs faced off in South Bend in the Regional Semifinals on March 25, 1983 and met in Athens, Ga. in the first round on March 17, 1995. UGA won both contests.
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES
From 2014-15 to 2015-16, Indiana improved its overall win total by five games, its Big Ten win total by eight games and improved on a 12th-place finish in the conference standings last year to fourth place this season. The improvement of eight wins in conference play and the jump from 12th to fourth place are the biggest leaps between two seasons in program history in each of those categories.
HOOSIERS WITH BEST BIG TEN FINISH IN 18 YEARS
Indiana finished in fourth place in the Big Ten standings at the end of the 2015-16 regular season, the program's best conference finish since tying for third in 1997-98. IU's No. 4 seed in this year's Big Ten Tournament tied for the program's best conference tourney seed with that 1997-98 team. Indiana's top four Big Ten finish this year marked the eighth time in school history that IU had finished in fourth place or better in the final standings.
TERI MOREN NAMED BIG TEN COACH OF THE YEAR
Indiana head coach Teri Moren was named Big Ten Coach of the Year by the conference coaches and media on Feb. 29. Moren became the second Indiana head coach to be named Big Ten Coach of the Year, the first being Maryalyce Jeremiah in 1983. Moren led the 2015-16 Hoosiers to 20 wins, the most regular season victories in program history, and a fourth place finish in the Big Ten standings with a 12-6 record in conference play. IU's fourth place finish was the school's best since tying for third overall in 1997-98, which was also the only other time in program history that the Hoosiers earned a No. 4 seed in the Big Ten Tournament.
The Seymour, Ind., native earns her first career conference Coach of the Year award at the Division I level. Moren was named Great Lakes Valley Conference Coach of the Year in 2003. Moren has won 20 games in a season in two of the last three years (20 wins at Indiana State in 2013-14).
BUSS, CAHILL GET ALL-BIG TEN NODS
Sophomores Tyra Buss and Amanda Cahill earned All-Big Ten accolades as announced by the conference office on Feb. 29. Buss was named First Team All-Big Ten by the conference coaches and the media. Cahill earned Second Team All-Big Ten honors as voted on by the media and was an honorable mention in the coaches ballot. Buss became the first Indiana player to earn First Team recognition since 2006 (Cyndi Valentin) as it is the first time a pair of Indiana players earned All-Big Ten recognition in the same season since 2010.
INDIANA SETS SCHOOL MARK FOR MOST REGULAR SEASON WINS
With the win over Penn State on Feb. 27, the Hoosiers ended the regular season with 20 wins, the most regular season victories in school history. The program record for most overall victories (including Big Ten Tournament and postseason games) is 21 (5 times).
SECOND MOST BIG TEN VICTORIES AT IU
The PSU win allowed the Hoosiers to finish the Big Ten schedule with a 12-6 record in conference play. The 12 wins are the second most Big Ten victories in a single year in school history and the first time IU has won 12 conference games since 1982-83 when the Hoosiers won a share of the Big Ten title with a 15-3 record.
MOST ROAD BIG TEN WINS SINCE 2008-09
Indiana picked up its third Big Ten road victory on Feb. 24 at Nebraska, marking the program's most conference regular season road wins in a single year since 2008-09. IU won five Big Ten contests on the road that season.
THE FRIENDLY CONFINES OF ASSEMBLY HALL
Indiana ended the regular season with a perfect 14-0 record in games played inside of Assembly Hall, marking the most home wins without a loss in program history. The Hoosiers were the only team in the Big Ten to not suffer a home defeat this season and one of just 15 teams nationally without a home loss (as of March 14). Home wins this year were highlighted by nine Big Ten victories, knocking off two ranked opponents, winning two games in the Preseason WNIT and defeating Georgia Tech in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.
The IU men's basketball team went 17-0 at home this year to combine for an overall 31-0 mark in games played inside of Assembly Hall this season. Indiana is the only Division I school in the country where both men's and women's basketball programs went undefeated at home in 2015-16.
HOOSIER EFFICIENCY
Indiana shot 51.9 percent from the field in the win at Nebraska on Feb. 24. It marked the eighth time this season that IU has shot 50 percent or better from the field in a game. That is the most games of shooting 50 percent or better for an IU team in a single year since the Hoosiers shot 50-plus percent in eight games during the 1997-98 season.
REBOUNDS = Ws
In 10 of the last 12 games leading into the NCAA Tournament, the Hoosiers outrebounded the opposition. Indiana outrebounded an opponent in 17 games total so far this year. IU holds a 14-3 record in games in which it outrebounds its foe.
THE WHEELS ON THE BUSS GO ROUND
Tyra Buss has excelled for the Hoosiers in 2015-16. The sophomore has scored 587 points to sit in fifth on IU's single-season scoring list heading into the NCAA Tournament. In her first two years combined, Buss has scored 949 career points, the most points ever scored in freshman and sophomore seasons combined at Indiana. She is also now the school single season record holder for free throws made (195).
With her 16 points vs. Northwestern, Buss scored in double figures in every game in 2015-16 and in 35 games consecutively dating back to last year, making her the first IU player with such a streak since Quacy Barnes scored in double digits in 37 consecutive games between the end of 1996-97 season and the start of 1997-98. Buss leads Indiana in scoring (18.9 ppg), assists (4.3 apg) and steals (2.1 spg) while playing 37.5 minutes per game (3rd in B1G, 13th nationally) and 1163 minutes played total (5th in B1G, 19th nationally). She also adds 5.1 rebounds per game as she's tallied 20 or more points in 14 contests.
Through 31 games, Buss is leading the Big Ten and ranks fourth nationally in free throws made (195). Her 252 attempts also led the conference and ranked third nationally. Her 195 free throws made and 243 attempts are the most free throws made and attempted in a single season in Indiana history.
THE 90s ARE BACK
With Indiana's 93-79 triumph over Minnesota on Feb. 18, it marked the third time this year that Indiana had tallied 90 or more points in a game (90 vs. Austin Peay, 91 at Northwestern). It is only the sixth time in program history that an IU team has scored at least 90 points in three or more games in a single year (last was 1995-96). Indiana's two Big Ten games with 90-plus points marks only the third time in school history that the Hoosiers have piled on at least 90 against a conference opponent twice in the same season, the last coming during the 1996-97 season.
COMEBACK KIDS
Seven times this season, Indiana has faced late second-half deficits before overcoming them to earn a victory, including five games where IU trailed heading into the fourth quarter. Indiana outscored Big Ten opponents 375-308 (+67) in the fourth quarter during the regular season.
• Feb. 4 vs. Iowa*: The Hoosiers trailed by as many as 17 points in the second half before rallying to down the Hawkeyes in Assembly Hall, 79-74. Iowa led Indiana, 54-37, with under four minutes to play in the third quarter. IU outscored the Hawkeyes 42-20 in the game's final 13:19 to take the win. Trailing by 11 heading into the fourth quarter, IU hit 10-of-12 (83.3 percent) field goals in the final period, including four 3-pointers without a miss, to outscore Iowa 32-16 in the fourth quarter alone.
• Jan. 24 at No. 20 Northwestern*: Indiana faced a seven-point deficit heading into the fourth quarter on the road, 65-58. IU used a 12-2 run while shooting 12-of-16 (75 percent) in the final period to outscore the Wildcats 33-19 in the final 10 minutes to earn the program's first road Big Ten victory in the Teri Moren era.
• Jan. 20 vs. Illinois*: Indiana trailed by 11 with 7:11 to play in the fourth quarter, 62-51. The Hoosiers roared back, outscoring the Illini 17-4 in the game's final 6:55, including an 8-0 run to close the game in the final 3:09. Karlee McBride nailed the go-ahead 3-point field goal with 1:16 to play to put IU in front for good.
• Jan. 3 vs. Michigan*: IU trailed by nine with 5:48 remaining in the fourth quarter, five Hoosiers scored as part of a 12-0 Indiana run to take a 61-58 lead late in regulation. Michigan's Katelynn Flaherty hit a 3-point field goal to force OT before IU outscored the Wolverines 16-8 in the extra period. Indiana scored 12 of its OT points from the free throw line, including the last 10. The Hoosiers outscored Michigan 28-11 in the game's final 10:48.
• Dec. 11 vs. Samford: The Hoosiers trailed by 11 with 4:00 left in the third quarter. IU went on a 17-2 run over a span of 3:56, scoring 13-straight during the stretch to take a four-point lead. In overtime, Indiana outscored Samford 13-4, thanks in part to an 8-0 run by Amanda Cahill by herself to start the OT period.
• Dec. 2 vs. Georgia Tech: Indiana trailed by five with 8:36 to play in the game. IU outscored GT 20-6 in the final 6:37 and held the Yellow Jackets scoreless for the final 4:05 of the game.
• Nov. 17 vs. then-No. 24 Chattanooga*: IU trailed by four with 1:44 left in the third quarter and was behind heading into the fourth quarter. Indiana outscored the Mocs 19-6 in the fourth quarter to take the win.
*Indiana trailed heading into the fourth quarter
CLIMBING TO THE CA-HILL TOP
Against Northwestern in the Big Ten Tournament, Amanda Cahill had a double-double performance as she finished with 23 points and 13 rebounds to go along with three assists, a steal and a block. For the year, Cahill has 11 double-doubles, the most by an IU player in single year since 2007-08 (Whitney Thomas, 12).
In Big Ten games only this season, Cahill averaged 15.5 points and 9.4 rebounds per game, making her one of only three players in the conference to average those numbers in league play. Heading into the NCAA Tournament, she is averaging 14.8 points (21st in B1G) and a team-leading 8.6 rebounds per game (T-5th) with 1.3 steals per contest. She's shooting 49.3 percent from the field and 39.8 percent (10th) from 3-point range.
Cahill has scored in double figures in all but three games this year, including 23 of the last 24, and has had seven or more rebounds in every game but three.
CASHING IN ON THE FREE ONES
Indiana led the Big Ten in free throws made (493) and attempted (675) and ranks seventh nationally in free throw makes and 12th in attempts leading into the NCAA Tournament. Through 31 games, IU outscored opponents 493-290 (+203) from the charity stripe, a plus-6.5 margin of free throws made per game. The Hoosiers have made more free throws than opponents have attempted (436) while shooting 73.0 percent as a team from the line.
Against Minnesota on Feb. 18, Indiana attempted 42 free throws to tie for the most free throws attempted in a Big Ten game in program history. IU also attempted 42 from the line in its win over Michigan on Jan. 3, hitting 32, also a school Big Ten record. IU is 6-0 when it gets to the free throw line at least 30 times in a game. In the win over Rutgers on Jan. 27, Indiana shot a season-best 90 percent from the charity stripe, nailing 18-of-20 free throws.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE VISION
Five times this season, Indiana has had two players achieve double-doubles in the same game, marking the first time IU has had two players have double-double performances in five contests since 2006-07 when it happened five times that season.
HIT THE GASSION PEDAL
Junior Alexis Gassion has been great down the stretch for the Hoosiers, scoring in double figures in each of the final eight games leading into the NCAA Tournament. During that stretch, Gassion averaged 14.0 points per game while shooting 48.2 percent from the field, 42.1 percent from 3-point range and 88 percent from the free throw line. She has scored in double figures in 22 games this year and averaged 11.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game leading into the tournament.
At Nebraska on Feb. 24, Gassion tied her career high with 22 points with six assists, five rebounds, two steals and a block while shooting 7-of-14 overall. At Iowa, Gassion scored 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting with four assists and a steal. In the win over Minnesota on Feb. 18, not only did Gassion have the task of guarding the Big Ten's leading scorer in Rachel Banham, she also tallied 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting with six assists, five rebounds, two blocks and two steals.
JENN FROM THE BLOCK
Jenn Anderson has come around after missing some time in preseason due to injury. She shot 58.1 percent (4th in B1G) from the field and averaged 8.0 points per game as NCAA Tournament play begins.
Anderson scored in double figures in three of the last five games leading into the tourney and in nine games total so far this year. She achieved her first career double-double at Iowa on Feb. 21, finishing with 10 points and 10 rebounds against the Hawkeyes. She was instrumental in IU's win over Minnesota on Feb. 18 as the junior tied her season high of 18 points, shooting 6-of-7 from the field with five rebounds and a steal.
As a sophomore, Anderson ranked fourth in the Big Ten in field goal percentage in 2014-15, shooting 56.0 percent. Her field goal percentage was the highest percentage by an IU player for a single year since 1997-98. She appeared in 30 games and made 28 starts last year while averaging 7.9 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. Anderson also nailed 72.1 percent of her free throw attempts. From her freshman to sophomore year, Anderson saw major improvement in scoring (+4.5 ppg), field goal percentage (+10.2 percent), free throw percentage (+25 percent) as well as rebounds, steals and blocks.
KARLEE MCBUCKETS
Karlee McBride started in each of the final 15 games leading into the NCAA Tournament and scored in double figures in six of those contests. IU went 11-4 when McBride started as she averaged 9.2 points per game during that span.
McBride nailed two or more 3-point field goals nine times in her 15 starts, including five with three or more 3-pointers. At Nebraska on Feb. 24, McBride nailed 4-of-6 3-point field goals for 12 points with a pair of steals.
Against No. 18 Michigan State on Jan. 13, the junior scored a season-high 17 points without missing a shot, going 5-of-5 from the field, 3-of-3 from 3-point range and 4-of-4 from the free throw line. It marked the first time an IU player had a perfect night shooting from the field since McBride herself went 6-of-6 from the field with three 3-pointers for 15 points as a sophomore against Gardner-Webb on Nov. 15, 2014.
CLOSING THE DOOR
The Hoosiers had a trend of closing the door when needed in a number of wins in 2015-16.
• Minnesota cut Indiana's lead down to three points with just over six minutes to play in Assembly Hall on Feb. 18. The Hoosiers responded with a quick 9-2 run over a 2:00 span and closed the final 5:48 of the game outscoring the Gophers 19-8 to take the 14-point win.
• In the win over Wisconsin on Feb. 14, Indiana trailed at the half after a sluggish first 20 minutes as IU shot just 30 percent in the opening half. In the third period, the Hoosiers used a 9-0 run and held Wisconsin scoreless for 6:43 to build a five-point lead and never looked back. IU outscored UW 44-28 in the second half while shooting 50 percent from the field and nailing 14-of-16 second-half free throws.
• At Illinois, the Illini crept back from a 13-point Indiana lead to pull within six points early in the fourth quarter as IU led 62-56. The Hoosiers then scored seven straight points and used an overall 14-3 run to build a 17-point lead with just over three minutes to play, putting the game out of reach.
• Indiana trailed Iowa by 17 points, 54-37, with under four minutes to play on Feb. 4 before storming back to outscore the Hawkeyes 42-20 in the game's final 13:19 to complete the comeback win. IU shot 83.3 percent (10-of-12) in the final period and outscored Iowa 32-16 in the fourth quarter alone.
• In the triumph over Rutgers on Jan. 27, the Scarlet Knights roared back into the game, cutting a 14-point halftime Indiana lead into a four-point game with 3:51 remaining in third quarter. IU would go on to outscore Rutgers 29-17 the rest of the way, including 12-2 run during the stretch during the fourth quarter.
• Indiana outscored Northwestern 33-19 in the fourth quarter on Jan. 24 using a 12-2 run during period. The Hoosiers nailed 12-of-16 field goals (75 percent) in the final period to take the road conference win.
• IU outscored Illinois 17-4 in the game's final 6:55, including an 8-0 run to end the game to upend the Illini on Jan. 20. Indiana limited Illinois to 2-of-10 from the field in the last six minutes of the game and held the Illini without a field goal for the final 3:17. IU outscored Illinois 18-10 in the fourth quarter.
• Indiana used a 12-0 run and outscored Michigan 28-11 in the final 10:34 of the game (regulation and OT) to earn a 77-69 victory in Assembly Hall on Jan. 3.
• The Hoosiers defeated Samford in overtime on Dec. 11 using a 17-2 run (including 13-straight points) late in the second half and then outscored the Bulldogs 13-4 in OT.
• IU downed Georgia Tech on Dec. 2 to give Indiana its fourth-straight win in Big Ten/ACC Challenge games. The Hoosiers closed the game with a 12-2 run over the final 4:20 of the contest, holding Georgia Tech scoreless for the final 4:05 of the game. Indiana outscored Georgia Tech 20-6 over the final 6:37 of the game. Indiana trailed by as many as five points in the fourth quarter.
• In the Austin Peay win, the Hoosiers led by only five at the half, but came out scorching in the third quarter, shooting 70.4 percent for the half and outscored the Governors in the third period alone, 34-11.
• Against then-No 24 Chattanooga on Nov. 17, IU trailed heading into the fourth quarter, but finished the game strong, using a 12-0 run to help outscore the Mocs 19-6 in the final period to earn the win.
Go Hoosiers!
http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2016/3/16/womens-basketball-iuwbb-ncaa-tournament-preview-georgia.aspx
Ninth-seeded Indiana will take on eighth-seeded Georgia in the first round of the 2016 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship Tournament on Saturday, March 19 at 9 p.m. ET insde Purcell Pavilion on the campus of the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Ind. The game will air live on ESPN2 with Dave Pasch and Debbie Antonelli on the call. The contest can be heard on the state-wide IU Radio Network with Greg Murray behind the mic.
No. 9 Indiana (20-11) vs. No. 8 Georgia (21-9)
NCAA Tournament • First Round
Saturday, March 19 • 9 p.m. ET
Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center • Notre Dame, Ind.
Television: ESPN2 or WatchESPN
Radio: IU Radio Network (Greg Murray)
TICKETS: Click to buy Tickets
FAN BUS TICKETS: Click to buy seat for bus to South Bend
DID YOU KNOW?
• Indiana is making its fifth appearance in the NCAA Tournament (1983, 1994, 1995, 2002, 2016) and the program's first since 2002.
• The Hoosiers received an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1995 when IU was a No. 14 seed that season.
• IU and Georgia will meet for the fourth time ever and for a third time in NCAA Tournament play as the Hoosiers and Bulldogs clashed in tournament play in 1983 in South Bend and again in 1995 in Athens, Ga. The last meeting in the series took place in November 2010 in Athens.
• Indiana is a No. 9 seed for the first time and it is the program's third-best seed in NCAA Tournament history as the Hoosiers were a No. 6 seed in 1983 (36-team field) and a No. 12 seed in 1994, a No. 14 seed in 1995 and No. 8 seed in 2002, all in a 64-team tournament field.
• IU's fourth place regular season finish in the Big Ten standings was Indiana's highest conference placing since tying for third place in 1997-98.
• Teri Moren was named Big Ten Coach of the Year for the 2015-16 season, becoming just the second coach in program history to earn the award (Maryalyce Jeremiah, 1983).
• Tyra Buss was named First Team All-Big Ten by the conference coaches and media. She is the first Indiana player to earn First Team accolades since 2006 (Cyndi Valentin).
• Amanda Cahill earned Second Team All-Big Ten honors by the conference media and honorable mention accolades from the coaches.
• With both Buss and Cahill receiving All-Big Ten recognition, it was the first time a pair of Hoosier players had earned all-conference honors in the same season since 2010.
• Indiana's 20 wins this season are the most regular season victories in program history. The school's most wins in a single year (including Big Ten Tournament and postseason) is 21 (five times).
• IU's 12 Big Ten triumphs this season were the second-most conference victories in program history and the school's most since 1982-83 when IU won a share of the conference title with a 15-3 record.
• The Hoosiers were a perfect 14-0 in Assembly Hall, the longest such streak without a loss at home and tied for most home wins in school history. IU was the only Big Ten team without a home loss in 2015-16 and one of only 15 teams nationally without a home defeat (as of March 14).
• IU defeated three ranked opponents this year, tying for the most wins over ranked foes in regular season play in program history. It was just the fourth time ever that IU had defeated three ranked foes in regular season play, the last coming in 1997-98.
• Indiana enters the NCAA Tournament having made the third-most free throws as a team in a single year in program history with 493. That total ranks seventh in the country this year heading into the tournament. IU has outscored opponents 493-290 (+203) from the free throw line this season.
• IU shot 50 percent or better from the field in eight games this season, the most games of shooting better than 50 percent in a single year for an Indiana team since doing so eight times in 1997-98.
• Sophomore Tyra Buss broke the school record for most points scored in freshman and sophomore seasons played as she enters the NCAA Tournament with 949 career points. Buss' 587 points this season are the fifth most points ever scored in a single year in program history. She has scored in double figures in every game in 2015-16 and in 35 straight dating back to last year, the longest such streak for IU player since 1998.
• Buss also holds the school record and ranks sixth in Big Ten history for most free throws made in a single season with 195.
• Cahill has 11 double-doubles on the year, the most for an IU player in single year since 2007-08. In Big Ten games only, Cahill averaged 15.5 points and 9.4 rebounds per game, making her one of only three players in the conference to average those totals in league play.
GEORGIA AT A GLANCE
Georgia enters the tournament with a 21-9 record and finished in sixth place in the SEC standings with a 9-7 mark in conference play. The Bulldogs are second in the country in 3-point field goal defense (.242), 14th in field goal defense (.348) and 18th in scoring defense (.538). UGA averages 15.5 assists per game, good for second in the SEC, and were second in the conference in assist/turnover ratio (1.00). Tiaria Griffin leads the perimeter attack for Georgia, averaging 14.6 points per game while leading the team in 3-point field goals made (72). Merritt Hempe ties for the team lead in field goal percentage (.474) while scoring 9.4 points per contest. Georgia will be without senior Shacobia Barbee (12.7 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 3.9 apg) due to an injury.
INDIANA IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
Indiana is making its fifth appearance in the NCAA Tournament and the program's first since 2002. The Hoosiers went dancing previously in 1983, 1994, 1995 and 2002. IU's last at-large bid prior to this year was in 1995. The 2002 Hoosiers earned their way into the Big Dance by winning the Big Ten Tournament title. The 1983 tournament featured 36 teams and the field has been 64 teams in all of IU's NCAA Tournament appearances since then. IU owns a 1-4 record all-time in the NCAA Tournament with the victory coming in an 87-76 win over Kentucky in 1983 in Lexington.
Indiana and Georgia will meet for a third time in NCAA Tournament play as the two teams played each other in the 1983 and 1995 tournaments. The Hoosiers and Bulldogs faced off in South Bend in the Regional Semifinals on March 25, 1983 and met in Athens, Ga. in the first round on March 17, 1995. UGA won both contests.
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES
From 2014-15 to 2015-16, Indiana improved its overall win total by five games, its Big Ten win total by eight games and improved on a 12th-place finish in the conference standings last year to fourth place this season. The improvement of eight wins in conference play and the jump from 12th to fourth place are the biggest leaps between two seasons in program history in each of those categories.
HOOSIERS WITH BEST BIG TEN FINISH IN 18 YEARS
Indiana finished in fourth place in the Big Ten standings at the end of the 2015-16 regular season, the program's best conference finish since tying for third in 1997-98. IU's No. 4 seed in this year's Big Ten Tournament tied for the program's best conference tourney seed with that 1997-98 team. Indiana's top four Big Ten finish this year marked the eighth time in school history that IU had finished in fourth place or better in the final standings.
TERI MOREN NAMED BIG TEN COACH OF THE YEAR
Indiana head coach Teri Moren was named Big Ten Coach of the Year by the conference coaches and media on Feb. 29. Moren became the second Indiana head coach to be named Big Ten Coach of the Year, the first being Maryalyce Jeremiah in 1983. Moren led the 2015-16 Hoosiers to 20 wins, the most regular season victories in program history, and a fourth place finish in the Big Ten standings with a 12-6 record in conference play. IU's fourth place finish was the school's best since tying for third overall in 1997-98, which was also the only other time in program history that the Hoosiers earned a No. 4 seed in the Big Ten Tournament.
The Seymour, Ind., native earns her first career conference Coach of the Year award at the Division I level. Moren was named Great Lakes Valley Conference Coach of the Year in 2003. Moren has won 20 games in a season in two of the last three years (20 wins at Indiana State in 2013-14).
BUSS, CAHILL GET ALL-BIG TEN NODS
Sophomores Tyra Buss and Amanda Cahill earned All-Big Ten accolades as announced by the conference office on Feb. 29. Buss was named First Team All-Big Ten by the conference coaches and the media. Cahill earned Second Team All-Big Ten honors as voted on by the media and was an honorable mention in the coaches ballot. Buss became the first Indiana player to earn First Team recognition since 2006 (Cyndi Valentin) as it is the first time a pair of Indiana players earned All-Big Ten recognition in the same season since 2010.
INDIANA SETS SCHOOL MARK FOR MOST REGULAR SEASON WINS
With the win over Penn State on Feb. 27, the Hoosiers ended the regular season with 20 wins, the most regular season victories in school history. The program record for most overall victories (including Big Ten Tournament and postseason games) is 21 (5 times).
SECOND MOST BIG TEN VICTORIES AT IU
The PSU win allowed the Hoosiers to finish the Big Ten schedule with a 12-6 record in conference play. The 12 wins are the second most Big Ten victories in a single year in school history and the first time IU has won 12 conference games since 1982-83 when the Hoosiers won a share of the Big Ten title with a 15-3 record.
MOST ROAD BIG TEN WINS SINCE 2008-09
Indiana picked up its third Big Ten road victory on Feb. 24 at Nebraska, marking the program's most conference regular season road wins in a single year since 2008-09. IU won five Big Ten contests on the road that season.
THE FRIENDLY CONFINES OF ASSEMBLY HALL
Indiana ended the regular season with a perfect 14-0 record in games played inside of Assembly Hall, marking the most home wins without a loss in program history. The Hoosiers were the only team in the Big Ten to not suffer a home defeat this season and one of just 15 teams nationally without a home loss (as of March 14). Home wins this year were highlighted by nine Big Ten victories, knocking off two ranked opponents, winning two games in the Preseason WNIT and defeating Georgia Tech in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.
The IU men's basketball team went 17-0 at home this year to combine for an overall 31-0 mark in games played inside of Assembly Hall this season. Indiana is the only Division I school in the country where both men's and women's basketball programs went undefeated at home in 2015-16.
HOOSIER EFFICIENCY
Indiana shot 51.9 percent from the field in the win at Nebraska on Feb. 24. It marked the eighth time this season that IU has shot 50 percent or better from the field in a game. That is the most games of shooting 50 percent or better for an IU team in a single year since the Hoosiers shot 50-plus percent in eight games during the 1997-98 season.
REBOUNDS = Ws
In 10 of the last 12 games leading into the NCAA Tournament, the Hoosiers outrebounded the opposition. Indiana outrebounded an opponent in 17 games total so far this year. IU holds a 14-3 record in games in which it outrebounds its foe.
THE WHEELS ON THE BUSS GO ROUND
Tyra Buss has excelled for the Hoosiers in 2015-16. The sophomore has scored 587 points to sit in fifth on IU's single-season scoring list heading into the NCAA Tournament. In her first two years combined, Buss has scored 949 career points, the most points ever scored in freshman and sophomore seasons combined at Indiana. She is also now the school single season record holder for free throws made (195).
With her 16 points vs. Northwestern, Buss scored in double figures in every game in 2015-16 and in 35 games consecutively dating back to last year, making her the first IU player with such a streak since Quacy Barnes scored in double digits in 37 consecutive games between the end of 1996-97 season and the start of 1997-98. Buss leads Indiana in scoring (18.9 ppg), assists (4.3 apg) and steals (2.1 spg) while playing 37.5 minutes per game (3rd in B1G, 13th nationally) and 1163 minutes played total (5th in B1G, 19th nationally). She also adds 5.1 rebounds per game as she's tallied 20 or more points in 14 contests.
Through 31 games, Buss is leading the Big Ten and ranks fourth nationally in free throws made (195). Her 252 attempts also led the conference and ranked third nationally. Her 195 free throws made and 243 attempts are the most free throws made and attempted in a single season in Indiana history.
THE 90s ARE BACK
With Indiana's 93-79 triumph over Minnesota on Feb. 18, it marked the third time this year that Indiana had tallied 90 or more points in a game (90 vs. Austin Peay, 91 at Northwestern). It is only the sixth time in program history that an IU team has scored at least 90 points in three or more games in a single year (last was 1995-96). Indiana's two Big Ten games with 90-plus points marks only the third time in school history that the Hoosiers have piled on at least 90 against a conference opponent twice in the same season, the last coming during the 1996-97 season.
COMEBACK KIDS
Seven times this season, Indiana has faced late second-half deficits before overcoming them to earn a victory, including five games where IU trailed heading into the fourth quarter. Indiana outscored Big Ten opponents 375-308 (+67) in the fourth quarter during the regular season.
• Feb. 4 vs. Iowa*: The Hoosiers trailed by as many as 17 points in the second half before rallying to down the Hawkeyes in Assembly Hall, 79-74. Iowa led Indiana, 54-37, with under four minutes to play in the third quarter. IU outscored the Hawkeyes 42-20 in the game's final 13:19 to take the win. Trailing by 11 heading into the fourth quarter, IU hit 10-of-12 (83.3 percent) field goals in the final period, including four 3-pointers without a miss, to outscore Iowa 32-16 in the fourth quarter alone.
• Jan. 24 at No. 20 Northwestern*: Indiana faced a seven-point deficit heading into the fourth quarter on the road, 65-58. IU used a 12-2 run while shooting 12-of-16 (75 percent) in the final period to outscore the Wildcats 33-19 in the final 10 minutes to earn the program's first road Big Ten victory in the Teri Moren era.
• Jan. 20 vs. Illinois*: Indiana trailed by 11 with 7:11 to play in the fourth quarter, 62-51. The Hoosiers roared back, outscoring the Illini 17-4 in the game's final 6:55, including an 8-0 run to close the game in the final 3:09. Karlee McBride nailed the go-ahead 3-point field goal with 1:16 to play to put IU in front for good.
• Jan. 3 vs. Michigan*: IU trailed by nine with 5:48 remaining in the fourth quarter, five Hoosiers scored as part of a 12-0 Indiana run to take a 61-58 lead late in regulation. Michigan's Katelynn Flaherty hit a 3-point field goal to force OT before IU outscored the Wolverines 16-8 in the extra period. Indiana scored 12 of its OT points from the free throw line, including the last 10. The Hoosiers outscored Michigan 28-11 in the game's final 10:48.
• Dec. 11 vs. Samford: The Hoosiers trailed by 11 with 4:00 left in the third quarter. IU went on a 17-2 run over a span of 3:56, scoring 13-straight during the stretch to take a four-point lead. In overtime, Indiana outscored Samford 13-4, thanks in part to an 8-0 run by Amanda Cahill by herself to start the OT period.
• Dec. 2 vs. Georgia Tech: Indiana trailed by five with 8:36 to play in the game. IU outscored GT 20-6 in the final 6:37 and held the Yellow Jackets scoreless for the final 4:05 of the game.
• Nov. 17 vs. then-No. 24 Chattanooga*: IU trailed by four with 1:44 left in the third quarter and was behind heading into the fourth quarter. Indiana outscored the Mocs 19-6 in the fourth quarter to take the win.
*Indiana trailed heading into the fourth quarter
CLIMBING TO THE CA-HILL TOP
Against Northwestern in the Big Ten Tournament, Amanda Cahill had a double-double performance as she finished with 23 points and 13 rebounds to go along with three assists, a steal and a block. For the year, Cahill has 11 double-doubles, the most by an IU player in single year since 2007-08 (Whitney Thomas, 12).
In Big Ten games only this season, Cahill averaged 15.5 points and 9.4 rebounds per game, making her one of only three players in the conference to average those numbers in league play. Heading into the NCAA Tournament, she is averaging 14.8 points (21st in B1G) and a team-leading 8.6 rebounds per game (T-5th) with 1.3 steals per contest. She's shooting 49.3 percent from the field and 39.8 percent (10th) from 3-point range.
Cahill has scored in double figures in all but three games this year, including 23 of the last 24, and has had seven or more rebounds in every game but three.
CASHING IN ON THE FREE ONES
Indiana led the Big Ten in free throws made (493) and attempted (675) and ranks seventh nationally in free throw makes and 12th in attempts leading into the NCAA Tournament. Through 31 games, IU outscored opponents 493-290 (+203) from the charity stripe, a plus-6.5 margin of free throws made per game. The Hoosiers have made more free throws than opponents have attempted (436) while shooting 73.0 percent as a team from the line.
Against Minnesota on Feb. 18, Indiana attempted 42 free throws to tie for the most free throws attempted in a Big Ten game in program history. IU also attempted 42 from the line in its win over Michigan on Jan. 3, hitting 32, also a school Big Ten record. IU is 6-0 when it gets to the free throw line at least 30 times in a game. In the win over Rutgers on Jan. 27, Indiana shot a season-best 90 percent from the charity stripe, nailing 18-of-20 free throws.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE VISION
Five times this season, Indiana has had two players achieve double-doubles in the same game, marking the first time IU has had two players have double-double performances in five contests since 2006-07 when it happened five times that season.
HIT THE GASSION PEDAL
Junior Alexis Gassion has been great down the stretch for the Hoosiers, scoring in double figures in each of the final eight games leading into the NCAA Tournament. During that stretch, Gassion averaged 14.0 points per game while shooting 48.2 percent from the field, 42.1 percent from 3-point range and 88 percent from the free throw line. She has scored in double figures in 22 games this year and averaged 11.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game leading into the tournament.
At Nebraska on Feb. 24, Gassion tied her career high with 22 points with six assists, five rebounds, two steals and a block while shooting 7-of-14 overall. At Iowa, Gassion scored 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting with four assists and a steal. In the win over Minnesota on Feb. 18, not only did Gassion have the task of guarding the Big Ten's leading scorer in Rachel Banham, she also tallied 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting with six assists, five rebounds, two blocks and two steals.
JENN FROM THE BLOCK
Jenn Anderson has come around after missing some time in preseason due to injury. She shot 58.1 percent (4th in B1G) from the field and averaged 8.0 points per game as NCAA Tournament play begins.
Anderson scored in double figures in three of the last five games leading into the tourney and in nine games total so far this year. She achieved her first career double-double at Iowa on Feb. 21, finishing with 10 points and 10 rebounds against the Hawkeyes. She was instrumental in IU's win over Minnesota on Feb. 18 as the junior tied her season high of 18 points, shooting 6-of-7 from the field with five rebounds and a steal.
As a sophomore, Anderson ranked fourth in the Big Ten in field goal percentage in 2014-15, shooting 56.0 percent. Her field goal percentage was the highest percentage by an IU player for a single year since 1997-98. She appeared in 30 games and made 28 starts last year while averaging 7.9 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. Anderson also nailed 72.1 percent of her free throw attempts. From her freshman to sophomore year, Anderson saw major improvement in scoring (+4.5 ppg), field goal percentage (+10.2 percent), free throw percentage (+25 percent) as well as rebounds, steals and blocks.
KARLEE MCBUCKETS
Karlee McBride started in each of the final 15 games leading into the NCAA Tournament and scored in double figures in six of those contests. IU went 11-4 when McBride started as she averaged 9.2 points per game during that span.
McBride nailed two or more 3-point field goals nine times in her 15 starts, including five with three or more 3-pointers. At Nebraska on Feb. 24, McBride nailed 4-of-6 3-point field goals for 12 points with a pair of steals.
Against No. 18 Michigan State on Jan. 13, the junior scored a season-high 17 points without missing a shot, going 5-of-5 from the field, 3-of-3 from 3-point range and 4-of-4 from the free throw line. It marked the first time an IU player had a perfect night shooting from the field since McBride herself went 6-of-6 from the field with three 3-pointers for 15 points as a sophomore against Gardner-Webb on Nov. 15, 2014.
CLOSING THE DOOR
The Hoosiers had a trend of closing the door when needed in a number of wins in 2015-16.
• Minnesota cut Indiana's lead down to three points with just over six minutes to play in Assembly Hall on Feb. 18. The Hoosiers responded with a quick 9-2 run over a 2:00 span and closed the final 5:48 of the game outscoring the Gophers 19-8 to take the 14-point win.
• In the win over Wisconsin on Feb. 14, Indiana trailed at the half after a sluggish first 20 minutes as IU shot just 30 percent in the opening half. In the third period, the Hoosiers used a 9-0 run and held Wisconsin scoreless for 6:43 to build a five-point lead and never looked back. IU outscored UW 44-28 in the second half while shooting 50 percent from the field and nailing 14-of-16 second-half free throws.
• At Illinois, the Illini crept back from a 13-point Indiana lead to pull within six points early in the fourth quarter as IU led 62-56. The Hoosiers then scored seven straight points and used an overall 14-3 run to build a 17-point lead with just over three minutes to play, putting the game out of reach.
• Indiana trailed Iowa by 17 points, 54-37, with under four minutes to play on Feb. 4 before storming back to outscore the Hawkeyes 42-20 in the game's final 13:19 to complete the comeback win. IU shot 83.3 percent (10-of-12) in the final period and outscored Iowa 32-16 in the fourth quarter alone.
• In the triumph over Rutgers on Jan. 27, the Scarlet Knights roared back into the game, cutting a 14-point halftime Indiana lead into a four-point game with 3:51 remaining in third quarter. IU would go on to outscore Rutgers 29-17 the rest of the way, including 12-2 run during the stretch during the fourth quarter.
• Indiana outscored Northwestern 33-19 in the fourth quarter on Jan. 24 using a 12-2 run during period. The Hoosiers nailed 12-of-16 field goals (75 percent) in the final period to take the road conference win.
• IU outscored Illinois 17-4 in the game's final 6:55, including an 8-0 run to end the game to upend the Illini on Jan. 20. Indiana limited Illinois to 2-of-10 from the field in the last six minutes of the game and held the Illini without a field goal for the final 3:17. IU outscored Illinois 18-10 in the fourth quarter.
• Indiana used a 12-0 run and outscored Michigan 28-11 in the final 10:34 of the game (regulation and OT) to earn a 77-69 victory in Assembly Hall on Jan. 3.
• The Hoosiers defeated Samford in overtime on Dec. 11 using a 17-2 run (including 13-straight points) late in the second half and then outscored the Bulldogs 13-4 in OT.
• IU downed Georgia Tech on Dec. 2 to give Indiana its fourth-straight win in Big Ten/ACC Challenge games. The Hoosiers closed the game with a 12-2 run over the final 4:20 of the contest, holding Georgia Tech scoreless for the final 4:05 of the game. Indiana outscored Georgia Tech 20-6 over the final 6:37 of the game. Indiana trailed by as many as five points in the fourth quarter.
• In the Austin Peay win, the Hoosiers led by only five at the half, but came out scorching in the third quarter, shooting 70.4 percent for the half and outscored the Governors in the third period alone, 34-11.
• Against then-No 24 Chattanooga on Nov. 17, IU trailed heading into the fourth quarter, but finished the game strong, using a 12-0 run to help outscore the Mocs 19-6 in the final period to earn the win.
Go Hoosiers!
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