NASSAU, Bahamas — In an impressive performance, Shay Ciezki led Indiana with a remarkable 34 points, guiding them to a 73-65 victory over No. 18 Baylor in the semifinals of the Women’s Battle 4 Atlantis on Sunday.
With this win, the Hoosiers improved their season record to 4-2 and are set to compete for the championship against the winner of the second semifinal matchup between No. 16 North Carolina and Villanova on Monday. Meanwhile, Baylor, also at 4-2, will play against the losing team from that contest for third place.
Ciezki showcased her skills effectively, hitting 9 of her 16 attempts from the field, including 4 of 5 from beyond the arc, and making an impressive 12 of 13 free throws. The junior’s total was just six points shy of her career-best, which she set the previous season in a blowout win over Central Connecticut.
Additionally, Indiana received valuable contributions from Chloe Moore-McNeil, who recorded a double-double with 10 rebounds and seven points, while Karoline Striplin added eight points off the bench for the Hoosiers.
On the other side, Yaya Felder emerged as Baylor’s standout player, coming off the bench to score a season-high 20 points, including five three-pointers. Jada Walker contributed with 15 points but struggled with her shooting, making only three of 16 attempts and missing all three of her three-point shots, although she did go 9 for 11 at the free-throw line. Aaronette Vonleh rounded out the Bears’ contributions with 11 points and eight rebounds but was responsible for six of the team’s 18 turnovers.
In the first quarter, Ciezki and Moore-McNeil led Indiana to a 27-18 lead by scoring nine and five points, respectively. However, Baylor began to close the gap as Felder added eight points in the second quarter, allowing them to narrow the score to 37-33 by halftime, a run that saw Indiana score just two points more than the Bears during that stretch.
During the second half, Ciezki cemented her dominance, making all nine of her free-throw attempts and scoring 20 points, helping Indiana maintain a slight edge by outscoring Baylor 18-16 in both quarters.
Although Indiana’s overall shooting percentage was only 37.5%, their proficiency at the free-throw line (26 for 30) proved pivotal in securing the win. Baylor managed a shooting percentage of 33.3% from the field, with 16 of 26 free throws and 7 of 23 three-point shots falling through the basket.