One roller coaster ride of a season

Where to begin? A Big Ten Championship, a berth in the NCAA Tournament, a frightening accident, and a array of emotions ranging from happy tears to sad discussions. All of the following described the 2001-2002 IU women's basketball season.\nThe Hoosiers, led by seniors Jill Chapman and Heather Cassady captured the Big Ten Tournament title by defeating three of the four highest seeds in the Tournament, including nationally ranked Penn State in the Championship 75-72.\nIU outlasted in-state rival Purdue in a semifinal contest, the first time they had defeated them in the past nine meetings.\nSophomore Jenny DeMuth said winning a Big Ten Championship was an awesome experience and an incomparable feat. \n"No one expected us to do it. We shocked everybody," DeMuth said. "I'd hope teams would have their eye on us for this season. It has made us work that much harder." \nIn claiming its first Conference Tournament Championship, the Hoosiers earned an invitation to the NCAA Tournament. IU battled TCU, but lost 55-45 in the first round in Durham, N.C. \n"Since it was our first time in the NCAA Tournament, we all were shocked we were actually playing in it," DeMuth said. "After our experience last season, we now know how to get to the tournament. Now we have to get back there, so we can win."\nIU suffered through parts of the regular season. At one point, they dropped five straight games and eight of eleven.\n"What I'll remember most about this team last season is the overcoming," coach Kathi Bennett said. "We lost to Michigan, our fifth loss in a row, then we beat Wisconsin. At that point, I really knew this team could be something special."\nBefore either tournament took place, a tragic, yet inspiring incident occurred that changed the face of IU women's basketball. Bennett was involved in a car accident on Feb. 8, 2002. As a result, she broke the second vertebra in her neck and was forced to wear a halo device to stabilize her neck. \n"Everybody was so shocked," DeMuth said. "It was extremely tough, but it made us better as a team and brought us closer together as a family. It made us realize we had to come together." \nWhile Bennett recovered, associate coach Trish Betthauser took over the coaching duties. \nUnder Betthauser's guidance, IU won two of three games, before Bennett returned on Senior Day on Feb. 24. \nDeMuth said Betthauser stepped right in and acted like she always was the coach. She said most people would not have believed Betthauser could have done as good of a job as she did. \n"She helped us, but also we helped her," DeMuth said. "It was like a two-way street."\nThe players first viewed Bennett's injury with sadness and negativity, but soon learned that some things happen for a reason. Junior Jamie Gathing was one of those doubters, but realized that good could come out of a bad situation.\n"The coach's injury was a big turnaround," Gathing said. "It represented us coming together. It was a prelude to the Big Ten Tournament, when we came together in the biggest way."\nSenior Allison Skapin concurs with Gathing about the bonds that were formed after Bennett's accident.\n"It makes you stop and think about things, and makes you glad you have supportive friends," Skapin said. "It just made you stop and wonder. You should be glad you have your health because you aren't always in control of it."\nSkapin said you could see a change in Bennett's frame of mind after the car accident. \nShe said you could tell Bennett was rethinking things. Bennett still had a great deal of fire and passion for the game and Skapin said that did not die. Gathing said perhaps because of that inspiration given to the players by Bennett and her ordeal, the Hoosiers won six of their final eight games. \n"The leadership was incredible last season, especially from the seniors." Bennett said. "It was the realization that this was it. They truly raised the bar and took IU women's basketball to another level"