OKLAHOMA VS. INDIANA: MARCH MADNESS PREDICTIONS OU must keep Indiana off the 3-point line

A trip to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 will be on the line when the OU women’s basketball team faces Indiana on Monday in Bloomington, Indiana.

No. 5-seeded OU (23-9, 15-3 Big 12) made it out of the first round on Saturday by earning a 73-70 win over No. 12 Florida Gulf Coast. The Sooners are searching for their first Sweet 16 berth since the 2012-13 campaign. Meanwhile, No. 4 Indiana (25-5, 15-3 Big Ten) secured an 89-56 win in its first-round matchup against No. 13 Fairfield. The Hoosiers are looking to reach the Sweet 16 for the third time in the last four seasons.

Here’s a look at what to expect in Monday’s matchup (5:30 p.m., ESPN2):

Who are Indiana women’s basketball’s top players?

Indiana is led by Mackenzie Holmes, a graduate forward who’s averaging team highs of 20 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game.

Holmes is an All-Big Ten first team selection. The 6-foot-3 veteran is an excellent post player with great touch around the rim, and she’ll present a challenge for the likes of Skylar Vann and Sahara Williams.

The Hoosiers have another All-Big Ten first team selection in junior Sara Scalia. The 5-10 guard is averaging 16.2 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.

Scalia will test OU’s perimeter defense. She’s shooting a blistering 43.2% from deep on 7.6 attempts per game.

Can Indiana contain OU’s high-powered offense?

OU is averaging 76.7 points per game, which ranks second in the Big 12. The Sooners have a lethal offense that’s led by Vann, who’s averaging 15 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. The senior forward was also named the Big 12’s Co-Player of the Year.

But Indiana is only allowing an average of 63.8 points per game, which ranks second in the Big Ten.

The Hoosiers are anchored defensively by the duo of Holmes and senior guard Chloe Moore-McNeil. Both players received Big Ten All-Defensive Team honors.

If OU wants to advance, it must keep Indiana off the 3-point line.

The Hoosiers are shooting 40.2% from deep as a team this season, which is first in the nation.

Scalia is the main threat, but others such as sophomore guard Yarden Garzon (43.8%) and senior guard Sydney Parrish (39.6%) are also dangerous.

OU women vs. Indiana prediction in March Madness

The Sooners shouldn’t be counted out of this one.

OU has a big-time player in Vann, who’ll even be a handful for a good defender in Holmes. And if shooters such as senior Lexy Keys and junior Payton Verhulst get hot from deep, the Hoosiers could be in trouble.

Still, Indiana is the more well-rounded team. It has a good interior defense, a two-way threat in Holmes and a wealth of 3-point shooters.

It’ll be close, but Indiana will do just enough to survive in front of its home crowd and advance to the Sweet 16. Prediction: Indiana 73, OU 71