The Hoosiers have another shooter.
Welcome back to Crimson Quarry’s 2024-25 Indiana women’s basketball player preview series. Today, we’re investigating junior guard Shay Ciezki.
The Story So Far
Ciezki transferred to Indiana from Penn State during the offseason. The 5-7 Buffalo, N.Y., native started nearly every game and established herself as one of the best 3-point shooters in the Big Ten during her two seasons as a Nittany Lion.
A 2023-24 All-Big Ten Honorable Mention, Ciezki averaged 11.5 points, 2.4 assists, and 2.1 rebounds per game while shooting 42.3% from the field last year.
Offense
At 39.6%, Indiana was the nation’s most accurate 3-point shooting team last year. However, with the departure of deep threat Sara Scalia, the Hoosiers needed to reload on the perimeter. That’s where Ciezki comes in.
Ciezki was the Big Ten’s second-best 3-point shooter as a freshman (41.6%) and one of just 85 Division I players with over 200 attempts from 3-point range last year. Penn State, a squad that boasted the NCAA’s seventh-best offense in 2023-24 (82.7 ppg) trusted Ciezki as their shooter and gave her the greenlight from wherever.
The Nittany Lions play fast. Ciezki is quick with the ball and can get to the rim consistently. The knock on her offensive game is turnovers but Indiana’s scheme should put less pressure on her to make plays.
Defense
At 5-7, Ciezki holds her own against smaller guards but can be targeted in the pick ‘n roll. She doesn’t foul much, though, and connected on 90.2% of her free throw attempts last year. No returning Hoosier shoots that well from the stripe.
Ciezki will be a late-game asset when conference play begins. Hopefully, she’s quick to pick up the Hoosiers’ defensive scheme.
Outlook
Our Ciezki scouting report highlighted the similarities between Shay and Sara Scalia. Ciezki will play a Scalia-type role for the Hoosiers this year— but will it be that of the latter’s first or second season in Bloomington?