BLOOMINGTON

As she and her family walked into Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Saturday afternoon, Teri Moren couldn’t believe what she saw.

Lines of people — most of them dressed in cream and crimson — snaked around the outside of Indiana University’s basketball arena in Bloomington.

Moren said she’s used to seeing lines like that for men’s games, but this was a women’s game.

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“Just that alone was, ‘This is real. This is going to be an exciting afternoon for us,'” the Hoosiers head coach said.

The people were there to cheer on Indiana in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament championship game against Virginia Tech.

In the second half of the game, the public address announcer gave the official attendance: 13,007.

That shattered the previous Indiana women’s single-game attendance record of 10,002 set against Purdue in 2005.

Along with members of her family, there were many people in attendance from Jackson County to support Moren, a 1987 Seymour High School graduate.

Sitting courtside with Moren’s family was her high school coach, Donna Sullivan.

While coaching at Trinity Lutheran High School caused her to miss some regular-season games, Sullivan didn’t have that problem at the end of the season. She went to all of the Big Ten Tournament and WNIT games to support her former player.

When the Hoosiers hit a bump in the road against conference opponents midway through the season, Sullivan said she told Moren, “Stay the course. You’re doing the right thing. It will turn itself around.”

Indiana then won eight games in a row.

“I keep telling her I’m going to take all of the credit for it,” Sullivan said, smiling. “I should have said it about two weeks earlier.”

Along with the great leadership of seniors Tyra Buss and Amanda Cahill, Sullivan said the freshmen on the team grew up, and that changed how the rest of the season went for the Hoosiers.

While playing in the NCAA Tournament was the goal, the Hoosiers realized they had a shot at their first WNIT title. They were in it to win it.

“Playing in this and having this, it’s not as good as the NCAA winning it, but it’s the second-best thing,” Sullivan said.

She is proud of Moren for guiding the team to the title.

“Teri was a great player in high school, great player at Purdue and she’s done a great coaching job every place she has been,” Sullivan said. “This group of players at IU has come together, and she was the leader of it. I just really couldn’t be more proud of her and of IU and their accomplishment.”

Sitting near Sullivan were Moren’s siblings, Scott Moren and Leann Hutchinson, and their father, Dick Moren.

Scott, a 1986 Seymour High School graduate, now lives in Washington, D.C., but he was able to catch the Hoosiers in action during a regular-season game in Maryland and the WNIT.

“To see them turn it around like they have and to see the growth that the young kids had, I’d like to think a coach has had something to do with that,” Scott said. “It has been wonderful to see. I’m just very, very happy for (Teri), her staff, the team — all of them. I think they’ve put in a lot of work.”

Hutchinson, who graduated from Seymour in 1984, said she always has supported her sister, from when they were growing up to now.

“We both had watched her since she was out playing basketball with the neighborhood boys all the way through, so for her to be able to live out her dream and be successful, it’s very special,” she said.

Watching Teri play from junior high to college and now coaching, Dick said he’s a proud father.

“Every plateau that she has gone through, she has just made me proud as heck,” he said. “The kid works hard, there’s no doubt about that. She gets that from her mother (Barbara Moren, who died Oct. 1, 2014, after battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis).”

Dick was happy to see the Hoosiers end the season on a high note.

“When you win 15 out of your last 17 ballgames, that means somebody’s doing something right, and it comes from the head (coach) on down,” he said. “We’re just so proud of Teri. Our whole family is. She has done a fabulous job this year.”

Dick didn’t mind watching the games from his courtside seat, either.

“Thanks, Teri,” he said, smiling.

Knowing people from Seymour, Brownstown, Crothersville and other area communities were in the stands Saturday meant a lot to Teri.

“I’m just really grateful that they continue to come over here to Bloomington and support not just myself but our basketball team,” she said. “Some of the fans that were in the stands today might not have ever had the experience of watching us play or even watching a women’s basketball game. … It has just been an incredible experience for all of us to be a part of, and I know those folks in Seymour are awfully proud.”

She and her family expect that support will continue next winter as Teri begins her fifth season at the helm of the Hoosiers.

“I would hope (the WNIT title) will bode well for us in the future as far as the types of crowds that we can get in this place,” she said. “The type of style that we’re playing is exciting, and there’s nothing better than that sixth man. That really anchored us in this six-game series.”

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Several Jackson County natives traveled to Bloomington Saturday to support head coach and Seymour native Teri Moren as the Indiana University women’s basketball team played in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament championship game.

Here’s what some of them had to say about Moren and the Hoosiers winning the title:

“Amazing to send the two seniors out with a much-deserved win. Loved seeing how close the team and the coaching staff are. Great program.”

— Lee Ann Borden

“Super-proud of Teri. It was great to see so many Seymour people there to support her. I know there were at least six classmates of hers that were there.”

— Kathy Hohenstreiter

“It was a Seymour reunion. So happy to see the gym so full. These girls have worked their butts off and deserve nothing but praise. So sad we can’t keep the seniors a few more years, but now, it’s time for the others to step up and shine. Proud to be a classmate and friend to the great Teri Moren. And I do believe Donna Sullivan had tears of joy watching her student, friend and now colleague win the WNIT.”

— Jana Gray

“Just electric atmosphere and so happy for the IU girls. We had a great time, and everyone around us was having fun also. Also, we noticed a lot of young girls there just in awe of the ones on the court — players and coaches.”

— Patty Tormoehlen

“My daughter, Liza, and I were at the game today. We have been going to every game possible for the last three years. Teri and her team have been a major influence on my daughter and her love for the game. I always enjoy getting to talk with the players. When my daughter was in fifth grade, she had an assignment to rewrite the Cinderella story. Her spin was that Teri Moren contacted her and wanted her to play for IU. Go IU!”

— Alicia Froedge

“Energy was off the charts with the attendance. Well done, Teri. Total classy and gutsy team. Definitely had her stamp on them. Cheers to many more successful years.”

— Jason Stahl

“Happy for Teri Moren, the two seniors and the whole IU women’s squad. Selfless basketball, fundamental ball and the two frosh guards are studs. The future looks bright. Loved watching the women’s team this year.”

— Clay Fritz

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