Thursday, March 16
Bloomington, IN
7 P.M.
Indiana University
vs
Ball State University
#IUWBB Game Preview: Indiana Hosts Ball State in WNIT First Round on Thursday
3/15/2017 3:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The postseason begins at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall as Indiana opens play in the Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT) on Thursday night against Ball State. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET and will be live on BTN Plus.
Indiana (20-10) vs. Ball State (21-10)
Thursday, March 16, 2017 • 7 p.m. ET
Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall (17,222) • Bloomington, Ind.
TV Broadcast: BTN Plus
Radio: WHCC 105.1 FM (Greg Murray)
Live Stats: Sidearm
Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Snapchat
Tickets: $6 adult | $4 youth (18 and under)
Promotions: Purchase a youth ticket and get a free soft drink
ABOUT THE COACHES
Indiana
Teri Moren
Career Record: 255-168 (14th Season)
Indiana Record: 56-38 (3rd Season)
Ball State
Brady Sallee
Career Record: 231-176 (13th Season)
Ball State Record: 94-64 (5th Season)
ABOUT THE CARDINALS
The Mid-American Conference regular season runner-up comes to Bloomington for the first time in six years with a 21-10 overall record and a 14-4 league finish in 2016-17. They were eliminated in the MAC Tournament quarterfinals in a 69-65 loss to Buffalo. They are led by senior center Renee Bennett who averages 17.7 points and a team-high 8.2 rebounds per game. Junior forward Moriah Monaco (16.1 ppg., 6.3 rpg.) and sophomore guard Destiny Washington (10.3 ppg., 6.1 rpg.) both add double figure scoring averages for the Cardinals, who average 75.1 points per contest.
SERIES HISTORY
Indiana leads the series, 28-3
Last Meeting: 11/12/10 - W, 81-66 (Muncie, Ind.)
HOOSIERS IN THE POSTSEASON
Indiana returns to the postseason for the second-straight year and third time in four years when it hosts Ball State in the WNIT First Round on Thursday. IU is 9-7 overall in the tournament, which is in its 19th year. The Hoosiers previously took part in the tournament in 2013-14, when it advanced to the third round with wins over Belmont, Marquette and Northwestern. It also marks the 14th overall postseason appearance for IU who also has five NCAA Tournament berths (1983, 1994, 1995, 2002, 2016) and one NWIT appearance (1991). Prior to the NCAA, IU made an AIAW Final Four appearance in 1973 and two AIAW Elite Eight appearances in 1972 and 1974.
SUCCESS OF THE SENIOR CLASS
Few other senior classes have done what four-year seniors Alexis Gassion, Jenn Anderson and Karlee McBride have done in terms of winning. The trio is part of three 20-win seasons at Indiana, including another campaign this season. They have won 77 games as a four-year class which ties the most in school history. Only other senior class to reach this feat was the trio of Whitney Thomas, Kim Roberson and Amber Jackson from 2005-06 through 2008-09. IU also matched 77 wins during a four-year period between the 1978-79 to 1981-82 but did not have any four-year seniors on the roster.
ANOTHER EXCLUSIVE CLUB
Junior forward Amanda Cahill can reach another career milestone on Thursday as she goes for her 800th career rebound. Already surpassing the 1,200-point mark for her career, Cahill be the sixth player in school history to record 1,200 points and 800 rebounds (Denise Jackson, Whitney Thomas, Jill Chapman, Shirley Bryant, Rachelle Bostic).
HOOSIER TRIO NAMED ALL-BIG TEN; GASSION EARNS ALL-DEFENSIVE
Juniors Tyra Buss and Amanda Cahill along with senior Alexis Gassion earned All-Big Ten honors, announced by the league on Monday. Buss is a repeat All-Big Ten First Team selection and the first consecutive first team honoree for IU since Jill Chapman in 2001-02. Cahill picked up second team honors again this season, as she was a second team media pick and honorable mention coaches selection in 2015-16. Gassion earns her first league honors with a place on the All-Big Ten Honorable mention team while also picking up All-Defensive team nods, the first for Indiana since 2009 and just the second player ever. The trio becomes the first three selections for the program in one season for the first time in 2009.
20 WINS
Indiana secured more history in the regular season finale as a win over Illinois marked its 20th of the season. It comes as the Hoosiers win 20 games for the second-straight season for the first time ever. With a win on Thursday, they can match the most wins in a single season with 21. IU's double-digit wins in Big Ten play (10) are also the first back-to-back double figure victories for IU since 2007-08 and 2008-09. Last season, the Hoosiers went 21-12 overall and 12-6 in league play. IU has also already solidified an overall winning season, recording the first back-to-back winning campaigns for the program since 2007-08 and 2008-09.
BUSS CLIMBS THE BOOKS
Buss became just the second player to ever register in the top 10 of points, steals and assists at Indiana as she hit the top 10 in scoring in the regular season finale against Illinois. She has scored 1,538 career points and has recorded 385 assists (fourth) and 206 steals (sixth).
500 OR MORE
Tyra Buss made another mark in the IU record books on Feb. 22, becoming the third player in school history to reach 500 points in back-to-back seasons. Only Jori Davis (2009-10, 2010-11) and Denise Jackson (1981-82, 1982-83) have accomplished that feat for Indiana. Through 30 games in 2016-17, Buss has scored 556 points. In 2015-16, Buss took her scoring to new heights as she turned in the third-best single season performance with 620 points scored in 33 games played.
SCORING AS A JUNIOR
Buss - who set the scoring record for most points as a freshman and sophomore - set a new record for points for an IU player through their junior season:
1. Tyra Buss (1,538)
2. Denise Jackson (1,505)
3. Rachelle Bostic (1,389)
4. Jill Chapman (1,346)
5. Cindy Bumgarner (1,311)
6. Karna Abram (1,284)
DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE
Cahill recorded her 12th double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds in the Big Ten Tournament. Her 12 double-doubles rank tied for fifth all-time in a single season and now has a total of 29 in her career - which ranks sixth all-time in school history. She also ranks sixth all-time in double-doubles in Big Ten games as she's recorded 16 in her career.
TRIO OF 1,000 POINT SCORERS
With the addition of Amanda Cahill as the 26th member of the 1,000-point club on Dec. 21, IU's roster now features three active players on the all-time scoring list at the same time for the first time ever.
• Tyra Buss – 1,538 (10th)
• Alexis Gassion – 1,302 (13th)
• Amanda Cahill – 1,268 (14th)
MOVING UP THE CAREER BLOCK LIST
In addition to three active players on the all-time scoring list, IU also has three active players on the all-time career blocks list. Senior guard Alexis Gassion leads the trio of players with 81 career swats, which ranks eighth all time. Junior forward Amanda Cahill also registers on the list with 80 blocks, which ranks eighth while senior center Jenn Anderson has tallied 56 blocks in her career which is 11th all-time.
BUSS STOPS AT THE LINE
Tyra Buss continues her excellence from the free throw line in her career as she leads Indiana with an 81.1 free throw percentage. She ranks seventh in the Big Ten, but has gotten to the line 180 times, the second most times of anyone in the league. For her career, Buss has registered the second-most makes (444) and fourth-most attempts (583) in school history.
WINNING AT HOME
IU wrapped up play at home in the regular season on Feb. 22 with a win over Iowa. It pushed the Hoosiers' home court record to 12-2 this season, and secured 10 wins or more for the fourth-consecutive season. It also marks the fifth-consecutive season Indiana has posted a winning record at home including all three seasons under third year head coach Teri Moren.
UP NEXT
The winner of Thursday's game will continue on to the second round where it will face the winner of IUPUI and Saint Louis. Second round games will be played between March 18-21.
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