How did Indiana rally past OU in women's NCAA Tournament? Credit Assembly Hall, Hoosiers
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — It is amazing how emotions change over time, between just a matter of minutes to a matter of years.
With three minutes left, nearly all 12,385 spectators in Assembly Hall was the embodiment of anxiety. No matter the team, everyone had hands on their head or covering their faces unsure what the next 10 minutes would look like.
With 1:05 left Monday night in the second round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament, Mackenzie Holmes missed a rebound, but the ball sailed out of bounds and was Indiana’s ball. She took a few huge breaths and motioned her palms towards the ground to calm herself down.
The crowd began to feel comfortable again.
With 21.5 seconds left, Sydney Parrish fouled and the crowd booed, returning to its uneasy state.
With zero seconds left, the crowd erupted. The Indiana team began to congratulate each other and relish in the rare moment.
Oklahoma shuffled past the celebrating Hoosiers, simply numb knowing its season was over.
A year ago, Indiana was experiencing the same emotions Oklahoma was experiencing. But not today. Indiana had beaten Oklahoma 75-68 after partaking in a fast-paced, boxing match of a basketball game.
And unlike last year, Indiana is heading to the Sweet 16.
More: IU women ride Assembly Hall's energy past Oklahoma, into Sweet 16 date with South Carolina
Atmosphere
Basketball means more in Indiana. Hoosiers have proved that to be true by showing out to support the Indiana team during its time hosting the NCAA Tournament. Fairfield, who Indiana knocked off in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, described the Indiana fans as a sixth man. The raucous crowd acted as a lifeline for the Indiana team.
The same crowd showed up on Monday, but Oklahoma coach Jennie Baranczyk did not see it the same as the preceding opponent.
“I think Indiana beat us, not necessarily just the crowd beat us,” Baranczyk said.
The sentiment was consistent across the lineup. Despite the yelling and chanting, unlike Fairfield, Oklahoma kept it close to the last minute.
“We knew the crowd was going to be really intense,” OU senior Skylar Vann said. “I think me and my team, I think we did a good job playing through it. And I think we had some shortcomings, but I mean we gutted it out. I don’t think anybody can disagree with that.”
More: How Payton Verhulst's transfer to OU women's basketball paying off on and off court
Stopping Mackenzie Holmes
It being such a close matchup can be partially credited to the Sooner lockdown on Holmes. At the end of the third quarter, the usually efficient shooter was only 7-of-17 — down from her usual 66.6% accuracy.
In the fourth, Holmes turned on. She found a deeper position on the court, disrupting the defense that OU had done so well in the 30 minutes prior. Holmes’ energy radiated through Assembly Hall and through her teammates on and off the court. That energy built up the confidence and momentum they needed to send the game home.
“I think what we did better in the first half was to keep her guessing as much as possible in terms of what we were trying to do,” Baranczyk said.
More: Assembly Hall crowd gives IU women's basketball 'push to get to the finish line,' Sweet 16
Growing the team and the game
While Indiana head coach Teri Moren approached the podium with soaking wet hair and smiles, Baranczyk and Vann did not. But just as Moren and her team were in the same place as the Sooners were a year ago, Baranczyk knows this is just an opportunity to grow her team. Like Moren grew her program, Baranczyk knows she will grow hers.
“This might be one of those situations where it's not a never, but maybe more of a not yet,” Baranczyk said. “I don’t know if the story is done, and I don’t know if you get to have a story like we’ve had in one season, I think it’s going to be more than one season.”
A loss to the Hoosiers was not what Baranczyk had planned for her team. This was a learning experience for the young Sooner team, with the Hoosiers acting as the teachers. And although Indiana gave Oklahoma a loss, they also gave them hope and promise for the future.
“I think it’s really important to continue to grow our game,” Barnaczyk said about experiencing the large crowds. “I do think more people are stepping up to games at those neutral sites. It’ll be interesting to continue to see what Albany does, what Portland does, so really supportive of the way the tournament is heading.”
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU women's basketball can't beat Indiana in 'intense' Assembly Hall
