Indiana
How to Watch USC Trojans vs. Indiana Hoosiers in Big Ten Tournament: Preview
The top-seeded USC Trojans women’s basketball team returns to action on Friday to take on the Indiana Hoosiers in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament. USC earned a double-bye as the top seed. The game will tip off at 9:00 a.m. PT at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana and air on the Big Ten Network.
USC has put together a historic season to this point, boasting a 26-2 record, the Trojans best record through 28 games since the 1982-83 season when they won a national championship. They handed crosstown rival UCLA their only two losses of the season and claimed their first regular season conference championship since 1994.
Trojans star guard JuJu Watkins has followed her sensational freshman season with an even better sophomore campaign. Watkins has put together a dominate season on both ends of the floors. She led the conference in scoring (24.4 points per game) and was top five in blocks (6.7 per game) and steals (2.1 per game). The Los Angeles native was named Big Ten Player of the Year and earned unanimous All-Big Ten First Team and Big Ten All-Defensive Team honors.
Stanford grad transfer Kiki Iriafen has been instrumental to the Trojans success in her lone season in the Cardinal and Gold. Iriafen is averaging 18.1 points and 8.3 rebounds per game for USC. A year after winning the Katrina McClain Award, presented annually to the top power forward in women’s basketball, Iriafen is a finalist for the award this season. She was a unanimous selection to the All-Big Ten First Team.
Senior center Raya Marshall has anchored a Trojans team that led the Big Ten in blocks and offensive and defensive boards. Marshall earned Big Ten All-Defensive Team honors for her performance this season.
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MORE: 5-Star Quarterback Ryder Lyons Wearing USC Trojans Gear At Recruiting Camp
Ninth-seeded Indiana defeated eighth-seeded Oregon 78-62 on Thursday in the second round of the tournament. Four Indiana players reached double figures, led by junior guard Yarden Garzon’s 18 points and sophomore guard Shay Ciezki’s 17 points.
USC and Indiana played back on Jan. 19. The Trojans fell behind by 11 in the second quarter, but battled back to take a six-point lead at halftime. The Hoosiers came storming back in third quarter and took a one-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.
A 12-0 run by the Trojans halfway through the fourth pushed them ahead in what was a scrappy contest to hold off Indiana late for a 73-66 victory. The Hoosiers pushed USC for all 40 minutes and made life difficult for Watkins, who shot just 6 of 16 from floor but still finished the day with 22 points. Iriafen and freshman guard Kennedy Smith each scored 14 points, and every starter finished in double-figures.
The Trojans are 23-0 when scoring over 70 points, and 22-0 when they hold opponents to under 70 points.
USC is almost a lock to earn a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament regardless of what happens in Indianapolis this weekend, but the Trojans have their eyes set winning the tournament championship and earning the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament.
Indiana
Young male dead after shooting on Indy’s northeast side
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Police say one “young man” is dead after a shooting at the 1200 block of Rue Rabelais at about 7:19 p.m. according to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
That is near the intersection of 56th Street and Binford Boulevard.
Police say the victim was taken to Riley Hospital where he later died. Investigators say they are still working to identify the victim.
There was no known information about a suspect. Police did say that they believe this is a targeted incident.
There was no other information immediately available.
This story has been updated with information from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
Indiana
Mother and boyfriend accused in death of 4-year-old boy found in closet
This story contains descriptions of distressing circumstances involving children.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – A mother and her boyfriend were accused of causing the death of a 4-year-old-boy found dead in a basement closet on Monday.
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department arrested Angel Lovely, 37, and Nicholas Bergdoll, 36, on preliminary charges of neglect of a dependent causing death. The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office by Friday had not filed formal charges.
A sibling found the 4-year-old dead on Monday, according to investigators. Lovely and Bergdoll were in the home at the time but told police they were asleep when he died.
Born premature with cerebral palsy, the 4-year old couldn’t walk, was nonverbal, and ate through a feeding tube. Lovely claimed she would rarely put the child in the closet, only “when he won’t stop screaming” or when she “needed a break.”
But when investigators interviewed Lovely’s three other children, they said that the boy “stays in the closet all day,” and that “mom locks him in the closet” and “does not pay attention to him.”
An exact cause of death hasn’t been determined, but the child was found with blood in his mouth. Lovely said he’d been aspirating.
One of Lovely’s children told investigators they heard the 4-year-old gagging but didn’t say anything because it wasn’t unusual.
A neighbor living on Monticello Drive, Michelle Johnson, told News 8, “It’s horrible. It breaks my heart.”
Johnson had seen the other children outside the home but never knew there was a boy in a wheelchair living there. She said if she suspected they were being neglected, she would have called police or the Indiana Department of Child Services.
“We’re supposed to be a village and raise kids together,” Johnson said. “That’s really heartbreaking.”
Bergdoll told police, according to the investigators’ report, that he didn’t agree with putting the child in the closet: “I am not going to tell her how to f****** raise her kids.”
“I’m sickened,” IMPD Public Information Officer Tommy Thompson told News 8 in an interview.
“Think about putting yourself in that situation. Every day, do you want to be in a closet? Locked up, no light?”
Court records show the Department of Child Services had removed the boy from Lovely’s care because of medical neglect, but she regained custody last year against DCS recommendations.
Thompson, the neighbor, hopes the tragedy can be an opportunity for others to speak up when they see a child who can’t speak up for themselves. “Maybe you’ve got to make that tough phone call. Reach out. The city has resources.”
Johnson wishes she would have known what was happening so she could have said something. “Children don’t have a voice and we’re supposed to be their voice.”
Help is available for victims of domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual assault. Below is a list of suggested resources, both national and local:
Indiana
Police arrest suspect in Westfield homicide
WESTFIELD, Ind. (WISH) — Police have arrested someone in connection to a homicide earlier this month in the Hamilton County city.
In a Friday night social media post, the Westfield Police Department announced the arrest but gave no details, including who was arrested or what preliminary charges the person may face.
“Due to the active nature of this case, limited details are available for release at this time,” the post said.
As WISHTV.com previously reported, James “Matt” Lushin, 47, was found dead shortly after 7:25 p.m. March 12 with trauma at his home in the 3900 block of Westfield Road, also known as State Road 32.
Social media posts from the scene showed police tape and emergency vehicles at a red brick house between Shady Nook Road and Gray Road.
Lushin’s obituary said the Kokomo native was a key partner with the real estate investment company, FLF Property. The obituary also said, “Matt was also a respected and accomplished member of the international poker community. He traveled the world competing in tournaments and built an impressive and successful career.”
Police have previously said the death was believed to be isolated, posing no ongoing threat.
Officials have not released a specific cause or manner of death.
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