Hoosiers earn tough victory

After a difficult regular season in some respects, the IU women's basketball team wanted to finish on a high note at home on Senior Day. The women would get their wish.\nThe Hoosiers prevailed against Illinois 85-82 in overtime Sunday at Assembly Hall. \nPrior to this contest, IU (12-14, 5-11 Big Ten) had lost 10 of twelve games this year.\n"This was a big win for us," IU coach Kathi Bennett said. "We needed a victory like this. (Junior forward) Jamie Gathing's defense on Williams in the second half was key."\nWith the crowd Sunday, IU averaged more than 2,000 fans per home contest this year, marking the first time that record had been achieved. \nIllinois (17-10, 9-7) controlled from the outset as it opened the game 7-1 and shot extremely well from the field in the first half. As a result, the Hoosiers found themselves battling uphill for all of the first half.\nThe Hoosiers never led in the first and trailed by as many as 15. Illinois led at the break, 45-35.\nThe second half was a different story. IU's defense buckled down and limited the Illini to shoot only 34.8 percent (8-23) in the second.\nIn the second half, IU gradually decreased the Illinois lead. The Hoosiers fought back to within one point with 12 minutes to go. IU finally seized their first lead of the game at 60-59 when freshman guard Cyndi Valentin connected on a three-pointer from the left wing with 8:18 left. Illinois extended the lead to three again before IU answered back. With 1:15 left in regulation, freshman center Angela Hawkins made two free throws to tie the score 72-72. \nIU had a few opportunities to possibly win the game in regulation, but two missed shots by sophomore guard/forward Jenny DeMuth, including a layup that rolled around and out, ensured the game would go to overtime. \nIn the extra period, with the score knotted at 82-82 with just over a minute left, freshman guard/ forward April Williams hit a shot from the right wing that gave IU a two-point advantage, 84-82, and proved to be the game winner. \n"I just wanted to help the seniors out," Williams said. "They have done so much for this program, so to be able to give something back to them was nice."\nBennett highlighted the team's success in overtime.\n"I felt we could attack them in overtime," Bennett said. "Get the ball inside, run, and be more aggressive. That worked to our advantage in overtime."\nWith 23 seconds left after a missed three-pointer by Illinois which was blocked by Gathing, Illinois grabbed the rebound but also missed a put-back two-point attempt. After that, the Illini had to foul to prolong the game. But it was too late. \nSenior guard Kristen Bodine described her experience at the charity strip near the end of the game.\n"It was nice. I wish I could of hit all four though," Bodine said. "At that point I wasn't too worried about the game. I felt comfortable with our lead and the time remaining. But I just hit a cold spell midway through the second half, and it affected my free throw shooting."\nThe Hoosiers were paced by senior forward Lisa Eckart, who recorded a season-high 26 points. She also netted 4-of-6 from three-point range and added nine rebounds. Bodine chipped in 19 points, including 5-of-8 from the free-throw line. It was both Eckart's and Bodine's last game at Assembly Hall.\nEckart was excited for all of the seniors and described what it took in the extra session.\n"We did a great job of getting the ball inside," Eckart said. "We were able to draw fouls on them and get their big players in foul trouble. That was a key in the game."\nThe Hoosiers begin the Big Ten Tournament Thursday in Indianapolis at Conseco Fieldhouse. They will take on Wisconsin at 3 p.m. Thursday.\n"Our focus is on the tournament now," Bennett said. "Wisconsin hurt us on a few sets, which I'm picturing right now, so we are going to have to prepare for them. We also have to stop their big people."\nBodine responded to the question of whether she thought the Hoosiers could be playing any better, despite IU's recent struggles.\n"I don't think so," Bodine said. "Our defense wasn't as well as we liked today, but our offense has been a long time since we've clicked, but today we really did. We have improved and that is encouraging and that's something we can take into the Big Ten Tournament"