Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Win Thriller (11-23-02)
11/23/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
November 23, 2002
Depth The Key In 103-95 Win
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Bloomington, Ind. - In what is sure to be one of the most exciting games played by the Indiana women's basketball team this year, the Hoosiers claimed a 103-95 win over Ball State at Assembly Hall on Saturday in the championship game of the Hampton Inn/Fazoli's Classic.
Back-to-back three-pointers in double overtime from Kristen Bodine and Lisa Eckart followed by a transition layup from Cyndi Valentin gave Indiana all the space it would need to seal the win for the Hoosiers (2-0 overall).
Ball State fell to 1-2 on the year.
Ball State's Johna Goff drained a three-pointer with nine seconds remaining in regulation to send the game into overtime, but it was Valentin's free throw with one second remaining in overtime that sent the game into the second overtime to set up the win.
Despite the clutch heroics of several players on both teams, perhaps the key play came with just over three minutes remaining in the first overtime, when Cardinal forward and tournament most valuable player Tamara Bowie fouled out.
Bowie finished with 26 points and nine rebounds.
The game was about as hard-fought as they come, with the lead changing hands 22 times in the second half and in overtime.
Free throws were key for both teams, as Jenny DeMuth converted on a school record 14-of-14 of her attempts from the charity stripe. As a team, the Hoosiers were 25-of-33 from the line (75.8 pct.), while Ball State was 33-for-38 (86.8 pct.)
DeMuth finished with 24 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, with Lisa Eckart adding 24 points and four rebounds.
Ball State raced out to a 16-3 lead to start the game, but the fast start should come as no surprise. After all, the Cardinals led No. 5 Kansas State at the half when the two teams met in Manhattan, Kan., in Ball State's season opener. In addition, the Cardinals got out to a 20-0 advantage in their game against Houston on Friday.
It wasn't until Kathi Bennett went to her bench that the Hoosiers were able to get any kind of production, and it was due in large part to Ball State's suffocating interior defense and the fact that Indiana flat-out couldn't get its shots to drop from the perimeter.
Things began to turn around, however, when Lisa Eckart was re-inserted into the game and got the stroke going from outside, draining back-to-back treys. With the combination of Eckart, Kristen Bodine, Jenny DeMuth, Jill Hartman and Jamie Gathing on the floor, the Hoosiers went on a 17-3 run to get back into the game.
Ball State owned a double-figure lead for the overwhelming majority of the first half, but the Hoosier rally resulted in Indiana taking a 33-32 lead with just under five minutes left in the half after trailing by as many as 16 at one point in the first half.
Eckart led all scorers with 13 points at the half, while Kristen Bodine went into the locker room with seven assists and no turnovers.
Saturday's game marked the first overtime game for the Hoosiers since a 78-76 win over Iowa in last year's Big Ten tournament and was the first double-overtime game in the history of the program.
The Hoosiers return to action on Tuesday, when they take on Eastern Kentucky in the first round of the Great Alaska Shootout, played in Anchorage, Alaska. Tip-off is set for midnight (EST), and the game can be heard live on 105.1 WHCC radio, with Jeremy Gray calling all the action.
Hampton Inn/Fazoli's Classic All-Tournament Team
MVP - Tamara Bowie (Ball State)
Jenny DeMuth (Indiana)
Kristen Bodine (Indiana)
Lisa Eckart (Indiana)
Johna Goff (Ball State)
Chandi Jones (Houston)
Players Mentioned
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