Indiana University Athletics
INDIANA PLAYS NO. 10 RUTGERS IN WNIT SEMIFINAL
11/17/1998 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
INDIANA PLAYS NO. 10 RUTGERS IN WNIT SEMIFINAL
AND THEN THERE WERE FOUR - Indiana will travel to Fort Collins, Colo., for the finals of the Preseason WNIT Nov. 19-20. The Hoosiers will play No. 10 Rutgers at 6 p.m. (MST) Thursday, Nov. 19. No. 20 Florida plays Colorado State at 8 p.m. (MST). Friday's consolation and championship games will be played at 6 and 8 p.m. (MST), respectively.
UN(FOUR)GETTABLE - The Hoosiers will be playing four games in four days this week. Indiana first meets No. 10 Rutgers in the semifinal round of the WNIT Thursday, and then will play either No. 20 Florida or No. 26 Colorado State in the consolation/championship game Friday. After that, the Hoosiers head back to Bloomington to host the IU Full-O-Pep Classic. Indiana meets Akron Saturday, Nov. 21, at 7 p.m., and then faces either St. Louis or East Tennesee State Sunday, Nov. 22.
ROUND TWO - Indiana traveled to Springfield, Mo., to face Southwest Missouri State last Sunday in the quarterfinals of WNIT play. The Hoosiers prevailed with a 63-60 victory in front of 6,098 fans at the Hammons Center. Trailing by 10 in the second half, the Hoosiers battled back to take the lead at the 3:50 mark and then sealed the victory after the Lady Bears' Jackie Stiles failed to connect on her second free throw with :02 seconds left to tie the game. SMS then fouled Cindy Kerns who calmly sank two free throws to give IU the victory and a trip to the WNIT Final Four. Kerns led all scorers with a career high 19 points, 11 rebounds and four steals. Teammate Dani Thrush added 16 points and five assists while Jill Chapman just missed a double-double with 11 points and eight boards in 20 minutes of play.
ROUND ONE - Indiana defeated Cincinnati 61-51 Friday evening in its 1998-99 home opener and first round game against Cincinnati. Leading by just five points with 6:05 remaining, the Hoosiers went on a 12-2 run, holding the Bearcats to just two free throws during the stretch. Seven of those points were scored by senior Cindy Kerns who finished the game with 12 points and seven rebounds. Freshman Jill Chapman collected a double-double in her first official IU appearance, closing the game with 12 points, 10 rebounds and two blocked shots. Junior Kay Morgan sparked IU in the first half with eight points and finished with a team-high 13. As a team, IU shot 48 percent from the field and outrebounded Cincinnati 42-27. The Hoosiers also held the Bearcats leading scorer, Doris Scott to just 13 points.
PRESEASON WNIT - The Hoosiers Preseason WNIT appearance is the first for the program. Indiana competed last season in the Postseason WNIT, advancing to the semifinal round before falling to eventual champion Penn State.
SEASON OPENERS - Last Friday night's season opener against Cincinnati was the earliest game played by the Hoosiers' in their 27 years. Under Head Coach Jim Izard, IU is 9-2 in season opening games. Since 1991, the Hoosiers have compiled a 58-8 regular season nonconference record.
ON NO. 10 RUTGERS - The Scarlet Knights are guided by former Big Ten (Iowa) Coach C. Vivian Stringer. Since moving East three years ago, Stringer has compiled a 48-42 record with the program. The 11th ranked Rutgers team defeated St. Francis 73-43 and then Toledo 71-57 to advance to the semifinals against Indiana. Sophomore guard Tasha Pointer leads her team, averaging 14 points and and 2.0 rebounds per game. Teammates Jennifer Clemente and Tomora Young also are in double-figures through two games with 12.0 and 11.5 scoring averages, respectively. Thursday's meeting will be the first between the two schools.
DOWN LOW - Heading into the 1998-99 season, the question that remained unanswered was who was to fill All-Big Ten center Quacy Barnes' shoes. Well after two games, the Hoosiers front court and post game appear to be in good shape as a trio of frontcourt players (Cindy Kerns, Jill Chapman and Dani Thrush) have accounted for 76 of the Hoosiers' 124 points (61 percent). Leading the way is 6-2 senior forward Cindy Kerns who had 12 points and seven rebounds vs. Cincinnati, and then connected for a career-best 19 points and 11 rebounds against Southwest Missouri State.
NO TIME TO BE SICK - With the Hoosiers playing six games in nine days, starting point guard Kristi Green was not thrilled when diagnosed with pneumonia last Wednesday, Nov. 11. After taking two days off from practice, the 5-2 senior played 38 minutes against Cincinnati and 36 minutes against Southwest Missouri State. Through two games, Green is averaging 6.0 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.
BOARD PLAY - Indiana has started off with a bang on the boards, having outrebounded both of its opponents 42.5 to 31. Against Cincinnati, IU won the battle of the boards 42-27.
CREATING A ROLE OF HER OWN - Freshman Jill Chapman entered her rookie season knowing she would be facing the challenge of replacing the departed services of All-Big Ten and WNBA draftee center Quacy Barnes. But after two games, it appears as if the 6-5 frosh isn't necessarily replacing Barnes but rather creating a role of her own. Taking on the starting role in the Hoosiers' first two games, Chapman responded with a double-double against Cincinnati with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and then 11 points and eight boards against Southwest Missouri State. Currently, she is the team's second leading scorer, averaging 11.5 points and 9 rebounds per game.
EXHIBITION PLAY - Indiana closed out the exhibition portion of its schedule Nov. 10 with a 93-75 win over the Reebok Lady Stars. Leading the Hoosiers were freshmen Jill Chapman and Heather Cassady. Chapman scored 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds while Cassady netted 16 points in her first action since being sidelined a week ago with a sprained ankle. In the Hoosiers first exhibition game of the season Nov. 4, IU defeated Rota Banska 87-43. Four players turned in double-digit scoring performances, led by Chapman's 18 points and nine rebounds.
RECEIVING VOTES - The Hoosiers received three votes in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll released Nov. 16th.
HEAD COACH JIM IZARD - Head Coach Jim Izard begins his 11th season at the helm of the Indiana program where he owns a 167-123 (.574) overall record and a 77-97 (.445) mark in the Big Ten Conference. As Indiana's all-time winningest coach, Izard has guided his teams to nine winning seasons, two NCAA post-season tournament appearances, a runner-up finish in the NWIT post-season tournament and most recently, a trip to the Final Four of the WNIT last season. His 17-year career record stands at 329-172 (.657).
FULL-O-PEP CLASSIC - The Hoosiers will be looking for their eighth tournament title in 11 years. Last season, the Hoosiers defeated La Salle 67-51 to advance to the championship game where they lost to Colorado State 75-63. Indiana will meet Akron, Saturday, Nov. 21, at 7 p.m., before meeting either St. Louis or East Tennesse State Sunday, Nov. 22.
TOURNAMENT DATA -
Nov. 21. Indiana vs. Akron 7 p.m.
St. Louis vs. East Tennessee State 9 p.m.
Nov. 22 Consolation 2 p.m.
Championship 4 p.m.
THE FIELD - East Tennessee State: The Mocs head to Bloomington with an 0-1 record after losing 85-80 to Louisville Monday night. Fifth-year head coach Karen Kemp returns five starters from last season, all of which averaged seven or more points per game. In four seasons, Kemp is 52-58, including last year's 11-15 finish. Sophomore point guard Angie Fickes led the Mocs with 10.9 ppg last year and dished out 114 assists. This will be Indiana's first meeting with the Mocs.
Akron: The Zips come in 0-2 after road losses to North Carolina and South Florida. Sophomore center Cheryl Bowles (20.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg) poured in 25 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in the 81-69 loss to South Florida. She also registered a double-double (15 pts, 12 rebs) in the 85-71 loss to the Tar Heels. Senior center Laura Braaten (9.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg) recorded a double-double at South Florida with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Head Coach Roxanne Allen begins her second year at the helm of the Zips, after three years at Wooster College. Indiana and Akron have never met before.
St. Louis: The Billikens come in 1-0 after an 88-57 victory over Eastern Illinois. Senior guard Kelly George led all scorers with 22 points and junior Mandy Lueking chipped in 18 while dishing out five assists. Last season, St. Louis narrowly missed its first winning season in 12 years as they finished 13-14. Head Coach Jill Pizzoti begins her fourth season with the Billikens after a three year stint with Jim Izard's Hoosiers. First-year assistant Amy Cherubini is a former Hoosier player and holds the school record for most three pointers made in a game with 10. The Hoosiers and Billikins have never met before.
1998-99 HOOSIERS - Returning eight letterwinners and three starters off of last season's 21-12 squad, the Hoosiers look to be in the hunt for their first Big Ten Conference title since 1983. Indiana will look to its senior class for leadership and experience as six seniors return for their final campaign. Starting guards Kristi Green and Dani Thrush lead the team after averaging 11.0 and 8.3 points per game, respectively, a year ago. In addition, Green returns to the charity stripe to defend her 1998 NCAA free throw percentage title she garnered last season after leading the nation with a 91 percent free throw average.
CLASS OF 2002 - Indiana welcomes a freshmen class that should vie for playing time immediately. Indiana native Jill Chapman averaged 23.9 points and 18 rebounds per game last season while playing at Blackford High School in Montpelier. She is joined by newcomers Heather Cassady and Yasmina (Yasi) Radmanovich. Cassady was named the Associated Press Illinois Class A Player of the Year last season after averaging 17.5 points and 8.2 assists per game at Dunlap High School in Peoria, Ill. Radmanovich averaged 18.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game while playing at Will C. Wood High School in Vacaville, Calif.
CAPTAINS NAMED - Seniors Kristi Green and Cindy Kerns will be the squad's co-captains for the 1998-99 season.
REDSHIRTING - Junior forward Rachael Honegger and sophomore guard Tara Jones will redshirt the 1998-99 season. Honegger, who averaged 7.5 points and 4.6 rebounds per game last season, will take a medical redshirt.
NOT IN OUR HOUSE - The Hoosiers extended their current seven-game home court winning streak with a win over Cincinnati Friday evening. Last season Indiana posted a school record 14 Assembly Hall victoriesr. IU lost just two games on its own turf, to Colorado State (75-63) and to Michigan (78-73). Only the 1972-73 team has won more games at home with 15 victories in the old Men's Gym.
CONTINUING 20/20 VISION - Last year's 21-9 squad became the first IU team since the 1980-81 team to top 20 wins in a season. That mark also tied the school record for wins in a single season (1980-81 and 1978-79).
BEHIND THE ARC - Last season the Hoosiers set a new school record for 3-pointers made and attempted in a season with 204 3-pointers made and 592 attempted. Indiana finished the year ranked first in the Big Ten and 12th nationally, averaging 6.3 3-pointers per game. The 1998-99 squad could easily reset those records as the entire Indiana arsenal of long range shooters return.
INDIANA BASKETBALL ON RADIO - All of Indiana's games will be heard live via radio broadcast on WGCT (105.1 FM). The live broadcast will be handled by play-by-play announcer Mike Scott. The broadcast will feature scouting reports by coach Jim Izard, player interviews, a half-time show and a postgame wrap-up with assistant coaches Keila Whittington and Renee Reed.
HOOSIER ON THE TUBE - Seven of Indiana's games will be televised live this season, starting with the Hoosiers appearance on ESPN2 Saturday, Dec. 9, when IU plays Vanderbilt in Assembly Hall at noon in the Big Ten-SEC Challenge. Fox Sports Chicago will televise IU's games against Wisconsin, Jan. 10 (5 p.m.), and Penn State, Jan. 24 (5 p.m.)., while WTIU-TV will telecast IU's games vs. Ohio State (Jan. 15/7:30 p.m.), Purdue (Jan. 29/7:30 p.m.), Iowa (Feb. 7/2 p.m.) and Illinois (Feb. 14/2 p.m.).
MEDIA INFORMATION - IU Assistant Media Relations Director Shelli
Stewart handles all requests regarding the Hoosier coaches and players.
Interview requests should be made through Stewart who can be reached courtside
during Indiana's games, or at the IU Media relations Office (812) 855-4770.
Interview requests during the week must be made 24 hours in advance.
