Women's team to face formidable Huskies

The women's basketball team can breathe a sigh of relief. But just a small one. \nSophomore guard Loree Payne, an offensive threat for the University of Washington, has a stress fracture in her foot, and won't play in Friday's season opener.\n"It's disappointing not to have Loree as we open our season," said fifth-year Husky coach June Daugherty. "Our main concern is her health and recovery. It's too early to tell how long she will be out. We can only hope for the best."\nBut the Hoosiers will have to try to contain Payne's offensive partner, senior guard Megan Franza. Last season, the two were the highest scoring duo in Pac-10 history. Payne and Franza were third and fourth in league scoring, respectively.\nWithout Payne, the Hoosiers will have to perfect their transition game in order to contain Franza. IU struggled with its defense in both exhibition games.\nSenior guard Jill Pimley is expected to start in Payne's place. Pimley averaged 2.3 points and averaged 1.9 rebounds per game last year. Although she doesn't have the shooting range of Payne, she's played with Franza for four years and knows how to set her up.\n"We've got to go out and play all 40 minutes of defense," junior center Jill Chapman said. "We usually start out pretty good, but we just have to keep it up."\nPayne averaged 17.4 points per game last season. She was the only freshman in the top 10 scoring leaders for the Pac-10, including scoring the most points for the season. Payne had 521, breaking the 475 record set in 1979.\nBut Payne will have to rest for two weeks before beginning rehabilitation.\nFranza, on the other hand, was the 16th Husky to score 1,000 points last season and only the eighth player to reach that feat as a junior. Franza trailed Payne with 515 points for last season and was named to the All Pac-10 first team.\n"Franza is very explosive," Bennett said. "They do a lot for her to try and screen. She pretty much has the green light. She runs the floor very well."\nBennett said she plans to pair junior guard Tara Jones with Franza because Jones is the Hoosiers' best defender, Bennett said.\nSince the Hoosiers' last exhibition game against Tapiolan Honka, IU has studied tapes of the Washington exhibition game to see how the Huskies have gotten the ball to Franza. Franza was the leading scorer for the Huskies in their second exhibition game. She had 23 points against the Bay Area Pro-Am team.\n"Despite not shooting as much (in the Pro-Am game), she was able to step up in other areas," Daugherty said. "I'm never worried about Megan."\nIt comes down to the Hoosiers' defense, and if that's not working, then it's going to be a Franza showcase.\n"We'll get beat," Bennett said. "If we can't get back and shut down their shooters, that's their key, and that's what gives (Franza and Payne) their energy. We need a consistent effort. We're going to get challenged"