Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Travel to Michigan to Battle Wolverines
1/21/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Cyndi Valentin reached the 1,000-point scoring plateau of her career in the Hoosiers' 50-32 loss to No. 3/4 Ohio State Thursday. Valentin is the 19th player in school history to accomplish this feat and just the ninth to do so in her junior year.
Michigan leads the all-time series with a 34-13 edge over the Hoosiers. Indiana has not won in Ann Arbor since the 1997-98 season when they triumphed over the Wolverines, 67-58.
WORD ON THE WOLVERINES
The Wolverines boast two players in double-digit scoring in senior forward Tabitha Pool (16.9) and freshman center Ta'Shia Walker (13.6). Pool, who ranks seventh in the conference in scoring, also carries the team in rebounding. Her 9.0 rpg stand at third overall among Big Ten athletes.
Michigan is one of the youngest teams in the nation this season, sporting a 10-person roster that includes eight freshman and sophomores, no juniors and two seniors.
Second-year head coach Cheryl Burnett has an overall record of 18-30. Prior to her arrival at Michigan, Burnett developed the program at Southwest Missouri State into one of the elite programs in women's college basketball during a 15-season stint (1987-2002) in which she compiled a 319-136 (.701) career mark.
VALENTIN NETS 1,000TH CAREER POINT
Senior Jenny DeMuth was the last Hoosier to achieve this accomplishment when she scored her 1,000th career point last year on Feb. 19, 2004 against Michigan State.
INJURY UPDATE
SEASON-LOW TURNOVERS
DYNAMIC DEFENSE
Indiana's stifling defense has put them near the top of three categories among Big Ten Conference teams. The Hoosiers rank first in three-point field goal percent defense (49-178/.275). In addition, IU ranks second in scoring defense, as it has limited opponents to an average of 52.0 points per game over the course of 16 games, and field goal percentage defense (294-836/.352). Not only do IU's defensive efforts rank high in the conference, the Hoosiers have also made it on to the national scene as their scoring defense and field-goal percent defense rank ninth and 15th, respectively.
MARK THE DATE NOW
In honor of IU women's basketball fans, Vera Bradley Designs will donate $10,000 for breast cancer research if the Hoosiers 'Pack the Hall' with 10,000 people.
Michigan comes into Sunday's game with an overall record of 4-13 and a 0-6 ledger in the Big Ten. The Wolverines, who are currently riding a nine-game losing streak, most recently dropped a 73-49 decision to No. 12/13 Minnesota on Jan. 20 in Minneapolis.
On Jan. 20, vs. No. 3/4 Ohio State, junior Cyndi Valentin became the 19th player in Indiana history to score 1,000 career points and just the ninth to do so during her junior year. The Bloomington, Ind., native currently sits at 17th overall in the all-time scoring list with 1,007 career points.
Sophomore center Sarah McKay will be out for four-six weeks with a knee injury in which she sustained on Jan. 2 when the Hoosiers played then-No. 12/12 Minnesota. McKay averaged 5.8 ppg and 5.4 rpg after playing in IU's first 12 games.
In its last outing, the Hoosiers tied a season-low when it committed seven turnovers against the third-ranked Ohio State on Jan. 20. Indiana, who has had less than 10 turnovers on two occasions this season (also against Belmont on Nov. 27), has a record of 1-1 when doing so.
There is a lot that can be said about IU's defensive efforts. The Hoosiers are notorious for holding some of the top teams in the nation to low scoring. The Ohio State match-up on Jan. 20, was a perfect example of this, as Indiana held the Buckeyes, to just 52 points, its lowest scoring effort of the season. Prior to Thursday's game, OSU was averaging 75.0 ppg.
February 20, 2005 will be a big day for Hoosier women's basketball. Indiana hosts Purdue at 2 p.m., but the rivalry is hardly the story. When the Hoosiers and Boilermakers tangle, fans will have an opportunity to help fight cancer simply by showing up.
NEXT GAME
The Hoosiers will be remain on the road when they travel to Champaign, Ill., to take on the Fighting Illini on Thursday, Jan. 27 at 8:00 p.m (EST). The game can be heard locally on WHCC (105.1) with Jeremy Gray calling all of the action. Additionally, Fox Sports Net-Chicago will air the live match-up between Indiana and Illinois.
