Needing win, women ready for Texas game

The IU women's basketball team hits the road again and continues its long-traveled pre-conference season tonight. The Hoosiers duel with North Texas in Denton, Texas at 8 p.m. tonight.\nThe Lady Eagles, who have the fourth longest home winning streak in the nation, finished first in the Sun Belt conference last year and compiled an overall record of 21-9 before losing in the first round of the WNIT. \nCoach Kathi Bennett, who is in her third year at IU, is eager for the challenge against North Texas, who have won 15 consecutive home games. \n"All their strengths are stuff we struggle with," said Bennett, who has achieved five 20-win seasons in her 14-year coaching career. "They are a very good team in transition, so we will have to take care of the ball and not turn it over and give them easy scoring opportunities. It will be a great test for us."\nTonight's game marks the first-ever meeting between the two schools. North Texas is 4-2 this year.\nMeanwhile, the Hoosiers are used to traveling on long road trips. In the three trips, IU will have logged 9,046 miles in under 20 days. A week and a half ago, the Hoosiers played in the Great Alaska Shootout where they fell to Nevada in the Championship on Nov. 27. Next, it was to Tallahassee, Fla. where IU dropped its last road contest to Florida State, a 58-47 decision on Tuesday Dec. 3.\nAfter losing to the Seminoles, the Hoosiers recovered by defeating Georgetown 72-65 on Saturday at Assembly Hall. \nWhile IU earned a victory this past weekend to improve to 4-2, Bennett said she would like to see her team improve defensively. IU finished third in scoring defense in the Big Ten last year with teams averaging 63.8 points per game. This season, the Hoosiers are allowing 61.5 points per contest. Nonetheless, Bennett said they could be good defensively and she wants the team to work harder towards that goal.\n"I want us to be a better competitive team for 40 minutes," Bennett said. "Second, I want us to be tough with the ball. Third, we need to finish around the rim. If we do those things, we will have success."\nWith an abundance of freshmen on this team the seniors have taken it upon themselves to lead and show the younger players how to do things. \n"All seniors have the responsibility to be leaders," Bodine said. "(Jill) Hartman shows emotion. Me, I direct on the floor as a point guard. The older players all have responsibility."\nKalli Kullberg, another point guard, has been leading as a true freshman. She said that the Hoosiers are still feeling their way around on the road and the next game is the biggest game of the season. Kullberg added that is how the team has to view every game. \nBennett said it is extremely important to win and establish some momentum heading into the showdown with Purdue on Saturday at the RCA Dome.\n"A victory would be huge," Bennett said. "A win puts the bounce in your step and makes you believe"