IU plays tough Bearcats today

Two tests taken and two tests passed.

IU got through these exams by pulling out a nail-biting victory in Memphis on Nov. 13 before turning around two days later and dominating IU-Purdue University Indianapolis by 23 points in its home-opener.

Now for their third challenge of the season, the Hoosiers will face the Cincinnati Bearcats at 7 p.m. today.

A positive for the Hoosiers going into today’s game is the fact that they should have team captain and second leading scorer Jori Davis back after she missed the second half of the IUPUI game with a minor injury.

IU coach Felisha Legette-Jack said she could have even returned to the contest against the Jaguars if needed.

“She just kind of strained her leg a little bit,” Legette-Jack said. “She could have played if we needed her to play and it is nothing serious at all.”

The Hoosiers didn’t need their leader because they jumped out to a 36-18 halftime lead against IUPUI and never looked back.

The Bearcats present a tougher challenge, however.

They come into Assembly Hall with a 1-0 record after an 85-46 win against Furman in their regular season opener.

If the Hoosiers hope to beat Cincinnati, they will need to continue to be strong on the boards.

After being out-rebounded 45-34 in their final exhibition game against Grand Valley State, IU has gone to work on the glass and had an 81-70 rebounding advantage against its opponents in its last two games.

Legette-Jack said she knew the Hoosiers could improve on the boards and that rebounding has been one of the keys to IU’s two victories.

“This is kind of who we are,” she said. “You have to want it more and pay attention to that box-out, and I like the fact that they understood that. We had to get better, and they got better.”

Another key for the Hoosiers’ successful start has been their depth.

Currently, they  have six players averaging at least 8.5 points per game in their first two contests.

IU junior forward Hope Elam said the team’s balanced scoring has been expected and will continue to be of importance as the Hoosiers move forward.

“We are 10 deep,” Elam said. “What is good about us is that everybody can score on our team and we are offensively good.”