Indiana University Athletics
INDIANA FALLS IN FIRST ROUND OF FULL-O-PEP
11/21/1998 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
INDIANA FALLS IN FIRST ROUND OF FULL-O-PEP
After returning to Bloomington early Saturday morning, Indiana came out and lost in overtime, 70-67, to the Akron Zips in the first round of the Full-O-Pep Classic at Assembly Hall.
The lead changed hands throughout the first half as the Zips went into the locker room with a 30-27 lead. After a three-pointer and lay up by Kristi Green the Hoosiers went up 44-39 with 13:36 left in the game.
The didn't last long as Akron stormed back with a pair of three-pointers to go up 45-44. From that point on the game went back and forth until Laura Braaten of Akron made a lay up to tie the score at 62-62 with :44 left.
With the Hoosiers last possession, Cindy Kerns was fouled with under a second left on the clock. However Kerns missed both free throws and the game went to overtime.
In overtime, Akron outscored Indiana 8-5 to go into tomorrow's championship game at 4 p.m.
Indiana was led by Jill Chapman and Cindy Kerns with a double-double. Chapman finished the game with 16 points and 11 rebounds and Kerns added 10 points and 15 boards. The 11 and 15 rebounds were career highs for each player. Forward Dani Thrush finished the game with 11 points, seven assists, and seven rebounds.
Indiana head coach Jim Izard commented on the game, "Given Akron credit, they came in with a good solid game plan and played hard and aggressive and won. Our fatigue was there but I don't want to take anything away from Akron."
Akron head coach Roxanne Allen knew Indiana would be tired, "Knowing that IU had played two games and had jet lag, we wanted to be aggressive from the start and that was a major part of our game plan - a major objective."
Indiana will face the loser of the St. Louis-East Tennessee State match up at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Akron will face the winner a 4 p.m. Both games will be at Assembly Hall.
