Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Fall to Baylor (11-19-04)
11/19/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
WACO, Texas - Despite holding the number eight team in the country to just 29% shooting (17-for-59), the Indiana women's basketball team came up just short in its season opener as the Hoosiers fell to Baylor 60-47 on Friday night at the Ferrell Center.
"We competed tonight against one of the top teams in the country," said head coach Kathi Bennett. "We played with some good intensity at times, and our post players really did a good job on their inside game."
The Hoosier (0-1) defense was the story in the game as the Cream and Crimson blocked ten shots, led by sophomore center Sarah McKay's five rejections, as well as forced 13 Baylor turnovers in the contest. IU also held Baylor's top two players, Sophia Young and Steffanie Blackmon, to a combined 9-of-34 from the field.
Both teams struggled from the start, as Baylor opened up shooting 3-for-10, while Indiana was no better at 2-for-11. Nonetheless a three-pointer by junior guard Cyndi Valentin tied the score at 6-6 with 11:30 left in the first half.
"Our guards had some good looks at the basket, but the shots weren't falling," said Bennett. "
Baylor (1-1) then began to take control of the game with a 15-4 spurt to open a 21-10 advantage with five minutes left in the first stanza.
IU would close out the half outscoring the Lady Bears 12-9, cutting the deficit to eight, 30-22.
Baylor would regain an 11-point advantage scoring the first three points of the second half for a 33-22 lead with 17:34 left.
The defense then ignited a 7-0 run, starting with a turnover that McKay turned into a jumper. A lay up by sophomore Annika Boyd and a three by senior LeAnn Stephenson trimmed the Baylor lead to four, 33-29.
The Hoosiers fought with Baylor the rest of the way cutting the Lady Bears lead back to five, 39-34, with a three by Boyd at 10:23. IU would get no closer, though, as the home team went on a 19-6 run in the next eight minutes to open its largest lead of the contest, 58-40, with just under two minutes left in the game.
Five points by Valentin closed the gap to 11, 58-47, with thirty-seven seconds left in the game, but it was too late as the Hoosiers lost the hard fought game.
"It was a good early season test for us," said Bennett. "Tonight we showed that we could play against one of the best teams in the country."
Valentin paced the Hoosiers with 13 points and six rebounds, including hitting all five of her free throws to extend her school record to 47 consecutive free throws made. Boyd tallied nine points in the affair, while McKay ended with eight points, eight rebounds and five blocks.
Young led Baylor with a game-high 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Blackmon contributed 14 points and 10 boards.
The Cream and Crimson will return home to host the Hampton Inn Classic starting on Saturday, Nov. 27. IU will face Belmont at 4:30 p.m., with Chicago State and Central Michigan tipping off the tournament at 2 p.m. The early season tournament will conclude on Sunday, Nov. 28, with the consolation match beginning at 2 p.m. and the championship match following at 4 p.m.
Game Notes: The last time Valentin missed a free throw was on Jan, 2, 2004 against Michigan State...McKay now has 60 career blocks, while Angela Hawkins has 62 good for eighth and seventh, respectively, in school history ...the last time IU recorded double-digit blocks was on Feb. 29, 2004 when IU collected 11 blocks in a 66-62 loss against Michigan State...the Hoosiers are 24-10 in season openers, including a 3-2 mark under coach Bennett... this was the first ever meeting between Baylor and Indiana.
"We competed tonight against one of the top teams in the country," said head coach Kathi Bennett. "We played with some good intensity at times, and our post players really did a good job on their inside game."
The Hoosier (0-1) defense was the story in the game as the Cream and Crimson blocked ten shots, led by sophomore center Sarah McKay's five rejections, as well as forced 13 Baylor turnovers in the contest. IU also held Baylor's top two players, Sophia Young and Steffanie Blackmon, to a combined 9-of-34 from the field.
Both teams struggled from the start, as Baylor opened up shooting 3-for-10, while Indiana was no better at 2-for-11. Nonetheless a three-pointer by junior guard Cyndi Valentin tied the score at 6-6 with 11:30 left in the first half.
"Our guards had some good looks at the basket, but the shots weren't falling," said Bennett. "
Baylor (1-1) then began to take control of the game with a 15-4 spurt to open a 21-10 advantage with five minutes left in the first stanza.
IU would close out the half outscoring the Lady Bears 12-9, cutting the deficit to eight, 30-22.
Baylor would regain an 11-point advantage scoring the first three points of the second half for a 33-22 lead with 17:34 left.
The defense then ignited a 7-0 run, starting with a turnover that McKay turned into a jumper. A lay up by sophomore Annika Boyd and a three by senior LeAnn Stephenson trimmed the Baylor lead to four, 33-29.
The Hoosiers fought with Baylor the rest of the way cutting the Lady Bears lead back to five, 39-34, with a three by Boyd at 10:23. IU would get no closer, though, as the home team went on a 19-6 run in the next eight minutes to open its largest lead of the contest, 58-40, with just under two minutes left in the game.
Five points by Valentin closed the gap to 11, 58-47, with thirty-seven seconds left in the game, but it was too late as the Hoosiers lost the hard fought game.
"It was a good early season test for us," said Bennett. "Tonight we showed that we could play against one of the best teams in the country."
Valentin paced the Hoosiers with 13 points and six rebounds, including hitting all five of her free throws to extend her school record to 47 consecutive free throws made. Boyd tallied nine points in the affair, while McKay ended with eight points, eight rebounds and five blocks.
Young led Baylor with a game-high 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Blackmon contributed 14 points and 10 boards.
The Cream and Crimson will return home to host the Hampton Inn Classic starting on Saturday, Nov. 27. IU will face Belmont at 4:30 p.m., with Chicago State and Central Michigan tipping off the tournament at 2 p.m. The early season tournament will conclude on Sunday, Nov. 28, with the consolation match beginning at 2 p.m. and the championship match following at 4 p.m.
Game Notes: The last time Valentin missed a free throw was on Jan, 2, 2004 against Michigan State...McKay now has 60 career blocks, while Angela Hawkins has 62 good for eighth and seventh, respectively, in school history ...the last time IU recorded double-digit blocks was on Feb. 29, 2004 when IU collected 11 blocks in a 66-62 loss against Michigan State...the Hoosiers are 24-10 in season openers, including a 3-2 mark under coach Bennett... this was the first ever meeting between Baylor and Indiana.
Players Mentioned
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