Indiana University Athletics
Indiana Battles Boston University at RCA Dome Saturday
12/9/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 9, 2005
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HOOSIER HEADLINES
• Indiana (4-4) is set to take on Boston University (5-1) on Saturday, Dec. 10, at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. Tip off time will be 45 minutes after the completion of the IU men's game vs. Kentucky, which is slated for 3:45 p.m. The game can be heard locally on WHCC-FM 105.1 with Jeremy Gray calling all the action.
• IU has only played in the RCA Dome on one other occasion, when it lost a close battle to Purdue, 53-51, on Dec. 14, 2002.
• The Hoosiers and Terriers met last season, with Indiana claiming the 62-60 victory in Boston on Dec. 12, 2004. IU holds a 2-0 advantage in the all-time series.
BOSTON UNIVERSITY AT A GLANCE
Boston University is 5-1 on the season and is riding a five-game winning streak after losing its season opener to St. John's on Nov. 18. The Terriers most recently defeated Brown University, 73-59 on Wednesday, Dec. 7, in Providence, R.I.
BU has three players averaging double-figures in junior guard Katie Meinhardt (12.5), senior guard Rachael Vanderwal (12.0), and sophomore guard Cheri Raffo (10.8). Sophomore forward Kasey Devine is a threat underneath as she ranks first on the team in blocked shots with 2.5 bpg and rebounding with 7.8 rpg.
Head Coach Kelly Greenberg is in her second season with the Terriers. In her inaugural season at the helm, Greenberg led the Terriers to a 15-16 record and an appearance in the 2005 America East Tournament title game. Two Terriers, Rachael Vanderwal and Adrienne Norris, earned All-Conference distinction while five players were named to the America East Academic Honor Roll. Greenberg came to Boston after serving as the head coach of the University of Pennsylvania for five seasons.
WHAT IT MEANS
An Indiana win would...
Move its record to above .500 for the first time this season
Give the Hoosiers an 3-0 advantage in the all-time series against BU
Mark its first win at the RCA Dome
Snap BU's five-game winning streak
LAST TIME VS. BU
Cyndi Valentin hit two free throws with two seconds left as the Indiana women's basketball team came up with a 62-60 road victory at Boston University on Dec, 12. 2004.
Indiana held a slim two-point lead with eight seconds left when Boston University's Larissa Parr hit two free throws to tie the score at 60-60. As IU was pushing the ball up the court, BU's Erica Kovach fouled Valentin with just three seconds left on the clock. Valentin, calmly stepped to the line and nailed both charity shots giving IU the victory.
ROAD WARRIORS
With three wins on the road this year, the Hoosiers have already matched their total road wins from last season. The single-season record for road wins is nine, which was set in 1978-79. In the last five years, the most road wins IU has produced is five during the 2000-01 season.
THE CYNDI AND JENNY SHOW
Seniors Jenny DeMuth and Cyndi Valentin have accounted for team-high points for nine-straight games, dating back to last season. On the year, Valentin has produced the highest scoring output in five games, while DeMuth has held the honor three times.
FEELING IT FROM THE FREE THROW LINE
Head Coach Sharon Versyp has stressed the importance of getting to the free throw line and connecting on these opportunities all season long. The Hoosiers have been productive from the charity stripe through their first eight games, as they have gone 126-165 (.764). This number ranks first among other Big Ten teams for the second-straight week.
When looking at a player-by-player breakdown of how Indiana has fared at the foul line with five minutes or less remaining in the game, the Hoosiers have only missed two free throws and hold a .938 shooting percentage from the charity stripe in the closing minutes.
OVER 70 BEST FOR IU
The Hoosiers are 2-0 when scoring 70 points or more this season. Their four losses have come when the squad scored between 50-67 points.
SOLID SMith Sophomore guard Nikki Smith set a new career-high in points, when she went 5-of-7 from three points range to finish with 17 points againt Eastern Michigan on Dec. 7. Her sharp-three point shooting has put her at fifth in the conference with a clip of .447 (17-38). In addition, she corralled a career-high five rebounds in her first start against the Lady Bears. Smith has made vast improvement from last season, as she saw action in 18 games and averaged only 1.8 ppg.
HIGHER SCORING
Through its first eight games, Indiana is averaging 64.5 points per game, which is 12 points more then it averaged during its first eight games of the season in 2004-05. In addition, when the Hoosiers posted 74 points against Youngstown State on Nov. 25, it marked the most points they had scored in a regular season game since Dec. 14, 2002 when it lost to N.C. State, 93-91. IU has hit the 70-point plateau twice this year already.
VITAL VALENTIN
Not only does senior guard Cyndi Valentin lead IU in scoring, but she also ranks first on the team in assists (25) and steals (14).
FRESHMAN SENSATION
Freshman forward Whitney Thomas has not let first-game jitters get to her Hoosier debut. She currently ranks second on the team in rebounding (6.4 rpg) and fifth in scoring (5.0 ppg). She also is the highest-ranked freshman among Big Ten Players in rebounding, as she ranks tied for ninth.
Most recently, she grabbed 10 rebounds, which was her second double-digit rebounding effort this season, against Louisville on Dec. 4. She also recorded a double-double of 14 points, 12 rebounds against Notre Dame on Nov. 23 and, despite fouling out with 10 minutes left in the game against Baylor, Thomas still managed score six points and grabbing five rebounds. The Bloomington, Ind., native has started all seven of IU's games this season.
NEXT GAME
Indiana will play its final road game of 2005 on Saturday, Dec. 17, at Cincinnati. Tip off is set for 2 p.m. and can be heard locally on WHCC FM 105.1, with Jeremy Gray calling all the action.
