Indiana University Athletics
Indiana Welcomes Michigan To Assembly Hall on Sunday
1/21/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 21, 2006
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HOOSIER HEADLINES
• Indiana (9-8, 3-3) battles the Michigan Wolverines (6-12, 0-6) on Sunday, Jan. 22 at Branch McCracken Court at Assembly Hall. This is the only regular season meeting between the two teams this year. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. (EST) and can be heard locally on WHCC-FM 105.1 with Jeremy Gray calling all the action. WXLW-AM 950 will also pick up the game, and fans can follow the game on Gametracker at IUHOOSIERS.com.
• This will be the 49th meeting between the Hoosiers and Wolverines, with Indiana holding a 34-14 advantage in the all-time series. Michigan won the only meeting last season, 63-61, in Ann Arbor on Jan. 23, 2005.
• The Hoosiers are looking for their fourth conference win of the 2005-06 season and 10th overall, which is one more then its Big Ten and overall wins total from a year ago.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN
Michigan comes into the game Sunday having lost six of its last seven games. The Wolverines are 6-12 overall and 0-6 in conference play this season. UM recently dropped a 85-57 decision to No. 16/12 Minnesota on Thursday, Jan. 19 in Ann Arbor.
Ta'Shia Walker is the only Wolverine averaging double-digit scoring as she averages 12.8 points per game through UM's 18 games. Walker also leads the team in rebounds with 6.3 per contest. She was named Big Ten Athlete of the Week for the period ending Dec. 26. Kelly Helvey, Michigan's second leading scorer, made nine starts and averaged 8.6 points and 5.1 rebounds before suffering a season-ending leg injury at Washington on Dec. 9.
Third-year head coach Cheryl Burnett, who is the only coach in the Big Ten Conference to have coached in two NCAA Final Fours, has an overall record of 25-42 while at Michigan. Prior to her arrival in Ann Arbor, 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.
WHAT IT MEANS
An Indiana win would...
• Mark its fourth Big Ten win of the 2005-06 season. The Hoosiers have not won four conference games since the 2003-04 season
• Move the all-time series record to 35-14 in Indiana's favor
•Be its fourth win at home this season.
WHITNEY ON A ROLL
In IU's last three games, freshman forward Whitney Thomas has been on a roll for the Hoosiers. Not only has she scored double figures in each of the three contests (10.8 ppg), but she also has a team-best .706 (24-of-34) field goal percentage from the field. The Bloomington, Ind. native, also ranks second in the Big Ten in field goal percentage (conference games only) with a .658 clip (25-of-38).
MATCHING WINS
With its 69-56 defeat over Northwestern on Thursday, Jan. 12, Indiana matched its conference win total (three) from last season. The Hoosiers won four Big Ten games in 2003-04 and five in 2002-03. It's highest conference win total (15) was during the 1982-83 season.
VALENTIN BREAKS NCAA CONSECTUIVE FREE THROWS RECORD
Senior Cyndi Valentin made history on Thursday, Jan. 12, against Northwestern when she went 2-of-4 from the free throw line to break the NCAA Division I single-season consecutive free throw mark with 61 straight free throws. Valentin snapped former Richmond standout Ginny Doyle's record, set in 1992. Valentin also tied the NCAA women's basketball (including Division II and III) record in this category. She shares the honor with Valerie Kepner of Baldwin-Wallace from 1988-89. Valentin ranks second in the Big Ten and fourth in the nation in free throw percentage with an average of .952 (80-of-84).
RECORDS WERE MADE TO BE BROKEN
Another record was broken on Jan. 9 against then- No. 15/15 Minnesota, when senior Jenny DeMuth connected on all 10 of her free throw attempts to move into first place in the IU record book for career free throws. DeMuth surpassed Denise Jackson's mark of 443 and currently has 453 free throws made in her career. The Highland, Ind., product is also on the verge of surpassing another school record as she is just 13 steal shy of the all-time record for career steals. No other Hoosier even ranks among the top five in both categories (free throws and steals.)
FOUR SCORE
Through 17 games, IU has had four players score in double figures on four occasions this season, something that never happened during the 2004-05 season. IU carries a 3-1 record with them when four players reach double-digit scoring. The only loss came against No. 15/15 Minnesota.
FREE THROWS KEY IN GAMES WON
Free throw shooting has been vital to Indiana's success this season. The Hoosiers average a .798 clip (146-of-183) from the free throw line in games won, and five student-athletes carry a perfect 1.000 mark in these games. By comparison, IU has only made .684 (104-of-152) shots from the charity stripe in its seven losses this year.
CONFERENCE STATS
Through six conference games, Indiana has made its mark in the top five of four categories. The Hoosiers rank tied for first in rebounding defense (33.0), third in scoring defense (58.2), fifth in turnover margin (+1.00) and fifth in defensive rebounds (23.50).
REBOUNDING QUEENS
Indiana is one of two schools that boast three players that rank among the top-15 in rebounding among Big Ten teams. Senior Jenny DeMuth leads the way at the No. 5 spot (7.7 rpg) followed by senior Angela Hawkins and freshman Whitney Thomas, who are tied at No. 10 (6.8 rpg). Wisconsin is the only other school to have three players in the top rankings.
CALLING ON CARRIE
Junior forward Carrie Smith is usually one of the first Hoosiers called upon off the bench. Smith has proven to be one of the bench leaders this season, as she has been the leading scorer in seven contests. Smith's season-high effort (14 points) came against Notre Dame on Nov. 23.
PUT ME IN COACH
Senior guard Cyndi Valentin leads the Big Ten in minutes played with 39.83 minutes per game. Valentin has played 40-plus minutes in six contests this year, including IU's overtime loss to Purdue on Jan. 5.
GET AHEAD WITH FIVE
IU is a perfect 9-0 this season when leading with five minutes remaining in the game. The Hoosiers also have an unblemished record when IU hits at least eight three-pointers (1-0), when scoring 70+ points (2-0), and when tying in offensive boards (2-0).
DOUBLE VISION
Senior Jenny DeMuth (five) and freshman Whitney Thomas (three) have each recorded more than one double-double this season, making them two of the 12 conference players to register more than one double-double on the year. Ohio State's Jessica Davenport leads the conference with six this season, while DeMuth is tied for second with five.DeMuth recorded her most recent double-double (13 points, 12 rebounds) on Jan. 5 against Purdue.
DeMuth leads the team with 15 total double-doubles in her career, which ranks tied for seventh in the school record books.
Hawkins is second on the team with 10. Her most recent double-double (12 points, 16 rebounds) came against Boston University on Dec. 10. Denise Jackson holds the school record for the most double-doubles in a career with 63.
BIG TEN TOURNAMENT TIME
Tickets for the 2005 Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament on March 2-6 at Conseco Fieldhouse are on sale now through the IU ticket office. Call 1-866-IUSPORTS for more information or check out the tournament website on bigten.org.
NEXT GAME
Indiana is back in action on Thursday, Jan. 26 against Illinois. Tipoff with the Fighting Illini is set for 7 p.m. (EST) and can be heard locally on WHCC-FM 105.1, with Jeremy Gray calling all the action. Fans can also follow the game on Gametracker on IUHOOSIERS.com.
