Team ready for 1st exhibition game with Hoosier Lady Stars

With Hoosier Hysteria now passed and three weeks of practice under its belt, the IU women's basketball team will take the court for the first time this season tonight as the Hoosier Lady Stars come to town for an exhibition matchup.\nThe Hoosiers have plenty of story lines for the upcoming season, but the one that might have the most impact is the arrival of new coach Sharon Versyp.\nVersyp was hired in April after former coach Kathi Bennett resigned at the end of last season. Versyp spent the last five years at the University of Maine where she compiled a 98-51 record. \n"Maine was a very special place for me for five years," Versyp said. "But when you are presented with an opportunity to better yourself, you take it."\nVersyp arrives at IU after leading the Black Bears to three straight America East regular season championships dating back to 2003, including a berth in the 2004 NCAA tournament.\nA key this season for the Hoosiers will be how well the team responds to the new system being instituted by Versyp and her coaching staff.\n"Coach brought in a whole new system," said junior guard Leah Enterline. "We are putting in a lot more motion offense. We're really excited, and we have most of the team back." \nVersyp's transition might be made easier because the Hoosiers return 10 letter winners from last season. This Hoosier team is full of veterans that have been through the grind of the preseason schedule and playing in the Big Ten.\n"We have a strong team coming back," Enterline said. "We just have to be able to work through and learn the new system." \nAnother key storyline for IU will be the return of fifth-year senior Jenny DeMuth, who redshirted last season because of a knee injury. Tonight's exhibition game will be the first opportunity for Hoosier fans to see DeMuth in more than a year.\nDuring her rehab, DeMuth actually tore the anterior cruciate ligament of her left knee a second time, causing the forward to consider not coming back at all. \n"The second time I tore it (not coming back) definitely crossed my mind," DeMuth said. "I went in and talked to coach Versyp, and I just made the decision that I don't want to end my career like this."\nAs recently as Hoosier Hysteria, the coaching staff was not sure if DeMuth would be ready to play before Big Ten conference play rolled around. Far ahead of schedule, DeMuth will take the court tonight against the Hoosier Lady Stars.\n"The sky's the limit for this team," DeMuth said. "Our goal is to be the Big Ten champion and to make the tourney."\nIU will take on the Hoosier Lady Stars at 7:30 p.m. tonight in Assembly Hall.