Career high not enough

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Even the Hoosier crowd was an underdog when the women's basketball team took on Iowa in the second round of the Big Ten tournament Friday night at the Van Andel Arena. \n While the black-and-gold clad Hawkeyes fans dominated the stands, the IU crowd, much like the team, was watching silently as Iowa took control of the court and arena.\n The only thing the Hoosiers could do to combat the Hawkeyes and their fans was unleash junior forward Erin McGinnis.\n "I just went through the same preparation before the game," McGinnis said. "Same as any other game, I just got myself mentally prepared."\nBut something worked: McGinnis scored 27 points.\nEven that could not stop the Hawkeyes in their 81-76 victory.\nMcGinnis played 14 minutes and did not score in the first meeting between the two teams Feb. 4 when Iowa routed IU 83-56.\nSituations change, and so did McGinnis' play against the Hawkeyes.\nWhen the game was over, McGinnis finished with a team-high 27 points and 13 rebounds. She also set a new career high for points in a game and tied her best in rebounding.\n"Indiana is so much better with her in the basketball game," Iowa coach Lisa Bluder said. "She did not play like that when we played them at our place. We knew in the last four or five games she's really elevated her play and numbers have really increased, but I never thought that much. She was outstanding."\nMcGinnis won the tip to start the game, and the big plays alternated between her and junior center Jill Chapman. McGinnis' first shot attempt from the field was no good, but on the next IU possession, she scored from inside, where she spent much of the night. McGinnis attempted four shots from beyond the arc and was successful twice. She went 10-for-18 from the field, most of them under the basket. \n"I haven't been hitting (from the outside) lately," McGinnis said. "I just needed to score, so I knew I had to get inside."\nAt the beginning of the season, McGinnis had little playing time. But with the suspension of senior forward Rachael Honegger, McGinnis was given a playing opportunity and took it.\nIU coach Kathi Bennett said that while McGinnis' play has been strong, her shot selection and consistency needed work.\n"I've seen her (play hard) in practice, and I knew she could do it," Bennett said. "I like it when she's going to the rim, and we really wanted her to get to the rim."\nScoring was not the only area in which McGinnis found success. She moved from the inside to the outside, causing Iowa senior center Randi Peterson to pick up four fouls with 14 minutes left in the second half.\n"She's a good basketball player," Peterson said. "She's tough, and she makes it even harder to guard her. She's going to be really good (next year)"