>>> SUPPORT FOR I.U.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL RISING TO THE TOP, PROVIDED BY: ♪ >>> IT'S BEEN AN HISTORIC SEASON FOR THE INDIANA UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM.

I'M JOE HREN AND TONIGHT WE BRING YOU A SPECIAL PROGRAM FROM THE WTIU NEWS ROOM.

I.U.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL RISING TO THE TOP.

INDIANA'S RUN AT AN NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP HAS COME TO A PREMATURE END BUT THE HOOSIERS SHOWED THEY HAVE ARRIVED AND BELONG ON THE NATIONAL STAGE.

AHEAD, WE'LL LOOK BACK ON THE SEASON, HEAR FROM PLAYERS, HEAD COACH TERI MOREN, FANS WHO TURNED OUT BY THE THOUSANDS THIS YEAR, AND MORE.

WE'RE JOINED NOW BY PAT BEANE, WHO FOLLOWED THE HOOSIERS THROUGH THE SEASON.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW, PAT.

>> THANKS, JOE.

>> GREAT SEASON!

BUT BOY, MONDAY NIGHT THAT WAS HARD.

>> YES, THAT'S RIGHT, JOE.

WE FIGURED WE WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT A THIRD STRAIGHT SWEET 16 APPEARANCE FOR THE INDIANA WOMEN, BUT MIAMI THREW A WRENCH IN THOSE PLANS, MUCH TO THE DISAPPOINTMENT OF 14,000 THAT PACKED ASSEMBLY HALL, EXPECTING THE HOOSIERS TO MOVE ON.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK BACK AT THE SEASON.

IT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO END LIKE THIS FOR THE INDIANA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM.

ENTERING THE NCAA TOURNAMENT AS A NUMBER ONE SEED WITH ASPIRATIONS TO PLAY FOR A NATIONAL TITLE, THE HOOSIERS WERE STUNNED BY A SECOND ROUND LOSS TO MIAMI.

IT BROUGHT AN ABRUPT END TO WHAT HAD BEEN THE BEST SEASON IN PROGRAM HISTORY.

THEY FINISHED THE REGULAR SEASON 27-3, WON THE FIRST BIG TEN TITLE IN 20 YEARS AND EARNED FIRST NCAA TOP SEED EVER AND RANKED NUMBER TWO IN THE NATION, HEADING INTO THE TOURNAMENT.

>> WHEN THE DUST SETTLES, WE WILL LOOK BACK AT ALL THE MEMORIES WE MADE THIS SEASON, AND, YOU KNOW, IT HURTS NOW, BUT, THIS TEAM WILL GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS ONE THE VERY BEST.

>> BUT THE PAIN WAS EVIDENT MONDAY NIGHT, ESPECIALLY TORE TEAMMATES OF GRACE BERGER.

SHE HAS BEEN THE TEAM'S HEART AND SOUL AND RETURNED FOR A FIFTH SEASON AND A CHANCE AT THE NCAA TITLE.

>> OBVIOUSLY, I'M UPSET, I HAD LAST GAME WITH GRACE.

IT'S BEEN A PRIVILEGE TO PLAY WITH HER THESE PAST FOUR YEARS.

SO I JUST HATE THAT IT HAS TO END LIKE THIS FOR HER.

>> IT WAS DURING BERGER'S FIVE YEARS THAT THE PROGRAM ROSE TO THE TOP.

BEFORE HER ARRIVAL, I.U.

HAD BEEN TO THE NCAA TOURNAMENT JUST TWICE SINCE THE TURN OF THE CENTURY.

SINCE THEN, THEY MADE IT EVERY YEAR SINCE 2020, WHEN IT WAS CANCELED THE DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

>> IT'S ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS WHERE IT KIND OF FEELS SURREAL.

>> MOREN SAYS BERGER WILL GO DOWN AS ONE OF THE BEST EVER TO WEAR AN I.U.

UNIFORM.

>> JUST SO GRATEFUL THAT AS I SAID THAT SHE'S DECIDED TO BECOME AN INDIANA HOOSIER FIVE YEARS AGO WHEN SHE HAD A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS.

SHE CHOSE US.

>> INDIANA DID AS WELL AS IT DID THIS SEASON WITH SOMETHING NOT MANY SAW COMING, THE BIG TEN COACHES PICKED I.U.

TO FINISH THIRD BETWEEN IOWA AND IOWA STATE.

BUT PEOPLE STARTED TO TAKE NOTICE WHEN I.U.

WENT INTO KNOXVILLE AND DOMINATED TENNESSEE.

TWO WEEKS LATER THEY WANT THE VEGAS INVITATIONAL, IN A BALLROOM.

>> IT FELT LIKE BECAUSE IT GOT SO MANY TICKS, I THINK ON SOCIAL, THAT WE HAD TAKEN A COUPLE OF STEPS BACKWARD IN THIS MOMENT.

AND I SHARED THAT WITH THE SITE COORDINATOR.

WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO GROW OUR GAME, AND WE COMPLETELY MISSED ON THIS OPPORTUNITY.

>> I.U.

LOST BERGER TO AN INJURY IN VEGAS, BUT IN THE FOLLOWING GAME, THE HOOSIERS BLEW OUT 6th RANKED NCAA RANKED NORTH CAROLINA IN THE NCAA CHALLENGE.

BUT PLAYING WITHOUT BERGER FOR EIGHT GAMES CAUGHT UP WITH THEM AND I. U.

LOST THE FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON AT MICHIGAN STATE AND THEIR FINAL GAME OF 2022.

IT WOULD BE TWO MONTHS BEFORE THEY WOULD LOSE AGAIN.

INDIANA RIPPED OFF 13 STRAIGHT WINS, INCLUDING SEVEN AGAINST BIG TEN TEAMS RANKED IN THE TOP 25.

THEN IN FRONT OF THE FIRST HOME SELLOUT IN HISTORY, THE HOOSIERS CLINCHED A SHARE OF THE BIG TEN TITLE, WITH A ROUT OF RIVAL PURDUE, AND 16-1 IN THE BIG TEN.

>> TO GO OUT CUTTING DOWN THE NET IS SOMETHING I HAVE, YOU KNOW, BEEN WORKING FOR SINCE MY FRESHMAN YEAR.

YOU COULDN'T HAVE ASKED FOR A BETTER ENDING.

>> THAT WAS THE HIGH POINT FOR THE HOOSIERS.

THEY LOST AT IOWA AND FELL IN THE SEMIFINALS OF THE BIG TEN TOURNAMENT TO OHIO STATE.

AND AFTER BLOWING OUT TENNESSEE TECH IN THEIR NCAA OPENER, THE HOOSIERS WERE ELIMINATED BY MIAMI.

AND A SEASON THAT HAD HELD SUCH PROMISE HAD GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT.

>> THEIR PLANS WERE TO WIN A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

WE'LL REGROUP AND THE GOALS WILL REMAIN THE SAME, TO WIN A BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP AND GET TO A FINAL FOUR.

>> PAT, I THOUGHT WE WOULD BE TALKING TO YOU IN GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA, FOR THE FINAL FOUR.

CAN YOU BREAK DOWN WHAT HAPPENED?

>> WELL, JOE, INDIANA MAY HAVE PEAKED JUST A LITTLE EARLY.

I THINK IF THE NCAA TOURNAMENT STARTED A MONTH AGO, THEY WOULD STILL BE PLAYING.

THEY HAVE DOMINATED THE SECOND HALF OF THE BIG TEN SEASON.

THEY BEAT SIX RANKED TEAMS IN A NINE-GAME STRETCH AT ONE POINT AND UNQUESTIONABLY THE SECOND BEST GAME.

THEY LOST THE SEASON FINALE ON A BUZZER BEATER AT IOWA AND YOU HAVE TO WONDER IF MAYBE THAT SHOOK THEIR CONFIDENCE A LITTLE BIT.

THEN THE BIG THING WAS MACKENZIE HOLMES GETTING INJURED IN THE BIG TEN TOURNAMENT.

SHE WAS NOT 100% AGAINST MIAMI.

>> DESPITE NOT GETTING TO THE FINAL FOUR, BUT THIS TEAM REALLY DID RISE TO A NEW LEVEL.

>> YES, DEFINITELY.

WE HAVE HEARD THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OVER AND OVER, THE 28-4 RECORD, AND THE FIRST BIG TEN TITLE IN 40 YEARS AND REACHING NUMBER TWO IN THE NATION, BUT THIS WAS NOT A FLUKE.

THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN ON THE RISE SINCE TERI MOREN TOOK OVER IN 2014.

THEY WON THE WNIT TITLE IN 2018 AND MADE THE NCAA TOURNAMENT FEEL EVER YEAR SINCE, BUT AFTER GETTING TO THE ELITE EIGHT TWO YEARS AGO AND SWEET 16, THIS HAS TO BE A DISAPPOINTMENT.

>> LOTS TO LOOK FORWARD TO?

>> THEY RETURN EVERYBODY, SEPTEMBER FOR GRACE BERGER.

I EXPECT THEM TO BE RANKED IN THE TOPTIVE TOP FIVE OR THE TOP TEN GOING IN.

THEY HAVE CHLOE MOORE McNEIL AND SYD PARRISH, AND SARA SCALIA AND YOU WOULD HOPE ONE OF THEM WOULD STEP UP NEXT YEAR AND THEY HAVE MACKENZIE HOLMES RETURNING.

A FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICAN AND, YOU KNOW, LILLY MEISTER, WHO BACKED UP HOLMES THIS YEAR CAME ON REALLY STRONG.

SO SHE'S GO TO BE MORE THAN A CAPABLE BACKUP.

AND THEY HAVE A PAIR OF FRESHMEN GUARDS COMING IN.

THERE SHOULD NOT BE MUCH DROPOFF.

>> THANKS, PAT, FOR ALL OF YOUR COVERAGE THIS YEAR.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANKS, JOE.

>>> WITH THE INDIANA WOMEN'S PROGRAM BECOMING A PLAYER ON THE NATIONAL STAGE, NOBODY MIGHT BE MORE EXCITED THAN SCOTT DOLSON.

CLAYTON BAUMGARTH SAT DOWN WITH THE I. U.

ATHLETIC DIRECTOR TO TALK ABOUT THE HISTORIC SEASON.

>> IN SCOTT DOLSON'S OFFICE, OVERLOOKING THE NORTH END OF I.U.

MEMORIAL STADIUM, THERE'S A FEELING OF EXCITEMENT IN THE AIR.

>> I SAID IT FOR YEARS AND OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID IT, THAT WOMEN'S BASKETBALL HERE AT I.U.

WAS A SLEEPING GIANT AND WAS READY JUST TO BE WAKING UP.

[ CHEERS ] >> AND DOLSON'S OPINION, THERE'S ONE PERSON IN PARTICULAR TO THANK FOR THE DEVELOPMENT.

TEAM.

>> TERI MOREN HAS DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB AS OUR HEAD COACH AND BUILDING THE RACK TO WHERE IT IS.

>> COACH MOREN'S CONTRACT WAS EXTENDED IN 2021 THROUGH THE 2026-2027 SEASON.

DOLSON WAS COY TO SAY WHETHER COACH MOREN'S CONTRACT WILL BE EXTENDED AGAIN OR NOT, BUT HE DID HAVE THIS TO SAY.

>> I CAN SAY THIS, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TERI HERE FOR I A LONG, LONG, TIME.

THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

HOPEFULLY SHE WANTS TO BE HERE AND WE WANT HER TO BE HERE AS WELL.

>> THEY HAVE NOT JUST BEEN DOMINATING THE BASKETBALL COURT.

DOLSON IS IMPRESSED WITH HOW MUCH THE WOMEN ARE ACHIEVING IN THE CLASSROOM WITH A DEPARTMENT LEADING 3.62 AVERAGE G.P.A.

>> THEY SYMBOLIZE EVERYTHING WE WANT IN OUR DEPARTMENT AND HAVING THAT LEVEL OF SUCCESS IN THE CLASSROOM, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME ACHIEVING AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS ON THE COURT, JUST ARE -- IT'S AMAZING TO ME AND, JUST I'M SO PROUD OF THEM.

>> ALL THIS WINNING HAS HELPED TO INCREASE THE SALE OF TEAM MERCHANDISE, WHICH THANKS TO THE N.I.L.

GO TO THE STUDENT ATHLETES WHO MAKE IT POSSIBLE.

>> THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT OUR WOMEN'S PROGRAM AND OUR SUCCESS IN WOMEN'S BASKETBALL HAS DRIVEN THOSE SALES FOR THEM.

[ CHEERS ] >> AS THE BASKETBALL SEASON HEATED UP MORE AND MORE, CROWD SIZES HAVE GROWN TO THE POINT OF SELLING OUT SIMON SKJODT ASSEMBLY HALL FOR THE SEASON FINALE AGAINST PURDUE.

DOLSON SAYS THAT SORT OF ATMOSPHERE IS SOMETHING THAT THE DEPARTMENT STRIVES FOR.

>> IT JUST REALLY CREATES SUCH A MORE POSITIVE STUDENT-ATHLETE EXPERIENCE HERE.

THAT'S WHAT WE ARE ALL ABOUT IS MAKING SURE THE STUDENT-ATHLETES HAVE AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE IN EVERY WAY.

>> DESPITE THE TEAM BEING KNOCKED OUT IN THE SECOND ROUND OF THE NCAA TOURNAMENT, DOLSON SAYS GETTING PLACED AS A NUMBER ONE SEED IS AN INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENT.

>> IT'S AN AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENT.

IT'S LIKE WINNING OUTRIGHT BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP.

THAT'S ANOTHER BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT.

I REMEMBER TWO YEARS AGO MAKING THE ELITE EIGHT AND TICKING OFF ACCOMPLISHMENT, AFTER ACCOMPLISHMENT AND BUILDING THE BRICKS IN THE PROGRAM.

>> I'M CLAYTON BAUMGARTH.

>> AND THEY GO TO THE NAME, LIKENESS AND IMAGE PROCESS WHICH ALLOWS PLAYERS TO CASH IN WHILE IN SCHOOL.

WITH THE WOMEN'S TEAM WINNING THE BIG TEN, SALES OF TEAM MERCHANDISE HAS TAKEN OFF.

LIZ DeSANTIS HAS THIS STORY.

>> THE SUCCESSFUL SEASON FOR THE WOMEN'S TEAM MEANS MORE THAN JUST INCREASED FOLLOWING THE PROGRAM.

IT ALSO PROVIDES EXTRA FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PLAYERS.

>> IF I.U.

WERE TO GO TO THE FINAL FOUR, WITH WIN A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, IT WILL DEFINITELY HEIGHTEN, YOU KNOW, THE PROFILE OF A GRACE BERGER OR MACKENZIE HOLMES.

>> THE NCAA ALLOWED STUDENT-ATHLETES TO PROFIT OFF OF N.I.L.s OR NAME, IMAGE AND LIKENESS, MEANING THE PLAYERS ARE ABLE TO CASH IN ON OPPORTUNITIES LIKE NEVER BEFORE.

IT ALLOWED PLAYERS TO REMAIN IN SCHOOL, INSTEAD OF LEAVING EARLY FOR THE PROS AND THE MONEY THAT COMES WITH IT.

>> WE DEFINITELY SEE IT, A LOT OF THESE TOP ATHLETES ARE STAYING AROUND, OBVIOUSLY FOR THE EXPERIENCE OF PLAYING THE SPORT, BUT ALSO TO MAKE SOME MONEY WHILE THEY ARE DOING IT AND REALLY SET THEM UP FOR THEIR FUTURE IN LIFE AFTER SPORTS.

>> JEREMY GRAY SAYS SOME OF THE HIGHER EARNING STUDENTS CAN GENERATE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS THROUGH N.I.L.

DEALS BUT THE MERCHANDISE IS ALSO A RALLYING CRY FOR FANS.

>> IT'S EVERYWHERE.

YOU WILL BE AT A RESTAURANT IN DOWNTOWN BLOOMINGTON AND SOMEONE HAS A MACKENZIE HOLMES T-SHIRT ON.

INDIANA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL IS A THING!

THEY ARE SELLING SHIRTS!

>> INDIANA SHOP RETAIL MANAGER, BILL GROSSMAN SAYS HE HAS SEEN THE POPULARITY OF THE TEAM GROW THIS SEASON THROUGH THE SALES OF N.I.L.

GEAR IN HIS SHOP.

>> AS THE FAN BASE GROWS, WE ARE STARTING TO SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE UPTICK IN BUSINESS AS IT RELATES TO GAME DAY FOR THE LADIES.

>> BUT GRAY SAYS IT'S NOT JUST THE SUCCESS OF THE TEAM, BUT THE STORIES OF THE PLAYERS.

FROM THE INJURY TO BERGER TO UNEXPECTED MVP CANDIDATES LIKE MACKENZIE HOLMES THAT DRIVE INTEREST FOR ENDORSEMENTS.

>> SO THERE'S JUST SO MANY GREAT STORIES TO TELL ABOUT THIS TEAM.

IT JUST MAKES THE JOBS OF THE STORYTELLERS A LOT EASIER.

>> BERGER SAYS SHE'S BEEN SURPRISED AT HOW STRONG THE SUPPORT HAS BEEN FROM THE COMMUNITY.

>> THE COMMUNITY LIKE BLOOMINGTON, THAT IS SO EXCITED ABOUT I.U.

ATHLETICS, I THINK, HAS, YOU KNOW, KIND OF CAUGHT ME OFFGUARD, MAYBE UNEXPECTED TO SOME PEOPLE HOW MUCH SUPPORT WE HAVE GOTTEN AS ATHLETES AND HOW EXCITED LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE TO KIND OF PROMOTE US.

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK" -- >> I.U.!

I.U.!

[ CHEERS ] MOORE McNEIL.

>> I'M LIZ DeSANTIS.

>> GRACE SAYS SOME HOOSIER ATHLETES ARE MAKING IN THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OFF THEIR NAME, IMAGE AND LIKENESS DEALS.

INDIANA RETURNED TWO STARTERS AND FIRST SUB OFF THE BENCH FROM LAST YEAR'S NCAA TEAM.

BUT TO RISE TO NUMBER TWO TEAM IN THE NATION, PAT BEANE HAS THIS REPORT.

>> AFTER SPENDING THREE SEASONS AT MINNESOTA AND NEVER FINISHING HIGHER THAN A TIE FOR NINTH, SARA SCALIA WANTED A CHANGE.

THE LEADING SCORER IN 2022, SHE ENTERED HER NAME IN THE TRANSFER PORTAL AND WASN'T SURE WHAT TO EXPECT.

>> INDIANA WAS ONE THE FIRST SCHOOLS THAT REACHED OUT TO ME AND WANTED ME TO COME VISIT THE FIRST OFFICIAL WEEKEND THAT IT WAS AVAILABLE.

I ENDED UP DOING TAG.

>> SHE COMMITTED TO THE HOOSIERS DURING THAT VISIT.

>> I WANTED TO WIN AT LIKE, A HIGH LEVEL AND MAKE THE TOURNAMENT.

>> THAT'S SOMETHING INDIANA HAS BEEN DOING REGULARLY.

THEY MADE THE LAST FOUR NCAA TOURNAMENTS, AND IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, THEY HAVE GONE TO THE ELITE EIGHT AND THE SWEET 16.

THIS YEAR, THEY EARNED A NUMBER ONE SEED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SCHOOL HISTORY.

SCALIA HAD PLAYED AGAINST INDIANA FOR THREE YEARS AND SO SHE HAD AN IDEA OF WHAT SHE WAS GETTING INTO WHEN SHE MOVED FROM MINNEAPOLIS TO BLOOMINGTON.

FRESHMAN GUARD, YARDEN GARZON HAD NO IDEA.

SHE SAYS I.U., WHICH HAS HAD SEVERAL INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS HAS BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE, EVEN TO THE POINT OF ADDING SOMETHING FAMILIAR TO HER TO THE BREAKFAST TABLE.

>> SO I JUST TALKED WITH THEM AND THEY FIXED IT IN LIKE A MINUTE, IN A SECOND.

AND FOR THEM, SOMETIMES LIKE SMALL THING, BUT FOR ME, IT'S LIKE THE WORLD.

SO -- BUT IT HELPS ME A LOT.

>> JEREMY GRAY WENT A STEP FARTHER, SURPRISING GARZON BY CALLING OUT A HEBREW WORD MEANING THREE AFTER GARZON MADE A THREE-POINTER.

>> I THINK MACKENZIE CAME TO ME AND SAID HE SAID IT!

I RECOGNIZED IT AND I LIKED IT A LOT!

>> THE HOOSIERS LIKED WHAT THEY HAVE SEEN FROM GARZON.

SHE AVERAGED 11.1 POINTS AND 5.3 REBOUNDS PER GAME.

SHE SEAT ON I.U.

FRESHMAN RECORD WITH 70 MADE THREE-POINTERS AND THAT'S WHY SHE, SCALIA AND SYDNEY PARRISH WERE BROUGHT INTO THE PROGRAM, THE ABILITY TO SHOOT FROM THE PERIMETER AND OPEN UP MACKENZIE HOLMES INSIDE.

>> IT OPENS UP THE FLOOR A LOT IF THEY DOUBLE UP ON HER AND SOMEONE IS OPEN UP ON THE PERIMETER.

I THINK WE HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB OF HITTING OUR SHOTS ON THE OUTSIDE WHEN THEY DO DOUBLE MAC.

>> PARRISH GREW UP IN INDIANA AND PLAYED AT HAMILTON SOUTHEAST.

SHE HAD 55 THREE-POINTERS AND SCALIA THIRD WITH 53.

IT'S A TESTAMENT TO COACH TERI MOREN AND HER STAFF THAT THOSE THREE NEWCOMERS ALONG WITH LILLY MEISTER WERE ABLE TO GEL WITH THE VETERANS SO QUICKLY.

THEY FINISHED THE SEASON 28-4 AND WON THE PROGRAM'S FIRST BIG TEN TITLE IN 40 YEARS.

>> I THINK IT WAS JUST THE BIGGEST THING WAS GETTING ADJUSTED TO THE CHEMISTRY.

SO WE HAVE DONE THAT REALLY WELL.

AND SO, YEAH, IT'S BEEN KIND OF CRAZY ALL THE GAMES WE WON THIS YEAR.

>> WINNING IS WHY ALL THE NEW FACES IN THE TEAM CAME TO I.U.

>> WE LOVE TO BE TOGETHER.

WE LOVE TO HANG OUT TOGETHER.

SO I THINK YOU CAN SEE IT ON THE COURT, THAT WE LOVE EACH OTHER AND WE WANT THE BEST FOR EACH OTHER.

>> FOR WTIU, I'M PAT BEANE.

>>> BOTH SCALIA AND GARZON WILL BE BACK WITH THE HOOSIERS NEXT SEASON.

WE SAT DOWN WITH TERI MOREN MOREN'S DAD, DICK, LAST WEEK TO TALK ABOUT HIS DAUGHTER AND ALL THINGS I.U.

HERE'S WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.

♪ >> TERI HAS ALWAYS BEEN A VERY COMPETITIVE YOUNG LADY.

I CAN REMEMBER MANY YEARS AGO WHEN SHE WAS 8 YEARS OLD, SHE ENTERED THE PUNT, PASS, AND KICK CONTEST IN SEYMOUR.

AS AN 8-YEAR-OLD AGAINST ALL THE BOYS, SHE WON IT.

IN GRADE SCHOOL, SHE WENT UNDEFEATED.

JUNIOR HIGH, SHE -- IN SEVENTH GRADE, SHE WAS UNDEFEATED.

THE EIGHTH GRADE SHE LOST ONE AND THE GIRLS AROUND HER SAID, WHAT ARE YOU CRYING ABOUT?

THAT SHE'S HOW COMPETITIVE SHE IS.

HER WHOLE FAMILY IS COMPETITIVE, LET'S PUT IT THAT WAY.

MY DAUGHTER LeANN REMINDS ME OF THE CHRISTMAS TIME WHEN WE WOULD HAVE A PINGPONG TABLE IN THE GARAGE AND IT WOULD BE BRUTAL.

I.U.

WAS NOT REALLY THAT GOOD THEN -- BACK THEN, BUT I THINK IZZARD, I THINK HE WAS THE COACH AT THAT TIME.

FOR SOME REASON OR ANOTHER, WE WENT A DIFFERENT DIRECTION AND SO TERI WITH LIN DUNN WENT TO PURDUE.

THAT'S WHERE SHE WANTED TO GO.

SHE WAS A POINT GUARD THERE.

SHE WAS A POINT GUARD WHEN THEY WON THEIR FIRST BIG TEN TOURNAMENT FOR PURDUE UNIVERSITY.

AND THEN AFTER THAT, SHE STARTED HER COACHING CAREER.

I'M SITTING IN OUR LIVING ROOM, THE WIFE AND I, AND I'M LOOKING AT THE "INDIANAPOLIS STAR."

AND I SEE -- LOOKED AT MY WIFE AND I SAID DO YOU KNOW THAT TERI HAS APPLIED FOR THE I.U.

JOB?

SHE NEVER TOLD US.

SHE NEVER TOLD US.

AND THE REASON FOR THAT WAS I DIDN'T WANT TO WORRY YOU.

IF I DIDN'T GET THE JOB, FINE, I YOU WOULDN'T KNOW.

AND IF I GOT IT, SHE WOULD TELL US.

SHE WAS IN FLORIDA AND SAID, I'M COMING HOME.

AND GOT THE I.U.

JOB.

THEY WERE SELECTED NUMBER ONE IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT.

THAT'S AN ACCOMPLISHMENT IN ITSELF, ISN'T IT?

OH, THE CROWDS THEY ARE GETTING NOW, MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS.

I CAN'T IMAGINE IT.

IT'S LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE.

IT REALLY IS.

TITLE IX, SHE FEELS THAT THEY STILL DON'T GET THE RECOGNITION THEY SHOULD.

AND PERHAPS SHE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK ON IT AND THEY'LL GET THAT RECOGNITION ONE OF THESE DAYS.

SHOEMAKER SAID, YOU MIGHT -- EARLY IN COVID.

THIS WAS THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO.

SHE SAID, DO YOU MIND IF I CALL YOU POPS?

YOU REMIND ME OF MY GRANDPOP AND IT JUST WENT FROM THERE AND CAME FROM THERE.

I WOULD COME FOR THEIR PRACTICES AND BE ABLE TO SIT DOWN OVER HERE ON THE SIDELINES.

AND THE KIDS WOULD COME UP AND TALK AND WE WOULD SIT THERE AND TALK.

THEY WERE ALL VERY CORDIAL WITH ME -- TO ME, I SHOULD SAY.

WHICH, YOU KNOW, MADE ME FEEL RIGHT AT HOME.

OR I MADE THEM FEEL AT HOME, KRON WHICH ONE IT WAS.

-- I DON'T KNOW CAN ONE IT WAS.

>> WELL, YOU HEARD ABOUT TERI PLAYING FOR PURDUE.

WE ARE JOINED NOW BY HER COACH THEN, CURRENTLY THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE INDIANA FEVER, LIN DUNN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING ON THE PROGRAM.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME!

>> SO YOU RECRUITED TERI OUT OF SEYMOUR HIGH SCHOOL.

WHAT DID YOU SEE IN HER?

WHAT DID YOU THINK SHE WAS AND DESTINED FOR COACHING?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I ACTUALLY DIDN'T RECRUIT HER.

SHE WAS ALREADY RECRUITED AND SIGNED AND THEN I BECAME THE HEAD COACH, BUT I WAS THRILLED TO INHERIT SOMEONE OF HER QUALITY, SOMEONE THAT HAD SUCH AN OUTSTANDING SEASON AT SEYMOUR HIGH SCHOOL.

AND I KNEW SHE PLAYED UNDER DONNA SULLIVAN.

AND SO I KNEW SHE WAS GOING TO BE A PART, A PIECE OF US BUILDING A REALLY OUTSTANDING SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM AT PURDUE.

>> NOW, YOU HAD TEAMS AT PURDUE THAT HAD HIGH ASPIRATIONS, LIKE I.U.

DID THIS SEASON, AND THEN LOST EARLIER THAN EXPECTED IN THE TOURNAMENT.

AS A COACH, HOW DO YOU COPE WITH THAT?

>> WELL, IT'S ALWAYS DISAPPOINTING TO LOSE, ESPECIALLY TO LOSE ON A LAST SECOND SHOT LIKE HAPPENED WITH THEM IN THE IOWA GAME AND THEN THAT HAPPENED WITH THEM IN THE LAST GAME AGAINST MIAMI.

YOU JUST DON'T DWELL ON THOSE LAST SECOND PLAYS.

YOU DWELL ON WHAT YOU DID WELL THIS YEAR.

YOU DWELL ON HOW YOU PROGRESSED.

YOU DWELL ON HOW YOU MADE PROGRESS, FROM DAY ONE, AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS SEASON TO THE END OF THE SEASON.

AND THEN YOU LOOK CAREFULLY AT THE GAMES THAT YOU LOST AND YOU FOCUSED, OKAY, WHAT CAN WE DO DIFFERENTLY?

WHAT CAN WE DO BETTER SO THAT THIS TIME NEXT YEAR, WITH EVERYONE RETURNING, I BELIEVE, EXCEPT FOR GRACE BERGER, WE DON'T LOSE THAT LAST GAME.

WE DO EVEN BETTER AND NOW WE'RE IN THE SWEET 16 AND WE'RE IN THE ELITE EIGHT AND WE'RE MAKING THE STEPS FORWARD.

SO YOU DELL DWELL ON WHAT WE DID WELL AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO GET BETTER.

>> NOW, YOU SUSTAINED SUCCESS AT PURDUE IN THE '90s.

SO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

DO YOU SEE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT TERI IS BUILDING AT I.U.?

>> WELL, TERI IS A REALLY SMART COACH AND SHE HAS A GREAT STAFF AND SO I KNOW SHE HAS THE ABILITY AS WELL AS THE EXPERIENCES NOW TO BUILD ON WHAT SHE'S ESTABLISHED.

AND I THINK IT TAKES A LOT OF TOUGHNESS.

YOU KNOW, YOU LEARN A LOT ABOUT DEALING WITH ADVERSITY.

YOU LEARN A LOT ABOUT WHEN YOU HAVE TOUGH LOSSES AND, YOU KNOW, I GUESS THAT OLD SAYING IS YOU CAN GET BITTER OR YOU CAN GET BETTER.

AND I THINK -- I THINK TERI IS IN A SITUATION WHERE, YOU KNOW, SHE'LL LEARN FROM THIS.

SHE WILL LEARN FROM THE IOWA GAME.

SHE WILL LEARN FROM THE MIAMI GAME.

SHE WILL TAKE THE TEAM THAT'S COMING BACK AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT HOLMES ANOTHER YEAR, CHLOE MOORE, PARRISH, SCALIA, TO HAVE EVERYONE COMING BACK BUT ONE PLAYER IS JUST WONDERFUL FOR HER.

>> WE JUST HAVE UNDER 30 SECONDS.

YOU FLOORED TERI BY WEARING AN I.U.

SWEATSHIRT, HOW CLOSE ARE YOU?

>> FOR ME TO WORK AT PURDUE FOR NINE YEARS AND WIN BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS AND GET TO THE FINAL FOUR AND TURN AROUND AND PUT ON AN I. U. SWEATSHIRT.

I KNOW THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL IN SHOCK, BUT THAT INDICATES TO EVERYONE HOW PROUD I AM OF TERI AND WHAT SHE'S DONE.

I'M NOW AN I.U.

FAN.

YOU KNOW, I'M SOLD ON TERI AND I'M SOLD ON THE HOOSIERS AND I'M THRILLED FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE FOR WOMEN'S BASKETBALL.

IN THE STATE OF INDIANA NEEDS TO BE GOOD.

NOTRE DAME, PURDUE, INDIANA, I'M FOR ALL OF THEM!

>> LIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THE INDIANA WOMEN HAVE INSPIRED A NEW GENERATION OF BASKETBALL PLALEERS ANDPLAYERS AND ALTHOUGH THEY ARE YOUNG, THEY ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THE GAME.

MOLLY MURPHY REPORTS.

>> KIDS IN THE COMMUNITY ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE SUCCESS OF THE I.U.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM.

AND THEY ARE LOOKING TO THE PLAYERS FOR INSPIRATION AND IMPORTANT LESSONS.

>> I LIKE THEM BECAUSE THEY NEVER ACTUALLY GIVE UP.

THEY KEEP TRYING AND TRYING AND THEY NEVER GIVE UP, EVEN IF THEY LOSE.

>> HEAD COACH TERI MOREN SAYS THE PLAYERS HAVE A SPECIAL IMPACT ON THE KIDS THAT LOOK UP TO THEM.

>> OUR PLAYERS UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A RESPONSIBILITY TO BEING A WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYER HERE IN BLOOMINGTON.

AND THEIR JOB IS NOT JUST TO GO OUT AND PERFORM, BUT IT'S ALSO TO BE AN INSPIRATION, YOU KNOW, FOR YOUNG GIRLS TO LOOK UP TO.

OF.

>> SEEING THE WOMEN'S KILLS IN PERSON -- WOMEN'S SKILLS IN PERSON HAVE TAUGHT THEM HOW TO PLAY THE GAME.

>> LIKE, IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO PLAY BASKETBALL, YOU CAN WATCH SOME OF THE GAMES AND THEY CAN HELP YOU PLAY.

>> WHEN YOU HAVE A TEAM THAT'S FULL OF THE MACKENZIES AND THE GRACE BERGERES AND THE SYDNEYS AND THE CHLOES AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO VERY FAR, RIGHT, TO SUPPORT THEM AND CHEER THEM ON.

>> HOOSIER PRIDE DOESN'T GO AWAY WHEN THE GAME IS OVER, THOUGH.

THESE KIDS REPRESENT THEIR TEAM OUTSIDE OF ASSEMBLY HALL WITH AN ICONIC DESIGN.

>> SO FIRST OF ALL, WHAT ARE YOU WEARING RIGHT NOW?

>> CANDY STRIPES.

>> WHY ARE YOU WEARING CANDY STRIPES.

>> BECAUSE I LOVE I.U.

>> THEY EACH HAVE THEIR OWN FAVORITE PLAYER THEY CHEER FOR AT THE GAMES.

>> DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE PLAYER.

>>> SYDNEY.

>> WHY SYDNEY PARRISH?

>> BECAUSE SHE GETS SO MANY THREES.

>> I LIKE THE I.U.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM BECAUSE I LOVE GOING TO THE GAMES AND I LOVE SARAH SCALIA.

>> WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE PLAYER.

>> SYDNEY PARRISH.

>> WHY SYDNEY?

>> BECAUSE SHE'S A GREAT TEAMMATE AND SHE ALWAYS GETS THE REBOUNDS AND SHE'S REALLY AGGRESSIVE.

>> OKAY.

HAS THAT TAUGHT YOU TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVE ON THE COURT?

>> YES, I WANT TO BE AS GOOD AS GRACE BERGER.

[ CHEERS ] >> YEAH!

>> GREAT JOB!

GREAT!

>> THAT'S HOW YOU DO IT.

>> FOR WTIU, I'M MOLLY MURPHY.

>> WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

>> SUPPORT FOR I.U.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL RISING TO THE TOP PROVIDED BY: