Indiana University
6/5 Baylor
Hoosiers Fall to Defending National Champion Despite Gutsy Performance
11/19/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 19, 2005
Box Score | Photo Gallery BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The Sharon Versyp era got underway in exciting fashion on Saturday night's season opener at Assembly Hall against the defending national champion No. 5/6 Baylor Bears. Led by senior Cyndi Valentin's 25 points, six rebounds and four assists, the Hoosiers entered the locker room at half time tied at 40, but it was the Bears who walked away with the 74-62 win.
Valentin led the Hoosiers in the first half with 13 points, including a driving lay up to tie the score at 40 at the midway point. Neither team dominated through the first 20 minutes as the lead changed hands four times.
Baylor relied on the shooting of sophomore Angela Tisdale and senior All-American Sophia Young to remain in the game as the duo paced the Lady Bears early with nine and 10 points, respectively.
Sophomore Nikki Smith contributed to the Hoosiers first half success against the defending national champions, lighting it up behind the arc with two key three-pointers to tie or give the lead to Indiana.
The score remained tight through the early part of the half. Just as Baylor pulled away by 10, Valentin drove inside for the lay up to minimize the Bears' lead to eight. Through the halfway point, Indiana only managed to put seven points on the board to Baylor's 18.
With seven minutes remaining, Smith hit another three-pointer to put the score at 63-50, giving the Hoosiers back some momentum. Pulling within 10 with a 1:30 remaining, Valentin hit two clutch lay ups, but it was not enough as Baylor picked up their third win of the season.
Baylor was led by Young's double-double of 19 points and 16 rebounds. In addition to Young, Tisdale netted 19 points and nine assists.
Indiana returns to action on Wednesday, Nov. 23 when it hosts its second-straight ranked opponent, No. 15/15 Notre Dame. Tip off is set for 7 p.m. and can be heard locally on WHCC FM 105.1 with Jeremy Gray calling all of the action.
