Indiana University Athletics
HOOSIERS HOST NO. 2 PURDUE, TRAVEL TO OHIO STATE
1/28/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
HOOSIERS HOST NO. 2 PURDUE, TRAVEL TO OHIO STATE
THIS WEEK - Indiana will look to rebound from a pair of road losses last weekend. The Hoosiers will host second-ranked Purdue on Friday night and then go on the road to Ohio State on Sunday. Purdue defeated the Hoosiers 97-62 last Friday in West Lafayette. The Ohio State Buckeyes are in a tie with Virginia at 19th in the latest AP poll. They defeated Indiana 78-60 on Jan. 15 in Bloomington.
HOOSIERS ON THE TUBE - For the fifth time this season, Indiana's game will be televised live. WTIU will broadcast the game with Sean Bartel calling play-by-play and Jennifer Forney providing the color commentary.
INDIANA IN THE SPOTLIGHT - The Hoosiers are 2-2 in televised games this season. The Hoosiers defeated Vanderbilt 84-61 on ESPN2 Dec. 19, and Wisconsin 69-65 on Fox Sports Chicago Jan. 10. Indiana's lost to Ohio State Jan. 15 on WTIU-TV and Penn State Sunday on Fox Sports Chicago. WTIU will also broadcast the Iowa (Feb. 7) and Illinois (Feb. 14) games live from Assembly Hall.
THE HOOSIERS - With the two losses on the road last weekend Indiana's record dropped to 13-10 overall and 2-7 in the Big Ten. After winning 12 of the first 15 games, the Hoosiers have lost seven of the last 10 games. Things don't get much easier with two more top 20 teams this weekend. Purdue leads the Big Ten with a 9-0 record and are Ohio State is second at 6-2.
LEADERBOARD - The Hoosiers are currently led in scoring by senior Cindy Kerns who is averaging 14.1 points per game. However, in Big Ten play, it is freshman Jill Chapman who is leading the squad with a 14.9 scoring average. As a team, IU is averaging 66.8 points and 36.3 rebounds per game while shooting 45 percent from the field. Defensively, Indiana is holding its opponents to 69.8 points per game and 43 percent field goal shooting.
VS. NO. 2 PURDUE - The Boilermakers enter Friday's game with a 17-1 overall record and a perfect 9-0 mark in league play. They distanced themselves from the rest of the Big Ten by defeating Ohio State 64-56 Tuesday night. Purdue's only setback was a one-point loss to Stanford 73-72 on Nov. 22. The Boilers are guided by the conference's leading scorer Stephanie White-McCarty who is averaging 20.6 points per game. The All-American also boasts an impressive 50 percent field goal percentage. In last week's game, White-McCarty recorded the first triple-double in Purdue history with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. She is supported in the backcourt by Ukari Figgs who averages 14.5 points per game. As a team, Purdue is averaging 77.3 points and 37.9 rebounds per game while shooting 47 percent from the field. The Boilermakers are also holding their opponents to a stingy 58.4 points per game. Coach Carolyn Peck is in her second season at Purdue and carries a 40-11 school and career record. The Series: In what has become the longest running series in school history, the two teams will be meeting for the 51st time with Indiana holding the 26-24 advantage. Last week in West Lafayette the Boilermakers defeated Indiana 97-62. In the last 10 games, Purdue holds a 7-3 advantage.
VS. NO. 19 OHIO STATE - Prior to Ohio State's Friday night game at Michigan, the Buckeyes are 13-5 overall, 6-2 in league play. They are all alone in second place in the conference. Senior forward Larecha Jones leads the team with 14.1 points per game. In conference play, Marrita Porter is averaging 14.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. As a team, Ohio State is scoring 67 points per game while holding opponents to 58 points. The Series: Ohio State holds an 31-13 series advantage over Indiana. On Jan. 15, the Buckeyes won in Bloomington 78-60. Marrita Porter led the Ohio State with 21 points and six rebounds. Last season the two teams split victories during conference play before the Hoosiers lost to the Lady Lions 70-42 in the semifinal round of the postseason WNIT.
HEAD COACH JIM IZARD - Head Coach Jim Izard is in his 11th season at the helm of the Indiana program where he owns a 178-133 (.572) overall record and a 79-105 (.429) 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 340-182 (.651).
VERY INTERESTING - After leading the nation in free throw percentage a year ago, senior Kristi Green managed to connect on just 59 percent of her tosses from the charity stripe through the Hoosiers first 14 games. Since entering league play, however, Green has nailed 90 percent of her shots from the free throw line.
BIG TEN FROSH PLAY - If her impressive play stands up for the second-half of the Big Ten season, then 6-5 center Jill Chapman has definitely put herself in the running for "Big Ten Freshman of the Year" honors. Despite being a rookie in the rugged Big Ten, through league play Chapman has led Indiana in scoring and rebounding five times, including four of the last five games, and has scored in double-figures in all but two games. In addition, Chapman netted a career-high 23 points to help lead IU to its first league victory over Wisconsin Jan. 10. In conference play, Chapman leads the squad, averaging 14.9 points and 8.8 rebounds per game while shooting 53 percent from the field.
DANI'S DOUBLES - Thanks to some impressive passing in recent weeks by Dani Thrush the senior has found herself quickly climbing the career assists record chart. Currently, Thrush has 369 career assists to rank third all-time. She needs just six more assists to pass Linda Cunningham (1983-86) and move into second place. Thrush is averaging 5.0 assists per game and has posted double-doubles for assists and points four times this year.
DOUBLE-TROUBLE - Seniors Cindy Kerns and Dani Thrush, along with freshman Jill Chapman, have combined for 18 double-doubles this season. Kerns has double-dipped eight times, while Chapman has six and Thrush has four. In the Big Ten, Kerns is ranked second with Penn State's Andrea Garner. Amy Herrig leads the Big Ten with 11 double-doubles.
OVER AND UNDER - When the Hoosiers score more than 70 points they are 10-1. When the Hoosiers score less than 70 they are 3-9.
LONG DISTANCE THREAT - As Indiana's explosive 3-point shooter, Kay Morgan boasts the most 3-pointers in the Big Ten with 50 to her name. Currently, the junior is averaging 2.2 per game.
BEHIND THE ARC - As a team, the Hoosiers lead the Big Ten in 3-point baskets and rank fourth in 3-point field goal percentage. IU has netted 134 treys while shooting 33 percent from behind the arc.
CLOSING IN ON 1,000 - Seniors Kristi Green and Dani Thrush are quickly closing in on the 1,000 point career milestone. Currently, Green has 953 career points while Thrush boasts 942. Green needs just 47 points while Thrush is 58 points shy of 1,000.
ASSIST ANGELS - Indiana is averaging 14.5 assists per game compared to its opponents 15.1. Individually, Dani Thrush leads the squad, averaging 5.0 assists per game while Kay Morgan averages 3.3 per game.
FREE THROW WOES - Traditionally an excellent free throw shooting team, the Hoosiers have struggled this season, connecting on just 66 percent of their shots from the charity stripe. Last season IU started off slow also, shooting just 63 percent from the free throw line before rebounding with a school record 75 percent season average.
AROUND THE BIG TEN - Jill Chapman and Cindy Kerns rank second
and fifth, respectively, in field goal percentage, while Chapman also ranks
sixth in blocked shots (1.22 bpg) and is tied for eighth in rebounding with
7.5 boards per game. Dani Thrush ranks fourth in the league with 5.0 assists
per game and is fifth in steals with 2.17 per game. Meanwhile, Kay Morgan
ranks fourth in 3-point field goal percentage (.357). Cindy Kerns is fifth
in field goal percentage while shooting nearly 52 percent from the field.
