Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Hit the Road for Cleveland State
12/20/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 20, 2013
| INDIANA (11-0) at CLEVELAND STATE (5-5) |
|
| Date | Dec. 21, 2012 |
| Time | 2 p.m. ET |
| Location | Cleveland, Ohio (Wolstein Center) |
| Radio | WHCC 105.1 FM | Listen Online Jeremy Gray, play-by-play |
| Game Notes | Indiana Notes | Cleveland Notes |
| Internet Coverage | Live Stats |
| Live Video Stream | Horizon League Network |
| Twitter | @IndianaWBB | @CurtMillerIUWBB |
THE OPENING TIP
Indiana will hit the road to take on Cleveland State at the Wolstein Center on Saturday, Dec. 21. The game is scheduled to tip at 2 p.m. ET and can be heard on WHCC 105.1 FM in Bloomington with Jeremy Gray on the call. The contest is also available as a live web stream via CSUVikings.com.
DID YOU KNOW?
• Indiana's 11-0 record to begin the season is the program's first perfect start through 11 games since the beginning of the 1992-93 season and it is just the third time ever in program history an IU team has started a season 11-0.
• IU received votes in this week's AP Top 25 Poll (Dec. 16), a program first since 2008-09.
• The Hoosiers are the only Big Ten team with an unblemished record.
• With winning 11 non-conference games this season, it ties for the most non-Big Ten wins in school history as IU won 11 games two times, last in 2006-07 (11-2) and in 1998-99 (11-3).
• Indiana is in the midst of a three-game road trip and is the only Big Ten team that will play three straight true road games in a row this season and IU will play more true road games than any other team in the conference this year.
• In the latest NCAA statistics rankings (games through Dec. 16), IU was sixth in the country in fewest turnovers committed per game (11.5) and ranks first in that category among Big Ten teams.
• With the win at IUPUI, Curt Miller improved to 22-19 at Indiana since becoming head coach, in the two seasons prior to his arrival, the Hoosiers were just 15-44.
• Indiana leads the conference and is 11th nationally in 3-point field goal percentage defense as IU is limiting opponents to shoot just 24.4 percent from beyond the arc.
• First year players have accounted for 70.9 percent of Indiana's total points this season.
• Larryn Brooks ranks fourth among freshmen nationally and is fourth overall in the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 19.2 points per game.
THE COACHES
Indiana
Curt Miller
Career Record: 280-111 (13th year)
Indiana record: 22-19 (2nd year)
CLEVELAND STATE
Kate Peterson Abiad
Career Record: 136-181 (11th year)
Cleveland State Record: 136-181 (11th year)
CLEVELAND STATE AT A GLANCE
Cleveland State plays in the Horizon League and has played three common opponents with Indiana (at Butler, Morehead State, IUPUI). The Vikings have won two of their last three games, including a road win at New Hampshire last time out. As a team, CSU is coring 71.4 points per game. On the defensive end, Cleveland State is forcing opponents into 20.2 turnovers per game and is grabbing 10.1 steals per contest. The Vikings have four players averaging double figure points led by Imani Gordon's 16.2 ppg. She also leads the team with 8.7 rpg. Kiersten Green shoots 43.5 percent from 3-point range and scores 15.4 ppg. Haley Schmitt leads the team shooting 50 percent from long distance and adds 11.7 ppg. Cori Coleman is scoring 11.2 ppg.
FIRST 11-0 START SINCE 1992, THIRD TIME EVER
Indiana improved to 11-0 with its 51-45 win at IUPUI on Dec. 15, marking the program's best start to a season since the beginning of the 1992-93 campaign when IU started 11-0. It is just the third time in program history that the Hoosiers have started 11-0 (1992-93, 1971-72). IU is the only Big Ten team with an undefeated record.
VOTES IN THE AP TOP 25 POLL
For the first time since the 2008-09 season, Indiana received votes in latest Associated Press Top 25 Poll (Dec. 16). The Hoosiers tied for the 33rd most votes in the country with four.
HOOSIERS TIE FOR MOST NON-CONFERENCE WINS EVER
With its 11th non-conference victory of the season over IUPUI on Dec. 15, Indiana tied for the most non-Big Ten wins in school history. Twice Indiana has won 11 non-conference games, last in 2006-07 (11-2) and in 1998-99 (11-3). Big Ten play for women's basketball began during the 1982-83 season.
HOOSIERS MATCH LAST YEAR'S WIN TOTAL BY MID DECEMBER
Indiana's 11th win of the year is also significant because it matches the entire win total from the 2012-13 season (11-19), and that feat was accomplished by Dec. 15 this season. IU last won more than 11 games during the 2009-10 campaign.
THE LINE HAS BEEN KIND
In a tight game at IUPUI, the Hoosiers took advantage of getting to the free throw line and shot their best percentage in a game this season, shooting 84.6 percent (22-of-26) against the Jaguars. Indiana nailed its last 11 free throws in a row down the stretch to get the victory. IU has shot 80 percent or better in three of the last four games.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
The Hoosiers are in the midst of a three-game road trip. After topping IUPUI, Indiana heads to Cleveland State on Dec. 21 and then Xavier on Dec. 29. IU is the only Big Ten team that will play three straight true road games during the 2013-14 regular season. The Hoosiers also play more true road games this year than any other team in the conference. By the end of the month, IU will have played six true road games in non-conference play, more than any Big Ten team.
LIGHT IT UP UP UP
Indiana offense has been key to early success in 2013-14:
• Indiana is averaging 77.2 points per game, which ranks third in the Big Ten.
• The Hoosiers have tallied 80 or more points in seven games this year, the last time an IU team scored 80-plus points in seven games during an entire season was in 1998-99.
• IU has scored 87 points twice this season. The last time an Indiana team scored 87 or more twice in a season was in 2002-03.
• Indiana scored 80 or more in four-consecutive games between Nov. 18 and Dec. 1, a program first since 1996-97.
• The Hoosiers shot 42.2 percent or better from the field in seven straight games to start the year. IU last shot 40 percent or better in seven straight games in 2009-10.
• Indiana is second in the Big Ten in 3-point field goals made per game (7.1).
• Indiana has hit 10 or more 3-point field goals in three games this year, and has hit eight or more seven times.
• The Hoosiers are second in the Big Ten in assist to turnover ratio (1.1).
• IU leads the conference and ranks 28th nationally in scoring margin (+18.1).
D-D-D DEFENSE
The Indiana defense has came to play in the first 11 games to begin the year:
• The Hoosiers are giving up 59.1 points per game, which is the second best mark in the Big Ten.
• IU ranks 11th among all NCAA Division I schools in 3-point field goal defense, holding opponents to shoot only 24.4 percent from beyond the arc.
• In nine games this year, the Hoosiers have limited foes to shoot 27.8 percent or lower from 3-point range and four times have held opponents under 20.0 percent from beyond the arc.
• Six times this year Indiana has limited its opponent to shoot 33.3 percent or lower overall, including four games holding foes to shoot less than 30 percent.
• Against USC Upstate on Dec. 1, the Hoosiers held the Spartans to 37 points, the lowest defensive point total since IU defended Belmont to just 26 points on Nov. 27, 2004. It was the first time Indiana had held an opponent under 40 points since Dec. 21, 2011, when IU limited Colorado State to 39 points.
• Indiana defended Upstate to shoot just 20.0 percent (11-of-55) for the game and 11.1 percent (2-of-18) from 3-point range.
IU DOUBLES ROAD WIN TOTAL FROM A YEAR AGO
Indiana improved to 4-0 on the road this season with the win at IUPUI last time out. Those four road wins doubles the team's road win total from last season and marks the program's most road triumphs since the 2010-11 season.
PROTECTING THE PUMPKIN
Indiana ranks first in the Big Ten and sixth nationally in fewest turnovers per game, now averaging just 11.5 miscues each contest. Four times this year, IU has committed less than 10 turnovers and six times have committed 10 or less. In three of the last four games, Indiana has had 10 or fewer miscues and earlier this year had a season-low four against Butler. The last time an Indiana team had less than 10 turnovers in four games during an entire season was in 2004-05.
THE MILLER EFFECT
Through one year and 11 games, Curt Miller has taken an Indiana program that went 15-44 in the two years prior to his arrival to a record of 22-19 since he became head coach at IU. The Hoosiers went 6-24 in 2011-12 and 9-20 in 2010-11. Under Miller, IU won 11 games last year and are currently 11-0 this season.
LARRYN LIGHTING IT UP
Freshman Larryn Brooks has had a stellar start to her Indiana career. Coming into the week, she ranked fourth among freshmen nationally in scoring and is fourth overall in the Big Ten with 19.2 points per game. She ranks sixth in the conference in free throw percentage shooting 89.4 percent (3rd among freshmen nationally) and in 3-point field goals made with 2.2 per game (15th), ninth in 3-point field goal percentage shooting 43.6 percent (5th) and 15th in assists with 3.5 per game and assist/turnover ratio at 1.1.
The Richmond, Ky., native has already set two IU freshman records this season. The first being her 37 points in the win over Virginia Tech on Dec. 4. Brooks shot 11-of-23 from the field, with four 3-point field goals and went 11-of-11 from the free throw line. She shattered a freshman record which stood for over 32 years and was held by Indiana's all-time career leading scorer, Denise Jackson, as she tallied 32 points against Michigan State on Feb. 13, 1981. The 37 points ties for the fifth best scoring game overall in IU history, the best output since Cindy Kerns scored 37 in 1999 and is the most points scored by any Big Ten player this season. She also set a freshman mark hitting 7-of-9 3-point field goals against Milwaukee on Dec. 11, which also ties for the third-most made all-time in a single game. She finished with 27 points in that game.
Just 11 games into her career, Brooks sits first (37 vs. Virginia Tech), is tied for ninth (27 vs. Milwaukee) and is 12th (25 at IPFW) in most points scored by a freshman in Indiana history.
BIG SASH MAKING BIG SPLASH
Sixth-year senior Sasha Chaplin has had a big start to her final season as she is currently shooting 63.2 percent from the field (second in Big Ten). In six games this year, Chaplin has shot 60.0 percent or better from the field, including a pair of games at 100 percent and one of 85.7 percent. Chaplin is averaging 10.2 points and 4.2 rebounds per game and has scored in double figures five times.
Against Milwaukee on Dec. 11, Chaplin tallied 16 points, shooting 6-of-7 from the field and 4-of-4 from the free throw line. Chaplin went 5-for-5 from the field en route to 10 points vs. Central Arkansas on Nov. 18 and 6-for-6 against Butler on Nov. 23 on her way to 14 points. At IPFW on Nov. 15, Chaplin scored 21 points, one point shy of her career high, shooting 8-of-12 from the field and 5-of-6 from the free throw line to go along with seven boards.
LEIKEM WITH BIG MINUTES AT IUPUI
Indiana struggled offensively throughout the game at IUPUI, but freshman Lyndsay Leikem provided a lift to the team after she entered the game with 10:34 remaining. During the final stretch, the Hoosiers outscored the Jaguars 20-11, a +9 margin with Leikem on the floor, and she scored five points, had a blocked shot and took a timely charge during that span.
LET'S GO GERARDOT
Senior transfer Tabitha Gerardot has been a solid contributor in her first year in an IU uniform. She is averaging 9.9 points per game and leads IU in rebounding (6.5 rpg) while leading the Big Ten in offensive rebounds per game (3.4). She has scored in double-figures in seven games this year. Against Milwaukee on Dec. 11, Gerardot scored 13 points with seven boards, a career high three blocks and two assists. Gerardot skied for a season-high 10 rebounds against USC Upstate on Dec. 1 and on Nov. 25 vs. Saint Louis, the Ft. Wayne, Ind., native scored a season-best 19 points.
Gerardot enrolled at Indiana after spending the last three seasons at Valparaiso University. The Ft. Wayne, Ind., native earned her undergraduate degree from Valpo in three years. She is working on her master's degree in linguistics after earning undergraduate degrees in French and Spanish. Gerardot is fluent in five languages.
The 6-1 Gerardot led the Crusaders in scoring in each of her last two seasons and averaged a near double-double last year with 15.5 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. She shot 47.4 percent during her junior season from the field and over 34 percent from beyond the arc on her way to earning Second Team All-Horizon League honors. Over her three years at Valpo, Gerardot appeared in every single game for the Crusaders and started in 91 of 93 contests to compile 1,215 career points while bringing in 723 career rebounds.
HIT THE GASSION PEDAL
Freshman Alexis Gassion is becoming a force on the defensive end and has been steady for the Hoosiers on offense as well this year. The Fairborn, Ohio, native has scored in double figures three times this season and is averaging 7.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
At Morehead State on Dec. 8, Gassion led Indiana with three blocks and three assists, adding eight points, three rebounds and a steal. She had the task of guarding MSU's leading scorer, Terrice Robinson, who came into the game averaging 19.9 points per game. Gassion was up to the task as she held Robinson without a field goal (0-of-10) and just three points.
TAYLOR MADE HOOSIER
Freshman guard Taylor Agler has started every game of her young Hoosier career and is averaging 7.1 points and 4.5 rebounds per game while leading the team in steals (1.4 spg). She stuffed the staff sheet vs. Milwaukee on Dec. 11, scoring eight points with seven rebounds, five assists (career high) and four steals (tied career high). Agler has tallied double digit points three times this year, including most recently at Morehead State when she tied for the team lead with 12 points while shooting 3-of-5 from beyond the arc with four rebounds, two assists and a block.
