How it Happened: Indiana begins regular season with 80-46 win over Lipscomb

Indiana women’s basketball began its 2025-26 regular season in the win column, as it got the best of the Lipscomb Bisons with an 80-46 final score.

The Hoosiers got out to an early lead and never looked back, as they were clearly the faster and more physical team for the vast majority of the ballgame. Indiana dominated in the paint, with Zania Socka-Nguemen scoring 19 points — all of those coming from inside or at the free-throw line.

Shay Ciezki led all scorers with 22, as she was able to score in transition and be a true leader of this Indiana ballclub that has so many new faces.

Indiana totaled 56 points in the paint, as it was the aggressor down low on offense, but it was equally impressive on defense as well. Lipscomb shot just 17-for-57 from the floor, as the Hoosiers played energetic defense against the Bisons.

IU shot 33-for-66 from the floor, but just 3-for-15 from 3-point range, as it was impressive inside but didn’t have a great night from deep. That didn’t matter, though, as the energy and intensity early on were enough to secure a Game 1 win over Lipscomb.

Indiana able to get out to early lead

Against a mid-major nonconference opponent, getting out to an early lead is exactly what you expect, and Indiana certainly checked off that box against Lipscomb.

The score was 6-6 a minute and a half in, but Indiana responded with a 17-2 run to give it a 15-point lead less than six minutes later. The Hoosiers were running up the floor with ease, as they were simply too much for the Bisons to handle early and often.

Lipscomb shot just 5-for-15 in the first quarter, as Indiana was playing fantastic defense on the perimeter and inside. The Hoosiers forced four early turnovers and were playing with a ton of energy on the defensive side of the ball.

On offense, Indiana was great in the paint, with 16 of its 21 first-quarter points coming from near the basket. It continued this trend throughout the ballgame, as Socka-Nguemen led the charge and was dominant in backing down the Lipscomb defense.

When the first half came to a close, the Hoosiers were ahead 43-20 due to their ability to score fast-break and paint points, but their outside shooting was lacking. Against a mid-major school, though, this was enough to secure a large lead and cruise to victory.

Zania Socka-Nguemen dominates early and often

Socka-Nguemen didn’t just dominate early on, as she put on a show even as the Hoosiers possessed a 30-plus-point lead in the fourth quarter.

When it was all said and done, the 6-foot-3 transfer from UCLA totaled 19 points on 9-for-10 shooting, with all of her points coming in the paint.

Socka-Nguemen showed that she might be the X-factor of this Indiana team. Last season, the Hoosiers lacked the inside presence they had with Mackenzie Holmes in previous years, and it showed with an up-and-down season.

If Socka-Nguemen can dominate the paint like she did against Lipscomb, IU should be in for a successful season. It wasn’t just proven in the results — she seemed to move well and have great technique with or without the ball.

As a key transfer piece, you knew that Socka-Nguemen would be a key contributor, but against Lipscomb, she was the Hoosiers’ most important piece.

Ciezki and Beaumont show leadership as returners

On this year’s Indiana roster, there are just three scholarship players who returned from a year ago, which has certainly been a talking point ahead of the regular season.

While forward Sydney Fenn will remain out for this season, the other two returners, Ciezki and Lenee Beaumont, have both assumed the role of key leaders for this new-look group. Against Lipscomb, they showed just how good they can be as a duo in Indiana’s backcourt.

They both scored in double figures, but each of Ciezki and Beaumont were able to share the ball as well. They each assisted three times and were integral in getting the ball inside to Socka-Nguemen and the other Indiana forwards to create success in the paint.

The 3-point shooting wasn’t quite there for these two, as they combined to go just 2-for-8, but in a game where Indiana had the size and speed advantage, it didn’t matter. Ciezki and Beaumont were able to make impressive defensive plays, push the pace and make sure that the Hoosiers were in control the entire time.

Beaumont may have been out all of last season due to injury, but she didn’t skip a beat in this one. She showed that she can be the defensive stopper the Hoosiers need and also be a key offensive piece as well.

Ciezki is clearly the leader of this group, and she might be even better than she was a year ago. With these two guards playing up to standard, Indiana was able to secure a one-sided win to begin its season 1-0.

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