Miss Basketball Maya Makalusky making 'great strides' in debut IU women's basketball season
· Yahoo Sports
INDIANAPOLIS — There is often a mental block for freshmen playing in the Big Ten. You're fresh out of high school, playing against nationally ranked powerhouses with players who are more experienced, bigger and stronger than you.
That's the position 2025 Indiana Miss Basketball Maya Makalusky is fortunate enough to find herself in this season. And not only is the former Hamilton Southeastern standout playing significant minutes (26.5 per game) for her hometown Indiana Hoosiers, she's started in 21 of 31 games.
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"You have to be confident and know the kind of player you are," Makalusky, a 6-foot-3 forward, said following the 13th-seeded Hoosiers' 72-69 win over No. 12-seed Nebraska in the opening round of the Big Ten tournament Wednesday.
"Once you get over that mental hurdle, you're good to go," she continued. "But it's definitely a tough hurdle to get over."
Playing high-level AAU throughout high school had Makalusky as prepared as she could have been for life at this level, she said, but "the grind is the grind" and she had to find her way through "lots of curves and mistakes" the first leg of the season.
To that end, it helped that coach Teri Moren has maintained confidence in the nationally ranked freshman, giving her consistent minutes even as she started her career 2 for 12 from the field and 0 for 10 from 3.
In late November, Makalusky began finding her way.
Ten points on 4-of-8 shooting against Gonzaga over Thanksgiving weekend was followed by an efficient nine-point effort vs. Iowa State (3 for 4 from 3).
Makalusky earned the first start of her career a couple weeks later, marking the occasion with a then-career-high 22 points (six 3s), plus three assists and a couple steals vs. UL-Monroe.
"It was surreal," she said of cracking the starting lineup. "Nothing is guaranteed at this level, so I came in knowing I had to do whatever I can to get into that role. When I finally got it, I was like, I need to take advantage of this opportunity. Coach is putting a lot of trust in me, so I'm doing what I can day in and day out to keep proving why I should have that spot."
Though Makalusky has continued producing at a high level since joining the starting five — including a 29-point outburst vs. USC on Feb. 12 that saw her drill five 3-pointers — it wasn't until a couple games ago that the freshman felt everything click.
Makalusky realized she needed to establish herself as a more consistent threat, however that may be, to help alleviate the pressure on leading scorer Shay Ciezki. Her teammates and coaches were giving her confidence, she said, it was just a matter of her taking advantage, "not playing timid," and knowing what she can bring to the team.
"I'm a freshman. I don't need to come out here and do crazy stuff," said Makalusky, who's averaging 9.3 points on 45% shooting (37% 3s). "I've been leaning on the older girls and focusing on what they and (Moren) need me to do. That's really helped my mindset."
Back in Indianapolis on Wednesday afternoon — with her parents and HSE coach Brian Satterfield among those in attendance — Makalusky compiled a quietly clutch performance, registering nine points on 4-of-7 shooting in IU's come-from-behind win over Nebraska.
Her lone 3-pointer helped tilt the game midway through the third quarter, initiating a 10-0 run which she capped off with a layup that cut the deficit to eight. Makalusky assisted on an Edessa Noyan bucket to end the quarter, then helped sustain the go-ahead charge in the fourth with a layup.
"Maya has made great strides for us," Moren said. “With her and Odesssa becoming more aggressive, they’ve really helped take some of that pressure off of Shay (Czieski).”
Makalusky used to dream of moments like this, the opportunity to represent her home state. And while there is pressure as the hometown kid (and reigning Miss Basketball), now that she's here.
"I don't think people realize how honorable it is to wear Indiana across your chest as an Indiana kid," Makalusky said.
"Being in college now, you look back and see the sacrifices (your parents) made — the time, the money and the hours — it really does mean a lot," she said. "Even seeing that sticker go on the board. This is the stuff I talked with you about years ago. I dreamt of being in this position and to have this experience is surreal."
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana women's basketball: Maya Makalusky freshman season growth, stats