'Pack the Hall' game breaks 10,000 mark

Though IU lost to Purdue 62-58 in overtime, breast cancer research won Sunday as the women's basketball team packed Assembly Hall and broke the all-time single-game attendance record.\nThe goal for "Pack the Hall" was 10,000 fans; the Hoosiers got it -- barely -- as 10,022 was the announced attendance mid-way through the second half.\nBecause IU met the goal, Vera Bradley Designs donated $10,000 to breast cancer research to the IU Cancer Center in Indianapolis.\nAfter being engulfed in a game that featured 10 ties and 15 lead changes, Hoosiers' coach Kathi Bennett was surprised to find out that the crowd had broken the record, she said.\n"We did break it?" Bennett said. "The crowd was great. It makes a difference when they're yelling defense when you need a stop and they're cheering like that. I still wish one of these days we could give them a win."\nIU's two previous "Pack the Hall" events both resulted in losses, despite record-setting attendance numbers.\nIn 2003, the Hoosiers established the attendance record at the time with 7,986, breaking the previous record of 5,503; however, IU fell to Wisconsin 57-48. Bennett donated $5,000 to breast cancer research after the game.\nLast year, despite poor weather and road conditions, the Hoosiers had 7,110 watch as IU lost to Purdue 71-47. Though the attendance goal of 10,000 wasn't reached, Vera Bradley Designs still donated $10,000 because more than 10,000 tickets were sold in advance.\n"It was a big-time environment. It had a tournament feel, and our hopes are for the NCAA tournament," said Purdue coach Kristy Curry. "I just want to thank the Hoosiers and Boilermakers that came out (Sunday) to support a great cause. This state is absolutely special in the fact that they understand and appreciate women's basketball."\nGetting fans in the seats has been a problem for the Hoosiers throughout the season, as the team averaged just 1,142 spectators prior to the Purdue game. After the game, the average jumped to 1,882 per game.\nHaving more people in the seats, especially after the season attendance low of 447 Thursday against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, was a good feeling, said sophomore guard Annika Boyd.\n"Just seeing all of (the fans) out there supporting us is just an awesome feeling," Boyd said. "To have a gym that loud for once is unbelievable."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.