Indiana University Athletics
Smith Leads IU Past NU (2-13-05)
2/13/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The Hoosiers were led by sophomore Carrie Smith, who came off the bench to score a career-high 15 points. Smith was 6-of-8 from the field, including a pivotal three-pointer with 1:44 left in the game to bring IU within one at 53-52.
"Carrie Smith was phenomenal today." head coach Kathi Bennett said. "She stepped up when we needed her."
In addition to Smith's efforts, junior Cyndi Valentin added 19 points on 7-of-16 shooting. IU also got a strong bench performance from junior Kali Kullberg, who played 25 minutes and recorded a career high five assists.
In the opening minutes of the action, the Hoosiers struggled to find their offensive rhythm as they started the game shooting 1-of-5 from the field. With Northwestern up 10-3, LeeAnn Stephenson hit IU's first three-pointer of the game to bring them back with four at 10-6. Ifeoma Okonkwo scored the next time down the court to extend the lead back to six for the Wildcats.
After IU cut the lead to two at 15-13, the Wildcats responded with a free throw by Okonkow and a three-pointer by Samantha McComb to extend their lead to six at 19-13. Valentin responded with a jumper to bring IU back with in four at 19-15. After a Smith bucket cut the IU deficit to two at 19-17, the Hoosiers tied the score at 19 on a jumper by junior forward Brigett Branson.
The following trip down the court, the Hoosiers held the Wildcat offense for 34 seconds before Melissa Culver hit a 3-pointer as the shot clock expired to take a 22-19 lead. With five minutes left in the first half, Smith scored off a jump to bring IU back within one at 22-21.
Northwestern then went on an 8-2 run to push the lead to a 30-23. Indiana responded with three points by senior forward Jamie Gathing, a jumper by Stephenson and a free throw by Valentin to get IU back within two at 30-28.
Two McComb free throws gave NU a 32-28 halftime lead.
The Hoosiers started the second half much like the first stanza, struggling from the field. IU didn't hit its first shot until the 14:45 mark, when Valentin nailed a three-pointer to bring them back within five at 36-31.
After a pair of Valentin free throws cut the lead to two at 42-40, Northwestern's Sara Stutz responded with two free throws of her own to extend the lead back to four at 44-40.
The Cream and Crimson responded with a 5-0 run. Valentin notched all five points on the run to give IU its first lead of the game, 45-44, at the 10:11 mark of the second period.
Okonkwo hit 1-of-2 free throws to tie the game at 45. On Northwestern's next trip down the court, Kullberg stole the ball on the Wildcats ensuing possession and laid it in for her only points of the game as the Hoosier regained the lead at 47-45.
Miller tied the game at 47 after hitting two free throws at 5:54 before Northwestern took its first lead since the 10-minute mark on a jumper by Morrison. The lead would be short lived as Valentin tied the game up at 47 on a jumper with 4:33 left.
Morrison gave Northwestern the lead again, 51-49, on a lay in with 4:11 left. McComb extended the Wildcat lead to 53-49 on a jumper with 2:46 remaining. Smith responded on the next trip down the court, hitting a three-pointer to bring the Hoosiers back with one at 53-52 with 2:17 left. After a missed shot by Northwestern, sophomore center Sarah McKay took the feed from sophomore guard Leah Enterline and laid it in to give IU a 54-53 lead with 1:17 left to go in the game.
With two seconds left Stutz over threw McComb giving IU the ball at mid-court. After a Northwestern foul, Valentin, an 84 percent free throw shooter on the year, missed both foul shots. The Wildcats got the rebound, but their desperation shot fell short giving IU the win.
"The team showed a lot of heart today." Bennett said. "They never stop playing hard. It feels good to get this win. Hopefully, we can build on this and continue to play like this the rest of the season."
The Hoosiers return to action on Thursday, Feb. 17, as they host their final non-conference game of the season against Texas A&M Corpus Christi. The game is set for at 7 p.m. in the Assembly Hall.
