Image: Indiana University Athletics
The message that Indiana head coach Teri Moren sent after the Hoosiers last game against Marshall paid off. Indiana (4-0) rallied in the fourth quarter to beat Florida State (3-2) 76-72 in Tallahassee on Sunday evening. The Hoosiers used a career-high 23 points from guard Lenee Beaumont to stay undefeated.
Moren said she held “a couple days of a lot of heart to hearts, but also meetings, clarity meetings, role meetings with them, just to give them clarity on what we needed, what we’re asking of everyone about it” after the Hoosiers game against Marshall.
The biggest benefactor may have been Beaumont.
“(Coach Moren) expressed some disappointment, in the most loving way, but basically said, ‘I need you to be a three level scorer, and you can’t be hesitant. I’m gonna have to take you out if you’re gonna be hesitant on the offensive side of things.’” Beaumont said after the game Sunday.
The message got through as Beaumont led all scores with 23 points on 8-12 shooting, including a perfect 3-3 from three-point range.
“(Beaumont) has to have nights like tonight for us.” Moren said. “it was great to be able to see some of those long shots go in, because I think that’s where we need her to be more aggressive.”
The Hoosiers got off to a quick start in the first quarter jumping out to a 17-12 lead as Shay Ciezki scored six of her 22 points. IU took a 32-29 lead into the locker room at half time as Florida State cut into the lead and IU battled foul trouble with 11 personal fouls against them in the first half.
The Seminoles took their first lead of the second half with 3:24 left in the third quarter and extended the lead out to 54-45 before IU could get on the board again. IU would claw back before the end of the quarter to close within six points, but FSU outscored the Hoosiers 27-18 in the third.
Instead of crumbling on the road, the Hoosiers bounced back from that adversity to end the game on a 26-15 run. The fourth quarter was not without it’s anxious moments as Ciezki fouled out with 1:49 left in the game and IU clinging to a 72-68 lead. Ciezki was huge for the Hoosiers in the fourth quarter scoring 12 points on 5-7 shooting.
“Just the way we got down and we came back and we stuck together and we really made some nice plays there in the fourth which I was really proud of.” Moren said.
The Hoosiers defense held tough and Jerni Kiaku made an important layup and had a big rebound on FSU’s final possession.
Other Notes
- The win was Teri Moren’s 250th as head coach of the Hoosiers
- Zania Socka-Nguemen scored 11 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for a double-double