Indiana

Grace Berger willing to do ‘anything’ to provide spark for Fever. She did on Thursday.

Published

2 years ago

May 10, 2024

Grace Berger willing to do ‘anything’ to provide spark for Fever. She did on Thursday.

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Fever began their preseason home opener out of sorts. Missed shots, defensive miscues and careless turnovers defined the first quarter and change of Thursday’s game vs. Atlanta.

Then came Grace Berger.

Despite veteran guards Kelsey Mitchell (left ankle) and Erica Wheeler (illness) being out on Thursday, Berger didn’t play in the first quarter against the Dream. When the second-year guard subbed in with 7:39 left in the second quarter, the Fever trailed by 15.

Benbow: You had to see it to believe it. The Caitlin Clark effect is real and it’s potent.

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Berger assisted on Fever baskets in her first three possessions on the floor to catalyze a quick 7-0 run. By the time the quarter ended, Berger had two more assists and Indiana was down just a point.

Berger finished with six points, five rebounds and seven assists. Her presence brought the Fever back into the game they eventually won 83-80.

“She came out there and she stabilized us,” Fever coach Christie Sides said. “She got us into some offense and we got good looks off it.”

Berger knows her playing time will fluctuate. With a guard rotation headlined by No. 1 overall pick Caitlin Clark and the two highest-paid players on the team — Mitchell and Wheeler — getting Berger involved isn’t a priority. But the IU grad feels she can bring a necessary punch off the bench.

“As someone coming off the bench, it’s good that I get to kind of analyze the start of the game and can see what my team needs,” Berger said. “And then hopefully, I can come in and meet that need in any way I can. Whether that’s rebounding, defense, running the team — really anything that I can do to provide that spark off the bench.”

After a few minutes of Berger running point guard, Clark subbed back in to play alongside Berger. The Fever ran a three-guard lineup of Clark, Berger and second-round rookie Celeste Taylor. With starting post players NaLyssa Smith and Aliyah Boston down low, the Fever’s momentum continued.

When Berger first entered the game, she was the team’s point guard. When she played with Clark and Taylor, Berger essentially became the small forward in that lineup. Berger played well enough to be in Indiana’s closing lineup, where she played shooting guard with Clark at point guard and free agent addition Katie Lou Samuelson at small forward.

The Fever have an abundance of lineup combinations to try throughout the year. If Berger can effectively alternate between playing three different positions on the floor, she’ll bring substantial value to what Sides and her staff do in 2024.

Berger was tasked with multiple roles in her 19 minutes of action, and she answered the challenge, finishing with a game-high +16 +/-.

“Once I got out there, it didn’t matter who else was out there,” Berger said. “I felt comfortable running in the system.”

In a league as exclusive as the WNBA, players must do what it takes to stick around. Many players have to identify one niche skill and aim to perfect it. But Berger’s value comes from being able to do a little bit of everything.

At 6-0, Berger is tall enough and strong enough to go against small forwards. But her ball-handling and vision are sharp enough to play point guard in stretches.

There are only 144 guaranteed spots in this league, and Berger is a member of a competitive guard room this season. If she continues to show extreme versatility, Berger won’t just stick on the final roster — she’ll solidify a spot in the rotation.

Follow IndyStar sports reporter Zion Brown on X at @z10nbr0wn.

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Indiana

If they make it through this week, Ohio State and Indiana would give Big Ten a historic title game

Published

6 hours ago

November 25, 2025

Press Room

If they make it through this week, Ohio State and Indiana would give Big Ten a historic title game

No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Indiana are closing in on a historic matchup in Indianapolis.

If the Buckeyes and Hoosiers win this week against rivals Michigan and Purdue — and in Ohio State’s case that’s been a big if lately — they’d both bring undefeated overall records into the Big Ten title game. That’s never happened since the conference began playing a championship game in 2011.

In fact, only three times since Michigan State’s arrival pushed the league to 10 teams in 1953 has the Big Ten finished its regular season with more than one unbeaten team in league play. In 2013, Michigan State won the Legends Division at 8-0, and Ohio State won the Leaders Division with the same record. The Spartans beat the Buckeyes in the title game — but even that year, Michigan State had taken an early loss outside the Big Ten to Notre Dame.

In 2002, Ohio State and Iowa both went 8-0 in league play. The Buckeyes went to — and won — the BCS championship game, and Iowa headed to the Orange Bowl.

The situation was far more acrimonious in 1973, when Michigan and Ohio State played to a tie, and each finished the conference season 7-0-1 — and 10-0-1 overall. Athletic directors voted to send the Buckeyes to the Rose Bowl.

According to Sportradar, only one FBS conference championship game has ever pitted two teams with unbeaten overall records. Alabama beat Florida 32-13 to win the Southeastern Conference in 2009. Of course, that year the losing team was finished as a national title contender because there was no playoff yet.

The stakes will be lower if Ohio State (11-0, 8-0, No. 1 CFP) and Indiana (11-0, 8-0, No. 2 CFP) make it to Indy with unblemished records, but it would still be quite a finish to the Big Ten season.

Star power

An Ohio State-Indiana title game could also become a de facto Heisman Trophy decider between Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin and Hoosiers QB Fernando Mendoza. Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love is also a contender, but his final pitch is this week because the Irish aren’t in a conference and thus won’t be in a title game.

Going bowling

Ohio State, Indiana, No. 5 Oregon (10-1, 7-1), No. 15 Michigan (9-2, 7-1), No. 19 Southern California (8-3, 6-2), Washington (8-3, 5-3), Iowa (7-4, 5-3), Illinois (7-4, 4-4), Nebraska (7-4, 4-4), Minnesota (6-5, 4-4) and Northwestern (6-5, 4-4) have reached the six-win mark for bowl eligibility. The winner of the game between Penn State (5-6, 2-6) and Rutgers (5-6, 2-6) joins them.

Hot seats

As seems to be the trend nowadays, a lot of these situations were resolved before the end of the regular season. Penn State fired coach James Franklin in the middle of October, for example.

Also, Wisconsin has already said it is keeping Luke Fickell, and Maryland is standing behind Mike Locksley.

The big remaining question is whether Jonathan Smith can survive a second straight bad season to start his tenure at Michigan State.

Youth movement

Michigan’s Bryce Underwood and Maryland’s Malik Washington have been starting at quarterback as freshmen all season. Washington has had to throw more, but Underwood’s most important game is still in front of him.

Ohio State freshman Bo Jackson has rushed for 835 yards in 10 games.

Recruiting watch

Oregon, not Ohio State, has the Big Ten’s top-ranked 2026 class according to 247 Sports. The Ducks are ranked No. 5 nationally, with the Buckeyes at No. 6 and Michigan at No. 11. Washington is No. 15.

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

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Indiana

Pedestrian, driver seriously injured in I-65 crash in Hobart, Indiana State Police say

Published

24 hours ago

November 25, 2025

Press Room

Pedestrian, driver seriously injured in I-65 crash in Hobart, Indiana State Police say

ByABC7 Chicago Digital Team

Tuesday, November 25, 2025 4:29AM

2 seriously hurt in I-65 crash in Hobart: Indiana State Police

Two people suffered serious injuries in a crash along Interstate 65 in northwest Indiana on Monday afternoon.

HOBART, Ind. (WLS) — Two people suffered serious injuries in a crash along Interstate 65 in northwest Indiana on Monday afternoon.

Indiana State Police said troopers responded to the crash on southbound I-65, about 1 mile north of 61st Avenue, in Hobart around 2:30 p.m.

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Police said a roadway contractor’s white 2021 Ford F150, pulling a utility trailer, was parked on the right shoulder while a pedestrian collected debris in a ditch.

The driver of a white 2006 Chevrolet Silverado was traveling in the right lane when they left the lane and struck the F-150, police said.

Police said the crash pushed the F-150 into the pedestrian. The Silverado then overturned before stopping in the right lane.

The pedestrian had to be airlifted to the University of Chicago Medical Center. The driver was also hurt in the crash and was taken to an Indiana hospital.

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Indiana

Shots, blocks & boards: Vote for IndyStar girls basketball players of the week (Nov. 17-22)

Published

2 days ago

November 24, 2025

Press Room

Shots, blocks & boards: Vote for IndyStar girls basketball players of the week (Nov. 17-22)

IndyStar will be recognizing the top girls basketball players in Indiana with our players of the week poll.

Scroll to the bottom of the article to vote. Voting is open until noon Friday.

Congratulations to Plainfield’s Abrielle Dugan on being voted Player of the Week for Nov. 10-15! The junior led the Quakers to a hard-fought win over Brownsburg, scoring a team-high 18 points in the six-point win. She went for five points, dished out two assists and pulled in four rebounds in a win over county foe Danville.

Here were the top performers from the past week.

Precious Anuka, Cathedral

Anuka went for 18 points, six steals and three assists to spark a 57-56 win over Jennings County on Friday.

Konley Ault, Bluffton

The 5-8 wing/guard scored 33 points on 14-of-17 shooting in a 78-25 win over Mississinewa, then went for 15 in a 15-point win over Huntington North. Ault also totaled seven rebounds, six assists and 10 steals for the week.

Ava Emberton, Brownsburg

The freshman scored 18 points on six 3-pointers and dished out five assists in a win over Noblesville, then dropped 19 points on Pendleton Heights in a 78-58 win on Saturday.

Mollie Ernstes, Jennings County

The senior Kansas commit dropped 31 points in a 64-59 upset of 4A’s Warsaw on Saturday. Ernstes was a guest on The Scorers Table this week. Watch here.

Gracyn Gilliard, Center Grove

Gilliard led the Trojans to their third consecutive Johnson County tournament, totaling 77 points over three games. She set a school record with 37 points in a 49-42 win over Indian Creek that also saw her convert a school-record 17 free throws. She followed that with 20 points and and a couple steals vs. Whiteland, then 20 more points and three steals vs. Franklin in the final. She did not play the fourth quarter against Whiteland or Franklin.

Lilly Maple, East Central

Maple kicked off her week by scoring 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting vs. Columbus East, then tallied 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting vs. Hammond Central on Saturday at Pike. She also totaled 14 rebounds (11 vs. Columbus East), nine steals, seven assists and seven blocks (five vs. Hammond Central).

Mia Miller, Scecina

Miller went for 12 points, 20 rebounds, five steals, two assists and a block vs. Purdue Broad Ripple, then notched 32 points, nine rebounds and six steals in a win over Herron.

Carley Moellering, Homestead

After being limited to five points in a loss to Norwell, Moellering went for 14 points in a blowout win over Plainfield on Saturday at Sneakers For Santa.

Addison Norris, Norwell

The senior standout helped spark a win over Homestead, generating 24 points with three triples and a 7-for-9 mark at the line. Norris (and teammate Vanessa Rosswurm) were guests on The Scorers Table last week. Watch here.

Paige Schnaus, Gibson Southern

Schnaus scored 24 points and pulled in 18 rebounds to lead Gibson Southern to a 14-point win over Princeton. She converted 10-of-18 shots from the field and hit a 3-pointer. She also tallied 18 points, six rebounds, three steals and two blocks in a blowout win over Forest Park.

Amelia Story, Purdue Poly

Story scored 21 points to lead Purdue Poly to victory over Heritage Christian. She went 7-for-10 from 3 and also dished out six assists in the win.

Jordyn Suggs, Lawrence North

Suggs continued her strong debut campaign, scoring 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting in a 62-57 win over North Central. The freshman also picked up a steal.

Aleia Sultzer, Ben Davis

The senior scored 19 points on 8-of-16 shooting in a 62-50 win over Plainfield. She also picked up seven rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block. Sultzer tallied 11 points, five rebounds, an assist and two steals in a loss to Warren Central.

Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen. Get IndyStar’s high school coverage sent directly to your inbox with the High School Sports newsletter.

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