IU's WNIT run ends

MILWAUKEE -- In the closing seconds of Friday night's WNIT matchup with Marquette, senior guard Cyndi Valentin found herself in a position most players can only dream of. With 11 seconds remaining in the game and the IU women's basketball team down three points, Valentin had the ball in her hands with the chance to send the game into overtime.\nBut luck was not on IU's side Friday as Valentin missed a 3-pointer from the right wing with four seconds left. Marquette rebounded the errant shot and dribbled out the clock to preserve the 57-54 victory for the Golden Eagles.\n"It was 11 seconds left, and we were trying to penetrate and pitch," Valentin said. "I was open, and the shot just didn't go in."\nThe senior guard came up big once again for IU, scoring the Hoosiers' last 10 points of the game to keep the score within reach, but she was unable to clear that final hurdle.\nAfter struggling through a sloppy first half that saw IU shoot just 33 percent from the field, the Hoosiers picked up the intensity in the second half.\nComing out of a timeout with barely more than 15 minutes left in the second half, IU coach Sharon Versyp turned to her bench. The junior trio of Carrie Smith, Annika Boyd and Leah Enterline sparked the Hoosiers into a 13-4 run that was capped off by two free throws from senior forward Jenny DeMuth. The free throws gave IU its first lead of the game at 42-41.\n"We had some great bench play today," Versyp said. "Carrie, Annika and Leah came in and gave us some great scoring and great defense to change the tide."\nMarquette quickly took back the momentum, scoring three-point plays on consecutive possessions to reclaim the lead. The Golden Eagles continued their run, going up by as many as seven points in the final five minutes.\nValentin once again took over the game, scoring IU's last 10 points, but her last shot didn't fall through the net. The senior finished the game with 21 points to lead all scorers -- 13 coming in the second half.\nMarquette relied on balanced scoring throughout the game. Freshman guard Krystal Ellis led the Golden Eagles with 15 points while all five Marquette starters notched at least seven points.\n"It was a great basketball game, and we knew it would be a great battle," Versyp said. "We had a good look at the end, but it just didn't fall."\nThe season-ending loss dropped IU to 19-14 on the year while Marquette moves on to play Big East rival Pittsburgh Monday night.\nFollowing the win for her squad, Marquette coach Terri Mitchell complimented IU's effort in charging back into the game.\n"I give IU so much credit," Mitchell said. "They never gave up. What you saw tonight was gutsy performances from both teams"