BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (Interstat) — No. 16 Indiana overwhelmed Louisiana-Monroe 98-54 in a nonconference women’s basketball game Thursday night at Assembly Hall. The Hoosiers, improving to 9-2, led wire-to-wire before a crowd of 7,380, holding the Warhawks to 23 first-half points. Indiana’s balance proved decisive as 10 different players scored, paced by Chloe Spreen’s 17 points. Nailea Nicholas led Louisiana-Monroe (5-4) with 14 points. The Hoosiers pulled away with a 33-point fourth quarter, showcasing their depth ahead of Big Ten play. Louisiana-Monroe has lost three straight.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (Interstat) — The Indiana Hoosiers delivered a dominant performance from start to finish, overwhelming the visiting Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks 98-54 in a nonconference women’s basketball game Thursday night at a sold-out Assembly Hall. Indiana, improving to 9-2, showcased its offensive firepower and defensive intensity, building a double-digit lead in the first quarter and never looking back. The Hoosiers outscored the Warhawks in every period, culminating in a 33-point fourth-quarter explosion that turned the contest into a rout before an announced crowd of 7,380. The most important part of the game was Indiana’s immediate and sustained defensive pressure, which created a cascade of offensive opportunities. The Hoosiers forced 22 Louisiana-Monroe turnovers and converted them into 26 points. This defensive disruption began from the opening tip, limiting the Warhawks to disjointed possessions and allowing Indiana to establish a commanding 20-12 lead after the first quarter. That early cushion set the tone, as Louisiana-Monroe never managed to cut the deficit to single digits again. Indiana’s ability to consistently generate offense from its defense stifled any potential for a Warhawk rally and fueled the runaway victory. Shay Ciezki, a 5-foot-7 guard from Buffalo, New York, led all scorers with a game-high 31 points, adding two assists in 34 minutes of action. She was instrumental in both setting the early pace and closing out the game, scoring from all three levels. She was complemented by a balanced offensive attack, with Maya Makalusky of Fishers, Indiana, contributing 22 points, three assists and a block. Lenée Beaumont, a 6-1 guard from Lisle, Illinois, filled the stat sheet with 18 points and five assists. For Louisiana-Monroe, which fell to 5-4, Asjah Inniss provided a bright spot. The 5-9 guard from Suwanee, Georgia, fought hard for a team-high 16 points in 29 minutes. Nakiyah Mays-Prince, a 5-5 guard from Chicago, added 11 points and two assists. The Warhawks struggled to find consistent offense against Indiana’s swarming defense, scoring just 14 points in the paint compared to Indiana’s 34. Indiana’s depth was on full display as 10 different players scored. Valentyna Kadlecova of Kadan, Czech Republic, dished out three assists, while reserves Nevaeh Caffey, Edessa Noyan, Chloe Spreen and Jade Ondineme all made tangible contributions. Noyan, a 6-3 forward from Botkyrka, Sweden, anchored the interior with eight points and a block. The Hoosiers shot efficiently from the field, though specific percentages were not immediately available, and their ball movement led to numerous high-percentage looks. The Warhawks, coming off a 75-38 loss at Alabama on Dec. 7, faced their second straight tough road test against a power conference opponent and were unable to replicate the form that saw them win five of their first seven games. Indiana, which suffered a 78-57 loss at Illinois in its previous outing on Dec. 6, rebounded emphatically. The Hoosiers will look to carry this momentum into their next game, a home contest against Eastern Michigan on Sunday. Louisiana-Monroe continues its challenging stretch of road games, traveling to face Arkansas State next Wednesday. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, Indiana entered the game with a 99.10 percent probability to win, a projection the Hoosiers fulfilled with a comprehensive performance on both ends of the floor.

Preview: Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks at No. -- Indiana Hoosiers BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (Interstat) — The Indiana women’s basketball team looks to rebound from a rare setback when it hosts Louisiana-Monroe on Thursday night at Assembly Hall. The Hoosiers (8-2) saw a four-game win streak snapped decisively in a 78-57 road loss to Illinois on Dec. 6. Indiana, which has been ranked for much of the early season, will aim to reassert its defensive identity after allowing the Fighting Illini to shoot 50% from the field. Indiana’s offense continues to run through dynamic guard Shay Ciezki. The sophomore is averaging 24.4 points per game and is coming off a 23-point, 5-assist performance against Illinois. She has scored 20 or more points in six of Indiana’s 10 games, including a 38-point outburst in a high-scoring loss to Iowa State on Nov. 30. Louisiana-Monroe (5-3) enters on a two-game skid, including a 75-38 defeat at Alabama on Sunday. The Warhawks have struggled offensively against power-conference opponents, averaging just 42 points in losses to Alabama, Mississippi State and Sam Houston. A key for the Warhawks will be the production of forward Asia Barclay. She managed only five points against Alabama but had a season-high six points in a win over Lamar on Nov. 23. Louisiana-Monroe’s victories have come against mid-major and SWAC competition, highlighting the challenge of facing a Big Ten contender on the road. Indiana holds a significant experience advantage in this non-conference finale for both teams. The Hoosiers’ two losses are to currently ranked opponents (Illinois and Iowa State), while their resume includes a notable road win at Gonzaga. The Warhawks will begin Sun Belt Conference play next week. Indiana will host Eastern Michigan on Sunday before a brief holiday break. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.