INDIANAPOLIS — In an exciting matchup in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament, ninth-seeded Indiana emerged triumphant over eighth-seeded Oregon with a final score of 78-62. The victory on Thursday night was spearheaded by impressive performances from Yarden Garzon, who contributed 18 points, and Shay Ciezki, who added 17.
The win propels the Hoosiers into the quarterfinals on Friday, where they are set to face the formidable second-ranked and top-seeded USC. The Trojans previously defeated Indiana at home 73-66 on January 19. This pivotal game marks an opportunity for redemption and advancement for Indiana.
Contributing to the Hoosiers’ balanced attack was Chloe Moore-McNeil with 13 points and Sydney Parrish, a seasoned fifth-year senior local to Indiana, who scored 10. Parrish, notably having transferred from Oregon after her first two years, played with poise against her former team.
Indiana displayed an impressive shooting performance from beyond the arc, landing 11 of 25 shots from 3-point range, maintaining an unbeaten 9-0 record when achieving at least eight successful shots. Garzon was particularly potent with four triples, while Ciezki added three, and Parrish made crucial shots in the third quarter.
On the Oregon side, Peyton Scott led with 16 points as the Ducks, who won their prior encounter against Indiana 54-47 at home, couldn’t overcome their 18 turnovers, which cost them 20 points. Ehis Etute also contributed with 14 points.
Initially, Ciezki’s precise shooting in the first quarter helped Indiana gain a solid foothold, as she made three 3-pointers and scored 11 points, pushing the Hoosiers to an early 23-11 lead. This advantage lingered throughout most of the second quarter, leading to a 40-30 halftime score.
Although Oregon attempted a comeback and closed the gap, drawing within six points twice, and reducing the deficit to five in the game’s late stages thanks to a jumper by Sarah Rambus, Indiana quickly responded with a decisive 3-pointer. Eventually, a dominant 13-0 run in the fourth quarter sealed the victory, eliminating doubts about the outcome.
