Last season, the Lions participated in the NCAA Tournament as an at-large team. In the second round, there might be a matchup with Baylor.
Bloomington, Indiana – The route that Indiana’s women’s basketball team must take to win the Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis championship was revealed in November. On Thursday, the draw for the multi-team exemption tournament was made public. At the Imperial Arena, a ballroom turned basketball court at the Atlantis Paradise Island resort in Nassau, Bahamas, Indiana will play its opening game against Columbia on November 23 at 1:30 p.m.
Four days prior to the men’s competition, in which Indiana is also competing, the women’s Battle 4 Atlantis tournament gets underway at the same location. The Hoosiers will face a formidable group of opponents in the women’s Battle 4 Atlantis. The remaining teams are Ball State, Baylor, North Carolina, Southern Mississippi, Texas A&M, and Villanova. With the exception of Texas A&M, who qualified for the NCAA Tournament, every participant won 20 games in 2024.
In order to position themselves for success in the Bahamas, Indiana must overcome a formidable Columbia squad. In 2024, the Lions finished 23-7 and took home the Ivy League regular season title. The first-ever at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament was received by Columbia. For the first time since 2016, that resulted in the participation of two Ivy League clubs. Although the Lions lost to Vanderbilt 72-68 in the First Four, guard Cecelia Collins (13.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.9 apg) and guard Kitty Henderson (12.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 4 apg) are two of the team’s top three double-digit scorers. In the second round, Indiana might play one of the best clubs. The Battle 4 Atlantis opener between Baylor and Southern.
There will be a significant task if Indiana plays Baylor. Retaining four of their top five scorers, the Bears are the 2024 Sweet 16 squad and the winners of three national titles. The starting lineup that finished 26-8 was composed of guards Sarah Andrews (11.4 ppg), Jada Walker (8.4 ppg), Bella Fontleroy (9.6 ppg), and guard-forward Darianna Littlepage-Buggs (10.5 ppg). Additionally, 6-foot-3 Colorado transfer Aaronette Vonleh, a center, was added by Baylor. Vonleh is the sister of former Indiana men’s basketball player Noah Vonleh (14 ppg, 5.1 rpg). In 2024, she was a Buffaloes All-Pac-12.
Indiana, a 26-6 squad in 2024 that fell to eventual national champion South Carolina in a close game 79-75, poses a serious threat to its opponents. The Hoosiers will be led by returning starters Yarden Garzon (11.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg), Sydney Parrish (10.8 ppg, 6 rpg), and Chloe Moore-McNeil (10.2 ppg, 5 apg).
Moving forward Lilly Meister (3.7 points per game) and guards Lexus Bargesser (4.3 points per game), Lenée Beaumont (3 points per game), Juli LaMendola (1.8 points per game), and Henna Sandvik (0.9 points per game) are all returning 2024 reserves who may get regular playing time in the 2024–2025 campaign. Through the transfer portal, Indiana added Tennessee big Karoline Striplin (7.2 ppg) and Penn State guard Shay Ciezki (11.5 ppg). Valentyna Kadlecova, a Czech guard, was signed by Indiana last week. On November 23, Texas A&M-Villanova at 6:30 p.m. and North Carolina-Ball State at 4 p.m. are the matches on the other side of the Battle 4 Atlantis bracket.
Every game will be aired on the streaming service FloHoops, with the exception of the championship and third-place contests. On November 25, the title game will air at 12:00 on ESPN2. ESPNU will broadcast the third-place match at 2:30 p.m. November 25. Schedule for Battle 4 Atlantis Game 1: Saturday, November 23; Southern Mississippi vs. Baylor, 11 a.m. (FloHoops).