Indiana Hoosiers vs Penn State Lady Lions Picks and Predictions February 26th 2025

Rising Hoosiers Aim to Avoid Flop Against Penn State

After one of its biggest wins of the season, Indiana will try to avoid a letdown performance when it hosts Penn State in a Big Ten Conference matchup Wednesday evening in Bloomington, Ind.

Indiana (16-11, 7-9 Big Ten) is coming off a 73-58 victory over then-No. 13 Purdue, a game in which the Hoosiers played with intensity and defensive discipline to secure the statement win. Now, they look to string together consecutive victories for the first time since a five-game winning streak from Dec. 21 to Jan. 8.

Head coach Mike Woodson praised his team’s resilience, especially given their struggles in close games over the past month.

“We’ve been in a lot of close games over the last month and a half, man,” Woodson said. “And I just haven’t been able to get them over the hump. (Against Purdue), they refused to lose.”

The challenge now is to maintain that energy against Penn State (15-13, 5-12 Big Ten), a team that has found its offensive rhythm of late. The Nittany Lions have won two straight against Nebraska and Minnesota and are looking for their first three-game winning streak since a four-game stretch from Dec. 14 to Jan. 2.

Penn State’s Fast-Paced Attack

Penn State thrives on its up-tempo, high-scoring attack, averaging 79.4 points per game this season. That offensive firepower has been evident in recent wins, and head coach Mike Rhoades believes his team is hitting its stride.

“This is how we want to play, and this is how we want to be,” Rhoades said. “… The best teams I’ve coached have had a hot basketball and had high-assist games where different guys are scoring in different ways.”

The Nittany Lions are led by Ace Baldwin Jr., who averages 13.7 points and 7.3 assists per game. Baldwin orchestrates an offense that features four other double-digit scorers, including Yanic Konan Niederhauser (12.9 points per game), Nick Kern Jr. (11.9), and Zach Hicks (11.7).

Indiana’s Defense Must Step Up

Indiana’s success will largely depend on its ability to slow down Penn State’s offense while continuing to find balance on the offensive end. The Hoosiers’ top scorer, Oumar Ballo, is averaging 13.4 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, providing a strong inside presence. Malik Reneau (12.8 ppg), Mackenzie Mgbako (12.6), and Myles Rice (10.9) round out Indiana’s top offensive threats.

Woodson also emphasized the contributions of Luke Goode, Anthony Leal, and Trey Galloway, who played a key role in the Purdue upset with 15 points and a season-high-tying nine assists.

“They’re seniors,” Woodson said. “This is their last go.”

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Home-Court Advantage vs. Road Struggles

The Hoosiers hold a strong 12-4 record at home this season, where they have fed off the energy of their fans. Meanwhile, Penn State has struggled away from home, going just 2-7 in road games.

If Indiana can bring the same defensive intensity and execution it showed against Purdue, it will have a strong chance to extend its momentum and avoid a disappointing letdown. On the other hand, Penn State will look to push the tempo and capitalize on its offensive depth to steal a win in Bloomington.

Will the Hoosiers build on their upset victory, or will Penn State keep its late-season surge alive?