IUWBB Rides A Healthy Mackenzie Holmes Into Sweet 16 In Her Final Home Game In Third Straight Second Round Thriller In Assembly Hall 75-68

And just like two years ago, the team celebrated by jumping into the student section to celebrate with their peers as support for Teri Moren's program continues to grow

The Entire IU Team Mobs The Indiana Student Section Following Their Win Over Oklahoma

Bloomington-It was deja vu all over again … and again … and again.

Just like in 2022 and 2023, the Hoosiers trailed in the final two minutes of their second-round NCAA Tournament home game in Simon-Skjodt Assembly Hall.

Against Princeton two seasons ago, it was 52-51 with just over a minute left. Then Indiana took over from there with a game-winning jumper from Grace Berger and a Tiger turnover to advance.

Last year, the Hoosiers were down 65-60 to Miami with a couple of minutes left. While Yarden Garzon hit a couple of three-pointers to tie the game, the Hurricanes hit a dagger in the final five seconds to walk out of Bloomington with the upset as a banged-up Mackenzie Holmes struggled.

Last night, facing a 64-60 deficit to Oklahoma with just under two minutes left, IU had one of two ways the ending would go. Would it be the jubilation of 2022 or the disappointment of 2023?

With a nearly healthy Holmes this time, Indiana’s legendary center willed her squad to victory after struggling early in the night. She hit a layup, two free throws, and another layup to give Indiana a 66-64 lead with just over a minute left. In between two critical turnovers by the Sooners, designated clutch shooter Garzon hit a game-sealing jumper before the Cream and Crimson closed it out with free throws.

After thanking her family for watching the game in her native Hebrew language, Garzon said the squad trusting her ability in close games gives her confidence.

“I feel like when my coaches and my teammates believe in me, I can believe in myself,” Garzon said. “I know they believe in me and trust me to take these shots.”

However, it was Holmes who has once again cemented herself as the GOAT of Indiana women’s basketball.

She finished with 29 points including 12 in the fourth quarter when winning time came. It was her final home game in her illustrious career and she went out with a bang. After the final buzzer sounded, Holmes led her team to the student section as they once again celebrated there as they did two seasons ago in victory.

Holmes talked about why they went up there again.

“I did that a couple years back when we beat Princeton to take us to the Sweet 16, and this is my last game at Assembly Hall,” Holmes said. “I just really wanted to take it all in so I asked Coach if it was okay if we did it and she gave me the okay and we just went for it. But I just want them to know how much I love them. They're the best fans in the country and I've been so blessed every second I've gotten to play in the Hall and I'll never take those moments for granted.”

At that point in 2022, a solid 9,326 fans showed up — which was the third largest at the time. However, in the last two seasons that same number has fallen to 16th as support continues to grow. Since that time, the program has exceeded 10,000 fans 13 times in 2022-2023 and 2023-2024.

The crowd on Monday had a number of supporters in the balcony and was the 10th largest all-time at 12,385 with the main level completely full. In the end, the team averaged 10,336 for this season, and the Hoosiers road them to a perfect 17-0 record in Bloomington.

Also, in a minor nugget that paints the picture of the growing crowds, the NCAA displayed a sign at the entrance to the court level that read “Court Level Concession Stand Is Closed”. While this is a seemingly insignificant posting, it is one of many metaphors for the tremendous growth in the program’s support.

Around 20 years ago a similar sign somewhere in Assembly Hall read something like “Please Proceed To The Court For Open Concession Stand”. This was because crowds numbered several hundred and the only way to enter the playing bowl was through the south lobby with the ramps up to the main level closed. Now much like a men’s contest, nearly everyone must enter through the main level and go up the escalators just as is done at any other event in the building.

Indeed when the large crowds fill in now, it is nearly indistinguishable which of the two IU basketball squads is playing if one does not look at who is on the court warming up. As a result, Oklahoma had the atmosphere come down on their head late, similar to any other big game in this building’s past.

Oklahoma coach Jennie Baranczyk said she has no issues with the higher seed hosting and crowds against visiting teams in the postseason.

“I would love to have hosted, to be honest,” Baranczyk said. “I think you want to play in front of people. I think we need to continue to grow our game. It is hard because there is such a home court advantage, especially here, but I think it's important that we continue to grow our game.”

This is in contrast to Princeton coach Carla Berube who advocated for everything being neutral when her squad lost here two seasons ago.

Regardless, the reward of getting a top-four seed and hosting is something that often leads to fewer upsets in the women’s game. However, it also causes much fuller stadiums than playing at a pre-determined spot as will happen next weekend.

Speaking of which, Indiana now moves on to their biggest challenge yet, when they face No. 1 and undefeated South Carolina in Albany at 5 pm Friday on ESPN in the Sweet 16. Regardless of the result, the Hoosiers have had a successful season once again and are likely to continue to have them going forward as a winning program has been built.

Listen to last night’s episode of Doing The Work here: