Seniors help out in final game of regular season

The seniors on the IU women's basketball team just wouldn't give up Sunday in their final home game at Assembly Hall. Their persistence and enthusiasm on the court helped them gain their final victory at home in an overtime win against Illinois that ended 85-82. The Hoosiers now go into the Big Ten Tournament 12-14, 5-11 in the Big Ten, while Illinois fell to 17-10, 9-7 in the Big Ten. \nThe game started with a salute to the seniors as IU head coach Kathi Bennett started the five seniors: Kristen Bodine, Jill Hartman, Allison Skapin, Khisha Asubuhi and Lisa Eckart. \nTwo seniors in particular stood out in Sunday's game. Bodine, a guard from Martinsville, Ind., recorded 19 points and six assists while forward transfer from Evansville, Eckart, scored 26 points and had five assists. \n"I thought those two played really well," Bennett said. "They played smart; they played hard and they held their intensity the whole game."\nBennett also said she felt that the ball pressure that Bodine put on defensively was a big part of their comeback in the second half. \n"They (Illinois) scored 45 in the first half and 27 in the second half," Bennett said. "That was a big change."\nFreshman forward April Williams may have only scored two points in Sunday's contest but the basket came with less than a minute left in overtime and put the Hoosiers up by two.\n"I just wanted to help them out and get the seniors a win on senior night," Williams said. \nThe departing seniors were presented with gifts and bright orange basketball balloons as they walked onto the court with family members after the game. \nThis senior class was notable both on the court and off. While seniors like Eckart and Bodine led the Hoosiers on the court, Asubuhi led the team with the highest GPA.\nHartman was announced as the most accurate three point shooter in IU women's basketball history. She recorded two points in Sunday's game against Illinois.\nEach senior had her turn at the microphone to say what she wanted and thank everyone who has been a part of her time at Assembly Hall.\n"I couldn't ask for a better coach," Bodine said at the mic in front of the crowd. "More than anything, she supported me when I wasn't at my best."\nAs far as the seniors' last game being as exciting and nail-biting as it was, Eckart, who will finish her college career with over 1200 points, said she didn't think it could have ended with a better game.\n"We played extremely well, I thought," Eckart said. "It was like everything came together in the end."\nWith IU's victory over Illinois, the Hoosiers will be playing as the eighth seed against Wisconsin in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament this Thursday. The seniors and their teammates aren't anywhere near ready for the season to be at an end.\n"We had a lot of emotions today from younger players and especially older players because it was our last game here," Bodine said. "I think we have pretty high hopes for going into the tournament"