Coach focuses on shooting during lay off

Lately, the question for the IU women's basketball team hasn't been a one of talent. It's been whether or not the shots will fall.\nAfter a two-game road trip that included two losses, the Hoosiers (15-11, 4-9) return to Bloomington to try and sweep the season series with the Illinois Fighting Illini (16-8, 6-6). \nThe Hoosiers will have to overcome an Illini defense that has held its opponents to just 35.4 percent shooting for the year.\nIn order to rebound from an unsuccessful road trip, the Hoosiers face an Illini team in Bloomington that has lost its last five games. With only three games left in the regular season, each game will play an important role as the Hoosiers try to move up in the Big Ten standings and gain some momentum heading into the Big Ten tournament.\n"We're going to continue to work harder on defense and try to get that swagger back," coach Felisha Legette-Jack said. "We want to try to play with a little more intensity and really control the game. We're going to take open shots, like we've done since the beginning of the season. And, you know, we're going to have fun with the game of basketball."\nWhen the Hoosiers have shot more than 40 percent from the field, the they boast a 10-1 record. Flip the switch though, and that record falls to just 3-10 when Legette-Jack's Hoosiers shoot less than 40 percent. Though the disparity between the two figures may make it seem as if IU has played inconsistently, the first-year coach contends her players are still good shooters.\nSenior center Sarah McKay said IU has been working on some rhythm shooting during practice, but the main focus of practice hasn't just been about making shots. Instead, the Hoosiers are going to try to bring the same intensity on defense during the team's first matchup with the Illini.\nOn Jan. 7, the Hoosiers displayed some of that good defense when they traveled to Illinois and defeated the Illini 71-64, forcing 17 Illinois turnovers.\nEven with the success IU had in the first contest, Legette-Jack said her team can't take the Illini lightly.\n"Everybody is different from the last time we played, so if we go in there expecting the same kind of results, then we're going to be in trouble," Legette-Jack said. "Illinois is a fantastic team and we have to take our intensity to a whole other level."\nFollowing Sunday's game, the Hoosiers will have two regular season games remaining before the Big Ten tournament -- Feb. 22 vs. Northwestern and Feb. 25 at Penn State. \n"We need to end strong," McKay said. "I'm not ready for my college career to be over yet. Everyone's sort of got that chip on their shoulder to go after it these last two games"