Washington sets tone early with historic efficiency
The Washington women’s basketball team delivered one of its most complete performances of the season Wednesday night, rolling past Indiana 82-63 at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall and deepening the Hoosiers’ early-season struggles in Big Ten play.
Washington improved to 13-4 overall and 3-3 in conference action, while Indiana dropped to 11-8 and remained winless in the league at 0-7. The Huskies’ blend of interior dominance, transition scoring, and elite shooting proved overwhelming from the opening minutes.
Washington shot 64.3 percent from the field, its best mark since December 13, 2020, and connected on 54.5 percent of its three-point attempts, easily its top long-range showing of the season. The 82 points matched the highest total Indiana has surrendered to a Big Ten opponent this year.
Much of the damage came inside. The Huskies scored 54 points in the paint, including 44 on layups, consistently exploiting defensive breakdowns while also converting 23 fastbreak points off 15 Indiana turnovers.
Balanced scoring and mounting pressure on Indiana
Four Washington players reached double figures, led by Elle Ladine, who finished with 19 points on 8-for-11 shooting while adding six rebounds and four assists. It marked her sixth double-digit scoring game of the season.
Yulia Grabovskaia anchored the frontcourt with 16 points and five rebounds on 8-for-11 shooting, while freshman Brynn McGaughy contributed 13 points and four rebounds, including seven points in the fourth quarter and the second three-pointer of her career. Sayvia Sellers added 11 points, four rebounds, and four assists, and reached a milestone by recording her 250th career assist early in the first quarter.
Washington seized control early, building a 24-13 first-quarter lead while holding Indiana to just three made baskets. The Huskies assisted on seven field goals in the opening period, forced five turnovers, and converted them into eight points.
The advantage stood at 41-31 at halftime, then grew quickly in the third quarter when Washington shot 81.8 percent from the field and outscored Indiana 20-16. Grabovskaia went a perfect 4-for-4 in the period for eight points as the Huskies pushed the margin to 59-45, drawing audible frustration from the home crowd.
Indiana head coach Teri Moren acknowledged her team’s struggles defending ball screens and the pressure it placed on her post players, later calling out lapses in effort and fundamentals, particularly on the glass. The Hoosiers were outrebounded 32-20 and finished with just 20 rebounds.
Indiana’s frontcourt, which had shown progress in recent outings, was largely neutralized. Zania Socka-Nguemen, coming off two straight double-doubles, was limited to four points in 20 minutes, a season low. Edessa Noyan had two points and two rebounds, while Jade Ondineme logged five minutes and one rebound. Socka-Nguemen, still easing back after missing eight games with a leg injury, appeared to struggle with rhythm and mobility.
Washington closed the game with a 21-point fourth quarter and finished with 20 assists, along with five blocks and six steals, underscoring its control on both ends.
The loss leaves Indiana alongside Penn State and Rutgers as the only winless teams in Big Ten play. With 11 conference games remaining, the Hoosiers now face a difficult road test at Ohio State on January 22 in Columbus.
Washington returns home full of momentum and will host Minnesota on Sunday, January 18, at 3:00 p.m., looking to build on its most efficient shooting night in more than five years.
As the Big Ten season unfolds, the Huskies are showing signs of a team finding its identity, while Indiana searches urgently for answers as conference play slips further out of reach.
