Change in attitude allows McGinnis playing time

Erin McGinnis had to sit and watch from the sidelines last year. The rules were what made the transfer from Auburn a spectator as the Hoosiers struggled in a 10-18 season. \nMcGinnis had to sit most of this year, too. But the rules weren't what kept her near the end of the bench. Her attitude was.\nBut the junior forward's attitude has changed, coach Kathi Bennett said, and so has her position. Instead of sitting and watching IU, McGinnis is helping her team, as was apparent in Sunday's 83-76 win against Ohio State.\nThe Buckeyes were in the middle of making a comeback Sunday. Less than three minutes remained on the clock, and the Buckeyes had cut a 15-point deficit to six, and momentum had shifted their way.\nBut with time running out, and only seconds on the shot clock, McGinnis stepped four feet behind the arc and sunk the three-point shot. The Buckeyes momentum faltered.\n"That was a huge shot," Ohio State coach Beth Burns said. "We knew she was a long-distance, long-range shooter coming in. You've got to make the shots, and she sure did."\nThat shot was one of many shining moments for McGinnis in the the Hoosiers' (14-6, 5-4) Big Ten win against Ohio State (13-6, 3-6).\nMcGinnis' season has been less than productive until this point. She had a starting position in the first exhibition game, but her minutes have been cut short since. She has played for more than 10 minutes in seven of IU's 20 games.\nSunday, McGinnis played for 25 minutes, setting a new season and career high at IU.This is the second game in which McGinnis has seen more than 20 minutes. In the Hoosiers' loss to Penn State on Thursday, McGinnis was in for 22 minutes.\n"I really like what I see from (Erin) at the four spot," Bennett said. "She's realizing that she's going to have to battle, get some bruises and bloody noses, which she's already gotten. It helps us because she handles the ball, and she handles pressure so well."\nMcGinnis' minutes were cut in part because of a poor attitude toward practice, Bennett said. But lately, she said McGinnis has been stepping in and stepping up.\n"Erin's a very good player, and we needed to find her minutes somewhere," Bennett said. "The opportunity (came) to move her to the four, if she was willing to battle and be physical, and play post defense. She's really taken that opportunity and running with it."\nAgainst Penn State, sophomore guard Jill Hartman was out for academic reasons, and freshman forward Charliss Ridley took a leave of absence, so the Hoosiers turned to the bench for help.\nMcGinnis scored four points in that game, but her defense helped the Hoosiers make a comeback. She had two steals, one blocked shot and three defensive rebounds.\nBesides setting a record for minutes played, McGinnis scored 15 points and had six rebounds, both of which are a new season and career high for McGinnis at IU.\nHer previous record for high points was eight in the game against Minnesota in early January, and her career best in rebounds came against Kent State in November, where she scored six.\nBut with a new position, and an opportunity for minutes, McGinnis was the Hoosiers' new go-to player Sunday. Junior center Jill Chapman's minutes have been on the decline because of early foul trouble, which has kept her off the court. Against Ohio State, she played for a season-low 14 minutes.\n"It felt really good to be out there," McGinnis said. "I was just happy to be out there, and be a part of the team and help them out"