Hoosiers nab 1st tourney championship in 4 years

Behind a balanced attack that saw the cream and crimson at the top of the charts, IU won its first tournament since the 2002 Wolverine Invitational.\nThe Hoosiers scored a 922 over three days at the Badger Invitational, beating out host Wisconsin, which scored 10 shots worse at 932. Rounding out the top five were the University of Nebraska and the University of Oklahoma, which finished tied for third, and the University of Louisville in fifth.\nIU's players were ready for the big stage as junior Elaine Harris finished third among the tournament's 66 active players with a three-day score of 226.\n"I am very excited," Harris said. "We are a good team, and I have more confidence in my fellow players now."\nAside from Harris, the Hoosiers placed three other players in the top 12. Freshmen Kellye Belcher, Laura Nochta and Anita Gahir finished tied for sixth, 10th and 12th respectively. Also competing was sophomore Amber Lindgren, who finished 61st.\nGahir said she was overjoyed to be part of this victory.\n"I feel really, really good right now," she said. "I am so excited to just be a part of this." \nIU coach Clint Wallman predicted a tournament win sometime this year but said he was glad it came sooner rather than later.\n"You never expect to win a tournament," Wallman said. "I felt, however, if we played well, it gave us a good opportunity to be in the hunt."\nThe Hoosiers will only get a short time to celebrate the victory as they head to Michigan State for the Lady Northern Invitational on Saturday and Sunday.\nWallman said IU's showing in Madison gives the team an opportunity to build for next weekend's tournament.\n"(This win) gives us momentum for Michigan State, and we now feel good about ourselves for next week, as well as the rest of the season," he said.