Freshman free throws pay off

It was a physical women's basketball game from the beginning. It looked as if every other play ended with someone on the ground and a foul. The Hoosiers, now 4-2, were 20-30 for free throws Saturday night with freshman Kali Kullberg making all 12 of her attempts.\nCoach Kathi Bennett said she was impressed with Kullberg's performance Saturday when the team defeated the now 5-1 Georgetown Hoyas. She said she had seen Kullberg's drive in practice and knew it would be crucial for the game against the Hoyas.\n"Kali was very steady," Bennett said. "She has shown the ability to get by and make plays in the lane."\nKullberg said she looked forward to being a spark when she came off the bench. The Minnesota native left Orono High School as its all-time highest scorer, boys and girls, with 1,727 points. Kullberg said her game-high 18 points against the Hoyas was just something she did to try and help the team out.\n"I wasn't looking for anything," Kullberg said. "Just what the team needed."\nKullberg gave the team exactly what they needed when she didn't miss any of her free throws the entire night. The Hoyas strategy may have been to foul to get the ball back, but it backfired when their star player Rebekkah Brunson fouled out with 5:02 left in the game. It also backfired anytime Kullberg stepped to the line.\n"I know Kali was 12 for 12," Bennett said. "We needed that. Especially down the stretch when they follow and they're trying to come back in the game. That was their plan, but Kali helped us stay consistent."\nKullberg said she did all she could when she came off the bench. She wasn't tired of shooting free throws, two in the first half and ten in the second, because she knew free throws were going to be huge in this game, she said. They certainly were.\nSenior Lisa Eckart was 5-7 on her free throws, and sophomore Jenny DeMuth sunk five of her six. Eckart had three important free throw attempts at the end of the first half. A foul on Bloomington native Nok Duany sent Eckart to the line to shoot three. Two of the three went in sending the Hoosiers off the court at halftime with a 36-30 lead.\nFreshman Cyndi Valentin was perfect at the free throw line as she knocked down 4-4. Valentin said she noticed the physical nature of the game.\n"I think they play real tight, and we have to take what they give us," Valentin said.\nBennett said she saw that free throws were going to play a big part in their victory. The Hoosiers' score could have been twice as high however if they made the baskets on the shots they were fouled on.\n"We missed so many easy shots," Bennett said. "If we can start finishing better around the rim, that will make life a whole lot easier."\nKullberg's performance in Saturday's game is one Bennett said she would like to see more often. Her drive and ability to sink free throws could be a huge strength for this team that is less than a month away from starting the Big Ten season.\n"She's a fighter," Bennett said. "She'll never give up, and she brings a toughness that this team needs"