Upset bid falls short for women

It was a game that showed the IU women's basketball team's (9-11, 2-8) spirit, their drive and determination to come out with a victory in the Big Ten. But when things didn't go their way in the last seconds of the game, the Hoosiers fell to No. 15 Minnesota (17-4, 6-4) 59-56.\nAlthough a heartbreaking loss, the team had a great time playing in the game, senior Jill Hartman said.\n"We were really intense and excited and I really think the crowd helped that," Hartman said. "We play better when we're having fun and fired up."\nThe beginning of the first half was quite a struggle for the Hoosiers. With less than 14 minutes to go in the first half, IU was down 4-13. Their struggle didn't last long as they came back within three points of Minnesota before a field goal from senior Lisa Eckart tied the game 22-22 with just 4:30 to go. \nWith 30 seconds left in the first half, Minnesota's Tanisha Gilbert hit a basket to tie the game once again at 25-25. It was a last second shot by IU freshman Cyndi Valentin that put the Hoosiers up by two 27-25 going into halftime. \nThe second half had IU trailing Minnesota almost the entire period. Key baskets from Hartman held the Hoosiers closely behind Minnesota.\nThe seniors of the team are finally stepping up and showing the leadership that coach Kathi Bennett has been looking for, Hartman said.\n"I think we, as seniors, have started to realize that this is it for us," Hartman said. "There's a lot on our shoulders and we know we have to step up."\nStepping up for Minnesota was Janel McCarville, but the 6-foot-2-inch center fouled out with 3:54 left to go in the game. McCarville scored 12 of Minnesota's 59 points.\nIt was a one-point ballgame with less than two minutes to go. The 3,867 fans that came out to watch the Hoosiers stood on their feet to cheer on the team in the remaining minutes. It was the third time this season that the IU crowd has ranked in the top ten for women's games at Assembly Hall.\nAfter a timeout, IU set up a double screen for Hartman, but Minnesota's defense dominated the remaining seconds and caused Valentin to take the shot. It didn't go and left the Golden Gophers victors of the game. \nMinnesota coach Pam Borton said she was pleased her team got a road win and said she gives IU a lot of credit for the good ball game they played.\n"Indiana played great defense against us and did a great job taking care of the basketball," Borton said. "They made very few mistakes and made it very difficult for us to score."\nIU played their game without freshman center Angela Hawkins. Assistant media relations director Gavin Lang said Hawkins is healthy but sat out due to a violation of team rules. She will play in IU's next game Thursday against Iowa.\nBennett said she was pleased with her team's defense. Minnesota is one of the highest scoring teams in the nation, and IU held them to just 59 points. Minnesota made less than 40 percent of their shots.\n"Our defense was outstanding," Bennett said. "It's one of the better defensive games we've had."\nIU's defense did struggle some against Minnesota's Lindsay Whalen, an All-American and former Big Ten Player of the Year. Whalen scored 27 points in the game.\nAlthough it's another loss, Bennett said she still believes her team is improving and continues to look better in every game.\n"I'm very disappointed in the loss because I felt like we played good enough to win," Bennett said. "Those are the one's that hurt the most"