Game recap: IU women's basketball opens NCAA Tournament with win 89-56 win over Fairfield
The Indiana women's basketball team enters the NCAA Tournament as a No. 4 seed and will face No. 13 Fairfield today.
IU has a 24-5 overall record (15-3) while Fairfield sits at 31-1 (20-0 Metro Athletic Atlantic). After entering the Big Ten Tournament banged up, coach Teri Moren said her team has had a week of rest. That will benefit several players, including star forward Mackenzie Holmes, who has dealt with a knee injury.
Chloe Peterson and Zion Brown will have analysis throughout, and we will have scoring updates, highlights and more. Please remember to refresh.
Final: Indiana advances to second round
The Hoosiers allowed just 7 points in the fourth quarter. IU shot 51% from the floor and went 10 for 26 from the 3-point line (39%). Indiana had 45 rebounds and 25 assists. IU also had 10 blocks.
Sara Scalia led the way with 27 points.
Indiana 89, Fairfield 56
4:58 left 4Q: Indiana on its way to the second round
Mackenzie Holmes, Yarden Garzon and Chloe Moore-McNeil have 13 points each. Sara Scalia is up to 27 points and 5 3-pointers.
Indiana 77, Fairfield 52
End of 3Q: Indiana distances itself before final period
IU outscored Fairfield in the third period, 26-15. Four of Indiana's five starters have scored in double figures. Sara Scalia leads the way with 21 points.
Indiana 64, Fairfield 49
LEXUS BARGESSER!! 🤯@LexusBargesser | #IUWBB
📺: ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/wvRsSaiqgt— Indiana Women’s Basketball (@IndianaWBB) March 23, 2024
4:20 left 3Q: Indiana opens third quarter with a run
The Hoosiers have come out of the half on fire. They are currently on a 13-0 run that was highlighted by Sara Scalia's 7 points. Scalia has 19 points in the game.
Indiana 59, Fairfield 43
Syd sinks the THREE! @sydney_parrish | #IUWBB
📺: ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/KAYsaFR4LM— Indiana Women’s Basketball (@IndianaWBB) March 23, 2024
End 2Q: Indiana goes on a run to end the half
Indiana took the lead at 2:37 when Yarden Garzon made a 3-pointer to give IU a 32-31 lead. The Hoosiers were on a 10-0 run before Fairfield's Meghan Andersen made a 3 with 33 seconds left. Garzon ended the half with 12 points.
Indiana 38, Fairfield 34
IU went on a 12-2 run through the second half of the quarter, and it leads, 38-34, at halftime.
Garzon has 12 points for IU, while Brown has 12 for Fairfield. #iuwbb— chloe peterson (@chloepeterson67) March 23, 2024
4:33 left 2Q: Indiana women's basketball surrenders the lead
Mackenzie Holmes made a free throw to start the new quarter, but Fairfield's Emma Selimovic answered with a 3-pointer at the 9:24 mark.
Sara Scalia hit a 3 at 8:32 but Fairfield again answered with Janelle Brown's 3. Fairfield's Meghan Andersen made a layup at 7:42 to give Fairfield a 25-24 lead.
Fairfield 31, Indiana 26
Crunch time for the Hoosiers has come a bit early, as Fairfield is on an 11-2 run to lead, 31-26, at the second quarter timeout.
Janelle Brown is unstoppable so far, 5-for-5 for 12 points. #iuwbb— chloe peterson (@chloepeterson67) March 23, 2024
End of 1Q: Indiana holds small lead over Fairfield
The Hoosiers shot 47% from the field in the first quarter. Yarden Garzon scored 7 points and Mackenzie Holmes had 5.
Indiana 20, Fairfield 17
Holmes fell hard to the floor after trying to put back a Lexus Bargesser miss, and fans weren't happy it wasn't called a foul. She looks alright, and IU leads, 20-17, at the end of 1.
Playing fast, as expected. #iuwbb— chloe peterson (@chloepeterson67) March 23, 2024
4:23 left 1Q: IU opens up with a 3-point lead over Fairfield
Yarden Garzon opened the game with 7 points and 1 3-pointer. Sara Scalia scored 4 points off the bench.
Indiana 13, Fairfield 10
👌 + the foul. @YardenGarzon | @sydney_parrish | #IUWBB
📺: ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/5k7O92ZPMK— Indiana Women’s Basketball (@IndianaWBB) March 23, 2024
When is Indiana women's basketball playing Fairfield in the NCAA Tournament?
Date: Saturday, March 23
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Location: Assembly Hall, Bloomington, Indiana
How to watch IU women's basketball vs. Fairfield in March Madness
TV: ESPN2
Stream:Watch ESPN
Indiana vs. Fairfield betting odds in March Madness
The Hoosiers are a 25.5-point favorite, according to BetMGM.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana women's basketball vs. Fairfield March Madness recap
