Hoosiers look to snap cold shooting streak against Wisconsin at home

As the saying goes, defense wins games. But for coach Kathi Bennett, defense isn't the issue. It's offensive woes that are leaving Bennett scrambling on the bench.\nWhat began as a very promising year has slowly taken a turn in the wrong direction for Bennett and the Hoosiers. Averaging 45.5 points per game during their last nine games, the Hoosiers are currently in the midst of a five-game losing streak and have dropped eight of their last nine contests. During the skid, points have been tough to come by.\nThe irony of the situation for the cream and crimson is the team plays solid basketball, especially on the defensive end, Bennett said.\n"We're so close," Bennett said. "We have stayed in the games against top teams like Michigan State but we have to play 40 minutes of basketball. The first half intensity is great and we need to keep fighting and bring it over into the second half -- we're close."\nDefensively, the Hoosiers are containing the opposition to 52.6 points per game for the season. In recent outings, the Hoosiers have held top ranked programs much below their season averages, holding No. 8 Michigan State and No. 3 Ohio State to 52 points each -- 18 points below MSU's season average of 70 ppg and 22.5 points below OSU's 74.5 ppg.\nThe Hoosiers will attempt to put their defense to the test against a high-scoring Wisconsin team tonight at Assembly Hall. The Badgers (8-10, Big Ten 2-6) come into the match-up averaging 71.5 points per game -- second in the Big Ten. Fortunately for IU, the Badgers are allowing a whopping 73.2 points per game. Although the Badger defense might have struggled, the Hoosiers understand the importance of finishing on the offense end.\n"We just need to score," said senior LeAnn Stephenson. "We also need to get Angie (Hawkins) going early. She has been really key the past three games for us. If she can keep that going for us tomorrow, we'll be in good shape."\nWisconsin features a trio of guards posting double-digit scoring averages. Freshman standout Jolene Anderson (17.9 ppg), senior Stephanie Rich (11.9 ppg) and freshmen Janese Banks (10.4 ppg) have led the way on offense for the Badgers. \nAnderson has made a quick impact for the Badgers as she has carried the Badgers throughout the 2004-2005 campaign. Anderson, along with Rich and Banks, make up one of the top backcourts in the Big Ten and will prove to be a challenge against a strong Hoosier defense.\nIU is well-aware of Wisconsin's success on offense and understands the importance of containing the Badgers' leading scorers. Freshmen Nikki Smith believes the Hoosiers have to go out and play hard basketball, both defensively and offensively, and success will follow.\n"We need to keep our heads on straight," Smith said. "We have nothing to lose. We have to go out and play tough both mentally and physically as well as both ends of the floor."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Matt Ostrega at mostrega@indiana.edu.