Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Geared Up For No. 15/15 Golden Gophers
1/8/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 8, 2006
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HOOSIER HEADLINES
• Indiana (8-6, 2-1) hosts its second-straight Big Ten ranked opponent as it takes on No. 15/15 Minnesota (9-3, 2-0) on Monday, Jan. 9 in Bloomington. Tipoff with the Golden Gophers 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 follow the game on Gametracker at IUHOOSIERS.com.
• The Golden Gophers won both meetings between the two teams last season, claiming a 61-47 victory on Jan. 2 in Minneapolis and 52-35 win on Feb. 24 in Bloomington. Minnesota leads the all-time series, 24-22.
• Senior guard Cyndi Valentin needs just four more free throws (consecutive) to tie the NCAA Division I record for consecutive free throws made in a season (60). The Bloomington, Ind., native has currently made 56 free throws in a row.
MINNESOTA AT A GLANCE
No. 15/15 Minnesota enters Monday's game with a 9-3 record overall and a 2-0 mark in conference play. The Golden Gophers have won three of their last four games, including its most recent victory over Wisconsin, 73-67, on Thursday, Jan. 5 in Minneapolis. Minnesota dropped its last contest to No. 3/3 LSU, 66-45 on Saturday, Jan. 7. The Gophers finished the 2005 season with 26-8 record and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16.
Junior forward/guard Jamie Broback (10.9 ppg), junior forward/center Liz Podominick (11.8 ppg) are the leading scorers for the Golden Gophers. Broback also leads the team in rebounding with 7.4 rpg.
As a team, Minnesota ranks second in the Big Ten in three-point field goal percentage (.364) and three-point field goals made (5.45 per game). Individually, senior guard Shannon Schonrock leads the Big Ten in three-point field goals made (2.36 per game)
Fourth-year head coach Pam Borton has compiled an overall record of 85-26 while at the helm of the Minnesota program and a 154-72 mark overall. Borton is the only coach in Big Ten history to lead a school to 25 or more wins in each of her first three seasons. Previously, she spent five years (1997-2002) at Boston College, where she was promoted to associate head coach for the last two years. She also served as the head coach of Vermont from 1993-97.
WHAT IT MEANS
An Indiana win would...
• Mark its third Big Ten win of the 2005-06 season, which would match its conference win total from last year
• Snap a four-game losing streak against Minnesota in the all-time series
• Be its first win over a Top-25 team since Jan. 12, 2003, when it defeated then-No. 23 Ohio State, 54-50 in Bloomington
•Mark its first win over the Golden Gophers since the 2001-02 season
VALENTIN ON THE VERGE OF NCAA RECORD
Senior Cyndi Valentin has already established the school record for consecutive free throws made with 56 and is on the hunt for a bigger record, as she is just four free throws away from tying the NCAA Division I record for consecutive free throws made (60) in a single season. The record that currently stands was set by Ginny Doyle of Richmond in 1992. The NCAA women's basketball (including Division II and III) record in this category was set by Valerie Kepner of Baldwin-Wallace from 1988-89. Valentin ranks fourth in the nation and second in the Big Ten in free throw percentage with an average of .973 (72-of-74).
Looking even further, Valentin is also on track to break the NCAA Division I career record of 66, set by Doyle from 1991-92, and the NCAA women's basketball career mark of 69, set by Jamie Visness in 2002-03 of Division III Concord-Moorhead.
OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT
The Hoosiers started the Big Ten season off on the right foot with a two wins over Iowa, 65-53, on Dec. 29, and Penn State, 54-50, on Jan. 1 IU had not won a conference opener since the 2001-02 season and has not opened the season with back-to-back Big Ten wins since the 2001-02 season.
REBOUNDING QUEENS
Indiana is one of two schools that boast three players that rank in the top-15 in rebounding among Big Ten teams. Senior Jenny DeMuth leads the way at the No. 6 spot (7.8 rpg), followed by senior Angela Hawkins at No. 11 (6.6 rpg.) , and freshman Whitney Thomas at No. 12 (6.5 rpg). Wisconsin is the only other school to have three player in the top rankings. With a +6.1 rebounding margin, the Hoosiers rank third in the conference behind Ohio State (+7.4) and Wisconsin (+7.2).
PUT ME IN COACH
Senior guard Cyndi Valentin leads the Big Ten in minutes played with 36.00 minutes per game. Valentin has played a full game without coming out in four contests this year, including IU's overtime loss to Purdue on Jan. 5.
GET AHEAD WITH FIVE
IU is a perfect 8-0 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), when tying in offensive boards and when four players score in double figures (2-0).
DEMUTH NEARS SCHOOL RECORD
Highland, Ind., native Jenny DeMuth is just eight free throws shy of breaking the school record in career-free throws. She has 436 made during her career. The current record (443) is held by Denise Jackson, who played for the Hoosiers from 1981-84.
VITAL VALENTIN
Not only does senior guard Cyndi Valentin lead IU in scoring (17.3), but she also ranks first on the team in assists (3.3) and steals (1.7) per game.Only two other Hoosiers have finished as the team's leader in points, assists and steals. Diann Nestel finished the 1977-78 season with 13.3 points, 1.7 assists, and 1.9 steals, while Karna Abram led the 1986-87 squad with 23.3 points, 4.1 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.
DOUBLE VISION
Senior Jenny DeMuth (five) and freshman Whitney Thomas (two) 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 on her heels in second with five.DeMuth recorded her most recent double-double (13 points, 12 rebounds) on Jan. 5 against Purdue.
When analyzing double-doubles, DeMuth leads the team with 15 total 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.
PROMOTIONS
Monday's game is part of the "Fanatic Four Pack" deal, which includes four tickets to the game, four premium items, four hotdogs, four popcorns, and four drinks from the concessions stand for only $30. Tickets are available at the IU Ticket Office and can be purchased by calling 866-IUSPORTS.
NEXT GAME
Indiana begins a two-game road swing as it travels to Evanston, Ill., to take on Northwestern on Thursday, Jan. 12. Tipoff with the Wildcats is set for 7 p.m. (CST) 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.
