Team wins Classic tourney

The women's basketball team proved this weekend at the Hampton Inn/Fazoli's Classic tournament that they are not a team to be ignored. Their 90-34 win over Wofford marked the most one-sided victory for the Hoosiers since 1991. If that wasn't enough, the Hoosiers came back to the court Saturday evening to defeat Ball State 103-95 in a double overtime game that named the 2-0 Hoosiers winners of the tournament.\nFriday night was noticeably a night full of depth for the Hoosiers when they took on the Wofford Lady Terriers. Everyone got a few minutes of playing time in the game, and freshman Cyndi Valentin was the top scorer with 16 points. It was her second game as top scorer this season. Senior Lisa Eckart and sophomore Jenny DeMuth also contributed by adding 12 points a piece. \nCoach Kathi Bennett said she noticed the depth of the team Friday and said it's one of their main strengths.\n"I feel like it's something that will help us as the season wears on," Bennett said. "The key is we just have to keep getting better."\nWofford had a tough game against the Hoosiers at half time when the score was 41-17. The second half sailed by smoothly and before they knew it, the Hoosiers were headed to the championship game of the tournament.\nFollowing the Hoosier's victory, Ball State defeated Houston 78-63.\nThe night before the tournament, Bennett said she knew playing either Ball State or Houston would be a really good game. Little did she know exactly how good and intense it would be. The Hoosiers didn't start out so well in the first half, and it looked as though it were Ball State's game.\n"We have to start playing better early," Bennett said. "I think each of our games have started out not so good, and it takes a while for us to get into things and start playing like we really can."\nAlthough it took the team awhile to get into the Ball State game, they came back to tie the game late in the first half after being down 16 points. The excitement didn't stop there.\nJust when Indiana thought they had the game wrapped up 74-71, Ball State's Johna Goff drained a three-pointer that sent the game into overtime. The first overtime was neck and neck once again, and it all came down to free throws by Valentin with one second left in the first overtime. The first bounced off the rim leaving the score in Ball State's favor 87-88. It was her second basket that sealed the trip into another overtime.\nIU was ready for the last overtime and held the lead for the remaining minutes of the game.\nSenior Kristen Bodine said she could feel the adrenaline on the court before each overtime and that the team just gave it their all each time.\n"I try and do my best out there whether it's overtime or not," Bodine said. "The coaches have confidence in me and that helps."\nValentin said the team's chemistry on the court came together this weekend. \n"It comes together the more we practice and as the season goes on," Valentin said. "We're all getting used to each other and how we cut and move around the ball."\nDeMuth finished with 24 points, 14 of which were free-throws. She didn't miss one all night making her 14 of 14 attempts a new school record. DeMuth also recorded 11 rebounds and six assists.\nAfter the nail-biting victory over Ball State, the Hoosiers claimed their trophy and celebrated as teammates DeMuth, Bodine and Eckart were all named to the tournament team. Goff of Ball State and Chandi Jones of Houston also made the team.\nClaiming the Classic MVP of the tournament was Ball State's Tamara Bowie who grabbed nine rebounds and scored a game high 26 points.\nBennett and her team are now headed to the Great Alaska Shootout where they will take on Eastern Kentucky in the opening round Tuesday at midnight (EST).\n"We're taking a lot of toughness with us to Alaska after this game," Bennett said. "We've still got things to work on, but this weekend showed our toughness and gave us confidence"