WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Hoosiers advance to WNIT quarterfinals

BLOOMINGTONThe Indiana University women’s basketball team defeated SMU 64-44 on Thursday to advance to the quarterfinals of the Women’s National Invitational Tournament.

Leading for all but one minute and seven seconds in the game, IU cruised through the Round of 16 contest.

IU opened the game by sharing the ball and playing stout defense, as the Hoosiers led 12-4 after one quarter behind five different scorers.

The Hoosiers (23-10) extended their lead to 24-9 before boasting a 27-17 advantage at the half.

A 10-0 run in the first five minutes of the third quarter helped extend the Hoosiers’ lead to 43-27 going into the final 10 minutes of play.

Tacking on 21 points in the fourth quarter, the Hoosiers never looked back as they emptied their bench in the waning minutes.

The Hoosiers shot 44 percent in the game from the field while holding the Mustangs to 28 percent. From the arc, the Hoosiers drained 42 percent of their 3-point attempts.

Karlee McBride led the Hoosiers with 17 points, Amanda Cahill added 10, and Tyra Buss and Alexis Gassion each netted eight.

On the boards, the Hoosiers won the rebounding battle 41-29. The Hoosiers finished with 19 assists to the Mustangs’ six.

At 2 p.m. Saturday, the Hoosiers will host Villanova.

Villanova defeated James Madison 69-67 in overtime Thursday.