Kicking things off with Lex.
Welcome to Crimson Quarry’s 2024-25 Indiana women’s basketball player preview series. Starting today, we’ll preview every Hoosier until the season begins on November 4. We kick things off with junior guard Lexus Bargesser.
The Story So Far
Months after knee surgery, Bargesser was eased into college basketball as a freshman in 2022-23. That season, she played a minor role for the Big Ten Champion Hoosiers, averaging 7.6 minutes and 2.1 points per contest. The 5-9 Grass Lake, Mich., native’s run came primarily as a defender; not much was asked of her offensively.
Bargesser was much more involved last year. She tripled her scoring (4.2 ppg) and usage (21.7 mpg) figures while serving as Indiana’s sixth player and even made her first career start on January 21 at Purdue.
Bargesser ended up starting eight games in place of an injured Sydney Parrish and helped the Hoosiers go 6-2 during that span. It took her a bit to find her stride offensively but shots started to fall as Bargesser’s playing time increased.
A 10-point, 6-assist effort in a banger of a 94-91 win versus Michigan State on February 8 stands out. Bargesser can do more than just defend.
Offense
An underrated passer, Bargesser finished third on the team with 2.1 assists per game last year. She can make defenses rotate and hit open teammates but rarely scores herself.
Bargesser’s shooting form has been subject to scrutiny in the past. She worked hard to adopt a new shot over the years and the coaching staff is impressed with her efforts.
“I think she’s going to be more of a person our opponents are going to have to guard,” said head coach Teri Moren at Indiana Media Day on September 18. Moren added that getting Bargesser ready to catch and shoot will be a point of emphasis this season.
Defense
Bargesser might be the best athlete on the roster and is one of the Hoosiers’ top defenders. She can be trusted with any top assignment this season, although most will fall to reigning Big Ten All-Defensive Teamer Chloe Moore-McNeil.
Bargesser defends with the tenacity we’ve come to expect from Indiana guards and blocked 11 shots last season despite being the shortest player on the team. She can jump out the gym.
Outlook
With the departure of Sara Scalia, Indiana has a starting guard spot to fill. Given her experience in the first five last year, Bargesser is a logical choice, but the Hoosiers need points.
Scalia was the team’s second-leading scorer (16.3 ppg) and the Big Ten’s second-best 3-point shooter (42.7%) in 2023-24. Coach Moren hinted that Bargesser could be more of a deep threat this season and keeping that range in the starting lineup would allow Indiana to run similar sets to last year.
Sharpshooter or not we are hopeful that Bargesser’s summer work will pay off. No. 1 needs to score the basketball this season and we think she will.