Indiana Women's Basketball: Mackenzie Holmes to Start in NCAA Tournament Second Round

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana women's basketball starting forward Mackenzie Holmes is back in the starting lineup for the second round of the NCAA Tournament versus the 9-seed Miami Hurricanes.

The senior sat out in last game's 77-47 victory versus Tennessee Tech due to left knee soreness, an injury she said she didn't want to re-aggravate. Last season, the Gorham, Maine native missed eight games after having left knee surgery, so naturally, the program wanted to be cautious.

Indiana basketball did say however, Holmes wasn't out — she was just sitting the bench. In her place, freshman forward Lilly Meister got her number called and finished with seven points, four rebounds and tied for a game-high three steals.

Monday night versus the Hurricanes, Holmes was spotted warming up and ready to roll as the stakes continue to get higher in March Madness.

This is the last game Indiana women's basketball will play inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall as the winner of the matchup will be headed to Greenville, S.C. for a shot at the Sweet 16 and eventually Elite Eight rounds of the tournament.

Last season, the Hoosiers advanced to the Sweet 16 but lost to eventual national runner up UConn. This season with a stacked roster including Holmes, the Hoosiers earned their first Big Ten regular season title since 1983 and hold a 28-3 overall record.

With tipoff in a few minutes, Holmes' name was called as a starter last as the packed Hall erupted with cheer welcoming its Big Ten Defensive Player of the year back to the lineup.

Related stories on Indiana women's basketball

• NEXT WOMAN UP IS LILLY MEISTER Hoosier freshman forward Lilly Meister had a job to do when replacing senior forward Mackenzie Holmes, who sat out the first round of the NCAA Tournament due to left knee soreness. Meister's performance in her first career start proved to be what Indiana needed to move onto the second round. CLICK HERE
• HOW TO WATCH INDIANA VS. MIAMI IN SECOND ROUND Here's how to watch Indiana women's basketball face 9-seed Miami in the second round of the NCAA Tournament inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Monday night. CLICK HERE
• WHAT BERGER, MEISTER SAID AFTER FIRST ROUND WIN Here's what Indiana women's basketball guard Grace Berger and forward Lilly Meister said following the Hoosiers' 77-47 win over Tennessee Tech in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. CLICK HERE