Seniors look to end with a win

Not every story has a happy ending.

For the IU women’s basketball team, Sunday’s 2 p.m. game against Iowa represents the chance to end a 9-18 season on a high note.

It will be the Hoosiers’ final regular season game before they travel up to Indianapolis for the Big Ten Tournament on March 3.

However, the Hawkeyes (20-7, 8-6) will give the four Hoosier seniors a challenge in their final game at Assembly Hall.

Iowa began the season strong, posting an 12-1 record before beginning their conference schedule. The Hawkeyes are currently on a three-game winning streak.

However, as of late, IU coach Felisha Legette-Jack’s squad has not shared the same success. After beating Illinois on Feb. 10 on the road, the Hoosiers have dropped their last three games.

“I didn’t think we were in that big of a hole, but what I love to see is the character of someone else stepping up,” Legette-Jack said, following her team’s 65-57 loss at Wisconsin on Feb. 23. “We’re not a winning team right now, we’re a character team, and I think there is a place for us in the Big Ten.”

Senior guard Jori Davis has asserted herself as the team’s top scorer, averaging just more than 19 points per game. However, following her team’s loss to Wisconsin, Legette-Jack said Davis’ supporting cast has to step up and create multiple threats for opposing defenses in order for the Hoosiers to win.

The IU defense, which is allowing the most points per game in the Big Ten, must find a way to shut down an Iowa offense that scores the third-most points per game in the conference. Four of the Hawkeyes’ starters are averaging scoring in double figures.

Legette-Jack said despite her team’s performance on paper, the 2010-11 Hoosiers have been some of her favorites. This year’s seniors represent her first recruiting class at IU.

“They’ve been coming together so significantly,” she said. “Unfortunately, we don’t have the wins to back this up, but this is one of my favorite teams that I’ve coached since I’ve been at Indiana because they’re learning the big lessons and are going to succeed in life after this season because of all the adversity we’ve been through.

“One thing that we never did was that we never fell apart. We came together and became one, and that’s where we are right now. We’re getting better, and I’m really excited about our chances in the Big Ten Tournament.”