BLOOMINGTON — A Big Ten women’s basketball game was on the docket at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Sunday. A rivalry game at that, with Purdue visiting Indiana.
However, the occasion was less about the game and more about a coronation.
Mackenzie Holmes was 17 points shy of the all-time Indiana scoring mark entering the contest. Holmes hit the total right on the dot in the fourth quarter as she became the Hoosiers’ all-time leader in scoring with 2,365 career points.
It was the highlight in a dominant 95-62 victory for Indiana.
Holmes needed six points entering the fourth quarter of a blowout, but there was no denying Holmes in front of her home crowd. The record-setting bucket was made on a feed from near the free-throw line by Yarden Garzon. Holmes, guarded by Purdue’s Caitlyn Harper in a post-up position, caught the pass with her back to the basket, spun to her left and converted on the right side of the rim for the record-breaker.
Holmes left the contest shortly after setting the record. She was hugged by Lilly Meister and then coach Teri Moren as she exited to a standing ovation.
When the game ended, Holmes had water poured on her by her delighted teammates. She also sat on the bench for a time as the crowd acknowledged her accomplishment. She exited the court waving to the appreciative Indiana fans.
“I’m just extremely thankful. I’ve played with some really, really amazing people and the best coaches in the country. It’s a really special thing to wear Indiana across my chest every single day and play in Assembly Hall. It’s one of the greatest blessings of my life,” Holmes said.
Her teammates paid tribute to her accomplishment in the immediate aftermath of the game, in a long postgame celebration and to the media afterward.
“Mackenzie is an exceptional player. With her talent — she’s an All-American. She amazes me every time I step on the court with her,” Indiana point guard Chloe Moore-McNeil said.
Holmes is the kind of player who is focused on the task at hand. While having pride in the record, there are still goals ahead for her and her team.
“I’ve kind of let things come to me the best I can. You see it being talked about, and going into the season you know it’s in reach, but I didn’t come back for a fifth year to break the all-time leading scoring record. I came back to win a Big Ten and national championship, and that’s what I’ve reminded myself about throughout the process,” Holmes said.
Indiana coach Teri Moren paid tribute to Holmes’ maturity in not only reaching the career mark but how she handled her entire career to get to this point.
“She’s had moments where it’s been difficult for her. She puts a lot of pressure on herself. I’d like to say she’s uber-confident, but she’s not uber-confident all the time. She’s struggled with that in the past. We’ve had many moments with Mack where we had to instill confidence in her. She’s been a work in progress,” Moren said. “She’s matured while she’s been here. She’s become tougher when she’s been here, and it’s because of all the challenges she’s been through.
“She is proud. We were walking off (the court), and she said it was a huge weight off her shoulders.”
As for the game, it was Moore-McNeil who was the primary catalyst for Indiana’s easy win. One game removed from a triple-double, Moore-McNeil had a career-high 22 points and also set a career mark with five 3-point buckets. The Indiana point guard did not miss a 3-point shot. She also had five assists and five rebounds.
“Against Purdue, it just means more. I’m always competitive, but it’s different when it’s a rival team,” Moore-McNeil said.
Sara Scalia added 19 points. Lexus Bargesser chipped in 12 points.
Purdue’s Mary Ashley Stevenson led the Boilermakers with 16 points.
The Boilermakers (10-13, 3-9) hung in there during the first half. It was just a four-point Indiana lead exiting the first quarter. Indiana pressed its advantage to 12 points in the second quarter, but Purdue got as close as a six-point margin before the Hoosiers settled in for a 41-30 halftime lead.
Indiana jetted out of sight in the third quarter. An 11-0 run put the Hoosiers out of sight for good.
Indiana also got a present outside the confines of Assembly Hall. Iowa lost 82-78 at Nebraska, so the Hoosiers pulled even with the Hawkeyes in the Big Ten race. Indiana is a game behind Ohio State in the Big Ten title chase.
Moren also said Sydney Parrish participated in the Indiana shootaround Sunday.
Indiana next plays at Wisconsin, and Purdue plays at Northwestern on Wednesday.
