Indiana University Athletics
IU Gets Closer in Close Games
12/11/2015 10:12:00 AM | Women's Basketball
By: Sam Beishuizen, IUHoosiers.com | Twitter
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana wants wins no matter how they come. They don't have to be pretty.
But some wins are inevitably closer than others—sometimes too close. There was proof in Indiana's win against Indiana State earlier this week where a 15-point lead became a single-digit lead in a matter of minutes late in the fourth quarter, forcing the Hoosiers to clamp down defensively and hold on for a 3-point win.
Sophomore forward Amanda Cahill can speak for her teammates in saying she'd rather skip the dramatics and walk away with a blowout win. But the tight games are learning experiences she said, ones Indiana was too often on the short end of last season.
"We don't want to play in close games if it's our fault, or us not playing well," sophomore forward Amanda Cahill said. "But us being able to dig ourselves out of those is something that will benefit us."
Indiana (6-2) may find itself in another high-pressure situation tonight when Samford (6-3) comes to Assembly Hall for a 7 p.m. matchup. The Bulldogs rank third in the nation defensively, holding opponents to just 47 points per game, and run the Princeton offense susceptible to exposing any existing defensive flaws.
"There's going to be opportunities to get exposed," head coach Teri Moren said. "That's probably going to happen a couple of possessions (Friday) night, but then you can't really panic."
Calm heads have been key in more than a few of Indiana's wins this season. Moren still points out Indiana's win against Chattanooga—in which the Hoosiers made a fourth quarter surge of their own after trailing in the third—as a game in which IU proved it can scrap in heated games.
The challenge is making games like the win against Chattanooga the norm.
IU followed up the win against Chattanooga with losses to DePaul and Ohio in a stretch of three games before righting the ship against Austin Peay and winning back-to-back close contests against Georgia Tech and Indiana State.
The Hoosiers' win against the Sycamores was tangible growth in itself. Although the rosters have changed and the location was flipped, Indiana lost to Indiana State by four points last season at Assembly Hall in a game where IU couldn't grind out a win.
The difference, players say, is chemistry. It's been the buzz word they've been using all season to describe the difference in this year's team from last and is crucial when games get close, Cahill said.
"This year we are just a lot closer and we have been sticking together more," she said. "Just making sure throughout tough times we band together instead of pulling apart."
The close wins are breeding confidence, junior forward Alexis Gassion said. She'd rather not be in them to begin with, but each single-digit win makes the next less stressful.
It's all part of the season-long learning process, Moren said. And she expects another test tonight.
"They are smart enough to know we were lucky the other night to come out of there with a win, but I hope they are confident. I want them to play with confidence," Moren said. "We are going to need it when these games get close."
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana wants wins no matter how they come. They don't have to be pretty.
But some wins are inevitably closer than others—sometimes too close. There was proof in Indiana's win against Indiana State earlier this week where a 15-point lead became a single-digit lead in a matter of minutes late in the fourth quarter, forcing the Hoosiers to clamp down defensively and hold on for a 3-point win.
Sophomore forward Amanda Cahill can speak for her teammates in saying she'd rather skip the dramatics and walk away with a blowout win. But the tight games are learning experiences she said, ones Indiana was too often on the short end of last season.
"We don't want to play in close games if it's our fault, or us not playing well," sophomore forward Amanda Cahill said. "But us being able to dig ourselves out of those is something that will benefit us."
Indiana (6-2) may find itself in another high-pressure situation tonight when Samford (6-3) comes to Assembly Hall for a 7 p.m. matchup. The Bulldogs rank third in the nation defensively, holding opponents to just 47 points per game, and run the Princeton offense susceptible to exposing any existing defensive flaws.
"There's going to be opportunities to get exposed," head coach Teri Moren said. "That's probably going to happen a couple of possessions (Friday) night, but then you can't really panic."
Calm heads have been key in more than a few of Indiana's wins this season. Moren still points out Indiana's win against Chattanooga—in which the Hoosiers made a fourth quarter surge of their own after trailing in the third—as a game in which IU proved it can scrap in heated games.
The challenge is making games like the win against Chattanooga the norm.
IU followed up the win against Chattanooga with losses to DePaul and Ohio in a stretch of three games before righting the ship against Austin Peay and winning back-to-back close contests against Georgia Tech and Indiana State.
The Hoosiers' win against the Sycamores was tangible growth in itself. Although the rosters have changed and the location was flipped, Indiana lost to Indiana State by four points last season at Assembly Hall in a game where IU couldn't grind out a win.
The difference, players say, is chemistry. It's been the buzz word they've been using all season to describe the difference in this year's team from last and is crucial when games get close, Cahill said.
"This year we are just a lot closer and we have been sticking together more," she said. "Just making sure throughout tough times we band together instead of pulling apart."
The close wins are breeding confidence, junior forward Alexis Gassion said. She'd rather not be in them to begin with, but each single-digit win makes the next less stressful.
It's all part of the season-long learning process, Moren said. And she expects another test tonight.
"They are smart enough to know we were lucky the other night to come out of there with a win, but I hope they are confident. I want them to play with confidence," Moren said. "We are going to need it when these games get close."
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