Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Host Fighting Illini in BIg Ten Action Thursday
1/25/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 25, 2006
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HOOSIER HEADLINES
• Indiana (10-8, 4-3) takes on the Illinois Fighting Illini (12-6, 4-3) on Thursday, Jan. 26 at Branch McCracken Court at Assembly Hall. This is the only regular season meeting between the two teams this year. Tipoff is set for 7 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 50th meeting between the Hoosiers and Fighting Illini, with Indiana holding a 26-23 advantage in the all-time series. Illinois won the only meeting last season, 53-43, in Champaign on Jan. 27, 2005.
• The Hoosiers are looking for their fifth conference win of the 2005-06 season and 11th overall. Last season, IU was 10-18 overall and 3-13 in the league.
SCOUTING ILLINOIS
The Fighting Illini carry a 12-6 record overall and a 4-3 mark in conference play coming into Thursday's game with the Hoosiers. Illinois had dropped two straight games to ranked Big Ten opponents to as it fell to then-No. 12/14 Michigan State, 72-61, on Jan. 19 and lost to then-No. 11/11 Purdue, 57-53, on Jan. 22. Junior forward Erin Wigley recorded a game-high 15 points, while senior guard Maggie Acuna, who stands at 5-6, grabbed 12 rebounds, in the loss to the Boilermakers.
Senior guard Janelle Hughes leads Illinois in scoring with 13.8 ppg, which ranks tied for eighth in the Big Ten. Wigley is second on the team with 11.4 ppg. Junior forward Audrey Tabon's team-high 7.3 rpg ranks sixth among conference players. Additionally, Acuna sits at second in the conference in assists (4.89) and third in steals (2.61).
As a team, Illinois leads the Big Ten in field-goal percent defense (.369) and defensive rebounds (27.56).
Eleventh-year head coach Theresa Grentz is just two wins shy of her 650th career win, as she has compiled an overall record of 648-290, including a 187-135 ledger with the Fighting Illini. Prior to her arrival at Illinois, Grentz served as the head coach at St. Joseph's (1974-1976) and Rutgers (1976-1995).
WHAT IT MEANS
An Indiana win would...
• Mark its fifth Big Ten win of the 2005-06 season. The Hoosiers have not won five conference games since the 2002-03 season
• Move the all-time series record to 27-23 in Indiana's favor
• Be its fifth win at home this season
BIGGEST BIG TEN WIN SINCE `01 VS. WOLVERINES
In its last game against the Michigan Wolverines on Sunday, Jan. 22, Indiana claimed its largest margin of victory over a Big Ten team (25 points), 69-44, since the 2001 season. The last time the Hoosiers beat a conference opponent by more than 25 points was Jan. 11, 2001 when they topped Minnesota, 92-64.
LARGEST CROWD OF THE SEASON
IU's largest crowd of the season, 2,546 came out on Jan. 22 to watch the Hoosiers battle the Wolverines. Through its nine home games this year, Indiana is averaging 1,277 fans per game, which is 152 more fans then it averaged after nine home games in 2004-05.
ONE MORE THAN LAST YEAR
With its 69-44 defeat over Michigan on Sunday, Jan. 22, Indiana picked up its fourth conference win of the season, which is one more then IU had last year. 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
TAKING CARE OF THE BALL
Indiana committed a season-low 10 turnovers against Michigan on Jan. 22. It marked the first time the Hoosiers had 10 or less turnovers this year.
WHITNEY ON A ROLL
In IU's last three games, freshman forward Whitney Thomas has been on a roll for the Hoosiers. Not only does she average 9.3 ppg in each of the three contests, but she also has a team-best .667 (10-of-15) 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).
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.
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 17 games, as they have gone 256-of-343 (.746). This number ranks third among other Big Ten teams and 19th nationally.
Indiana has vastly improved in this area, as it finished the 2004-05 season as the seventh-best free-throw shooting team in the conference (.707).
COUNT ON CYNDI
With seven 20-plus point scoring performances under her belt this season, Valentin currently has 25, 20-plus scoring performances to her name, which ranks third in school history. Indiana's all-time leading scorer, Denise Jackson, has the most in school history with 36. Valentin also ranks second for most 20+ scoring performances in a single season behind Jackson's 16 in 1982-83 and Rachelle Bostic's 12 in 1983-84
Valentin is accustomed to putting up a bulk of Indiana's points, as she was the only Hoosier to score 20 points or more in a single game during 2004-05. She posted a total of seven 20-plus point efforts throughout the year.
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 at bigten.org.
NEXT GAME
Indiana is back in action on Sunday, Jan. 29 when it travels to East Lansing, Mich., to take on 16th-ranked Michigan State. Tipoff with the Spartans is set for 2 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.
