Indiana’s women’s basketball team has climbed back to No. 4 in in the latest Associated Press poll released Monday.
It matches the highest ranking ever for the Hoosiers, who were ranked fourth for three weeks earlier this season before suffering their only loss on Dec. 29 at Michigan State.
Since then, IU has won eight straight – including four wins over teams ranked in the top 25.
At 20-1, the Hoosiers are off to the best start in program history. And their 10-1 record has them atop the Big Ten by a half-game over sixth-ranked Iowa. Four Big Ten teams are currently ranked in the top 10 and five in the top 25.
The Hoosiers are winning with a mix of veterans and newcomers.
Senior center Mackenzie Holmes averages 22 points and eight rebounds a game to lead Indiana, while freshman guard Yarden Garzon is second on the team at 12.8 points per game and is second in assists with 3.4 a game.
Holmes was named the co-Big Ten player of the week and Garzon the league’s freshman of the week Monday.
Junior Sydney Parrish, who transferred in from Oregon, is averaging 12.5 points and post-grad Grace Berger is averaging 12.4 points per game.
Berger is coming off a season-high 21 points in Sunday’s 91-68 win over Rutgers. It was her seventh game back after missing eight games in December with a knee injury.
“I think with every practice, with every game, you’re seeing Grace looking more like the Grace Berger that we've been accustomed to seeing,” IU head coach Teri Moren said.
Indiana plays Wednesday night at Minnesota, then at Purdue on Sunday.
IU men re-enter rankings
A five-game winning streak has elevated the Hoosier men back into the top 25.
IU is ranked No. 21 in the latest poll after dropping out of the top 25 on Jan. 11 following three straight losses.
The Hoosiers began the season ranked No. 13 and reached as high as No. 10 before dropping out of the poll.
Senior center Trayce Jackson-Davis has averaged 25.4 points and 13.4 rebounds per game during the Hoosiers’ current winning streak.
The Hoosiers play at Maryland tonight at 9 p.m.
