Women lose game against Wolverines

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Usually a promising start to the second half is a good boost for a team and can lead to a victory. So after IU forward Jenny DeMuth hit two three pointers in the first 2:18 of the second session, it looked as though the Hoosiers might break out of their four-game losing streak.\nBut a Michigan run erased that momentum and carried the Wolverines to a 68-55 victory.\nThe Hoosiers led the Wolverines 30-28 after a competitive first half, and DeMuth's threes gave IU an eight-point lead. But Michigan coach Sue Guevara called a timeout which spurred a Wolverine comeback.\nIU's lead quickly evaporated as Michigan outscored the Hoosiers 19-3 over a stretch of seven minutes and 37 seconds to take a 47-39 lead. IU (8-10, 2-5 Big Ten) never got within less than six points in the final 6:20.\nHoosier guard Heather Cassady was disappointed IU couldn't close the door on the Michigan (12-7, 2-6) comeback.\n"We said in the huddle that we needed to put this team away," Cassady said. "They came back and got within four, and we just kind of hung our heads."\nGuevara thought the Wolverines' ability to respond to DeMuth's threes was the turning point in the game.\n"After DeMuth hit those two threes, I thought the kids really responded," Guevara said. "They knew that we had to change that momentum. We started really rebounding and running."\nThe Hoosiers led for the first 30 minutes of the game but were plagued by poor shooting and rebounding midway through the second half, which allowed Michigan to break open the game. IU shot 29.6 percent from the field in the second session, while Michigan shot 46.2 percent.\nIU was out-rebounded 46-29 and gave up 15 offensive boards. Michigan also had a distinct advantage at the free-throw line, making 24-of-30 shots to IU's 14-of-20.\nCassady led the Hoosiers with 11 points, while guard Tara Jones and forward Erin McGinnis each chipped in 10 points. The Wolverines were led by game-high scorer guard Alayne Ingram, who had 23 points.\nIU head coach Kathi Bennett believes her team lacks toughness and confidence in one another.\n"We lose our focus and stop playing as soon as something doesn't go well," Bennett said. "I don't think we are a really tough team right now. You have to have confidence, and you have to believe in your teammates and I think that is really lacking with this team. We have to somehow find that way back."\nThe Hoosiers will return to action Thursday at 7 p.m. against No. 5 Wisconsin at Assembly Hall.\nBennett hopes the Hoosiers can turn around their season and perform in a game situation like they play in practice.\n"We have to keep working hard," Bennett said. "We practice very hard. We are a different team in practice than we are in the games, but we have to be able to do that at game time"