Hoosiers look to win 3rd-straight game

The Hoosier women's basketball squad is coming off a two-win weekend after claiming their home Hampton Inn Classic Tournament Title by defeating Belmont and Central Michigan. IU coach Kathi Bennett is hoping her Hoosiers can continue their winning ways as they travel to Arkansas Wednesday night against yet another tough non-conference foe.\nThe cream and crimson will look to put an end to a rather successful beginning for the Lady Razorbacks. Arkansas has opened up the 2004-2005 campaign with a 4-1 record, with its only loss coming to No. 15-ranked Purdue. IU will look to even up the all time series with Arkansas, as the Lady Backs hold a 2-1 advantage against the Hoosiers. The most recent meeting between the two came last season when the Razorbacks edged IU, 78-70.\nAs will be the theme throughout the regular season for Bennett and the Hoosiers, Arkansas is one of many tough non-conference as well as conference opponents on the Hoosier schedule. IU is ranked sixth nationally in strength of schedule, according to the Summerville RPI poll.\nDespite the difficult schedule, Bennett and the Hoosiers are concentrating on what they must accomplish against a very aggressive Arkansas squad. Bennett has been impressed with the play on the defensive end, but she said she believes her team needs to protect the ball better on the offensive side. \n"Arkansas plays extremely hard," Bennett said. "They force a lot of turnovers, about 40 a game, and we just need to do a great job of taking care of the ball. Taking care of the ball will definitely be the key for us."\nThe Hoosiers have played well on the defensive end in each of their three games this season and will look to continue much of the same against the Lady Backs. Junior guard Cyndi Valentin feels the Hoosier defense has been solid and that they need to maintain much of the same defensively. \n"I think our defensive has really stepped up," Valentin said. "We need to continue playing tough and keep up the pressure on the ball, especially against a team like Arkansas."\nAlthough the Hoosiers have played well defensively, they feel they must come out with more intensity in the opening minutes. Sophomore Annika Boyd said she believes the squad needs to jump out of the gates with a better effort on both ends of the court in order to knock off the Razorbacks.\n"A few times we have started off a little flat," Boyd said. "We've worked on opening up a game with more intensity." \n-- Contact staff writer Matt \nOstrega at mostrega@indiana.edu.