BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (Interstat) — The Indiana Hoosiers opened their 2025-26 women’s basketball season with a commanding 80-46 victory over the Lipscomb Bisons on Tuesday night at a vibrant Assembly Hall.

A crowd of 7,503 watched as the Hoosiers, leveraging a dominant first quarter and a stifling defensive effort, never trailed and steadily built an insurmountable lead against the visiting Bisons.

The game was effectively decided in the opening period. Indiana exploded for 25 points while holding Lipscomb to just 12, establishing a 13-point lead that would only grow. The Hoosiers’ offense operated with ruthless efficiency, shooting 50 percent from the floor for the game on 33-of-66 shooting. Defensively, they forced 17 Lipscomb turnovers, converting them into easy scoring opportunities while committing only 10 of their own.

Senior forward Zania Socka-Nguemen was a force in the paint for Indiana, leading all scorers with 19 points on efficient interior shooting. She added six rebounds in her 25 minutes of action. She was complemented perfectly by guard Shay Ciezki, who poured in 22 points, showcasing her scoring versatility with drives to the basket and a three-pointer. Ciezki also contributed five rebounds and three assists.

The Hoosiers’ offensive cohesion was evident, as they tallied 11 assists and posted an offensive rating of 107.1 points per 100 possessions. Guard Lenée Beaumont provided a steady hand, scoring 10 points and dishing out three assists, often serving as the catalyst for the team’s fluid ball movement.

Lipscomb, which fell to 0-1 with the loss, struggled to find any consistent offensive rhythm against Indiana’s pressure. The Bisons shot just 29.8 percent from the field, making only 17 of their 57 attempts. Their struggles were compounded by a 4-of-23 performance from beyond the three-point arc.

McKayla Miller was a bright spot for the Bisons, leading her team with 12 points. Molly Heard also reached double figures, finishing with 11 points and five rebounds. However, Lipscomb’s most impactful player was arguably Hope Counts, who anchored the defense with five blocked shots and pulled down seven rebounds despite scoring only three points. As a team, Lipscomb recorded nine blocks but could not overcome their offensive woes, which included an offensive rating of just 63.7.

After the explosive first quarter, Indiana maintained its intensity, outscoring Lipscomb 18-8 in the second period to take a 43-20 lead into halftime. The Bisons showed a brief spark after the break, scoring 19 points in the third quarter, but the Hoosiers answered with 22 of their own to extinguish any hope of a comeback. Indiana closed out the game by winning the fourth quarter 15-7.

The Hoosiers’ depth was on full display, with contributions coming from across the roster. Nevaeh Caffey provided nine points and five rebounds, while Valentyna Kadlecova added six points. Edessa Noyan controlled the glass with six rebounds in just 14 minutes of play.

With the victory, Indiana begins its season 1-0 and will look to build on this performance when they host Illinois-Chicago on Friday. Lipscomb, now 0-1, will seek its first win of the season when it returns home to face Sewanee on Thursday.