Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Rice
Hoosiers Advance in WNIT With 67-57 Win Over Rice
3/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 18, 2006
Box Score
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Led by seniors Cyndi Valentin (26 points) and Jenny DeMuth (20 points), the Indiana women's basketball team advanced to round of 16 in the Women's National Invitation Tournament with a convincing 67-57 win over Rice at Branch McCracken Court at Assembly Hall on March 18. The Hoosiers are 18-13 overall and 6-3 in post-season WNIT play, while the Owls capped their season with an 18-14 mark.
Senior Angela Hawkins added nine points and 10 rebounds, while freshman Whitney Thomas also pulled down 10 boards in the win.
"We were a little concerned with the amount of time we had off inbetween games," Indiana head coach Sharon Versyp said. "But we came out and played hard today. The senior leadership on this squad is just amazing. Cyndi (Valentin), Jenny (DeMuth) and Angie (Hawkins) were the reason we won this game. Rice is a good team, they never gave up."
DeMuth set the tone early for the Hoosiers by netting IU's first six points. A stingy Indiana defense held the Owls to only two points through the 14:20 mark in the half. Valentin increased the Hoosiers' lead to 14-6 when she drained a long trey with 12:45 remaining in the half.
Valentin drew the foul and made the basket at the 8:37 mark to widen Indiana's lead to 19-9. On the next Hoosier possession, the senior guard sank a pair of free throws to raise the score to 21-9.
A trio of layups from Valentin, DeMuth and junior Leah Enterline pushed Indiana's lead to 27-13 with 6:12 left in the first period. To give IU the 15 point lead, Valentin and junior Annika Boyd drove the length of the court for a layup and the 30-15 advantage.
Rice cut into to the Hoosier lead with a three-pointer to put the score at 32-23 with 2:30 left in the half. To end the half, Valentin waited as the clock wound down before driving inside to notch a 38-28 score at the mid-way point of the game.
For the half, Indiana shot 48 percent from the field, 33 percent from three-point range and an impressive 69 percent from the free-throw line, while holding Rice to only 39 percent shooting. Valentin led all scorers at the half with 18 points and two assists, while DeMuth netted 14 and hauled in three rebounds in IU's 10-point halftime lead.
Rice burst out of the gates to open the second half with six quick points. With 15:50 on the clock, DeMuth picked up her second steal of the day to set up Hawkins with the driving layup to notch the score at 43-34.
Back-to-back baskets from Valentin and then DeMuth gave Indiana the 51-38 advantage with 11 minutes remaining in the game. A steal and a quick basket Thomas increased the Hoosiers' lead to 55-43 with 9:10 left on the clock.
Valentin added to her impressive day with another two points to put IU up 57-43 with just under seven minutes left in regulation. Junior Sarah McKay netted her first two points of the day when she sank a short jumper to notch the score at 61-50 in the Hoosiers' favor the next time down the court. As the game came to a close, free throws from Valentin and freshman Kim Roberson sealed the game and the 10-point win for Indiana.
For the game, Indiana shot 23-of-59 from the field and 69 percent from the charity strip. The Hoosiers held the Owls to 40 percent shooting. Additionally, IU outrebounded Rice 40-35 and dominated the Owls in the paint with 38 points.
Indiana will face in-state foe Indiana State in Terre Haute, Ind., on Monday, March 20, in second-round action of the WNIT. Tipoff is set for 7:05 p.m. and can be heard locally on WHCC-FM 105.1 with Jeremy Gray calling all the action and Sara White providing color.
