Women's basketball senior night yields 1st Big Ten win

What a senior night it was.

With only 10 seconds remaining, IU was tied with Wisconsin 60-60 and the Hoosiers had the ball. Senior guard Alisha Goodwin attempted a 3-pointer, but it was off.

Senior forward Danilsa Andujar muscled her way through traffic to grab the rebound and draw a foul with only 3.2 seconds left. Andujar sank both shots, giving her and the rest of the IU women’s basketball team its first Big Ten victory of the year, 62-60.

Andujar admitted she was nervous before taking the shots, but she said she was able to step up in the game’s biggest moments.

“It was crazy,” Andujar said. “My teammates encouraged me and gave me confidence, and I told myself that I was going to make them. ... I let them off and they went in. It feels really good. Really good.”

IU (6-22, 1-14) led by as many as 12 points in the first half, but Wisconsin (8-19, 4-11) mounted a comeback. The Badgers went on a 15-7 run to end the first half and scored the first five points of the second to give them a 34-33 lead, their first since scoring the first basket of the game.

IU Coach Felisha Legette-Jack called timeout after she noticed her players’ confidence
was dwindling.

“Our body language changed immediately into ‘Here we go again,’” she said. “I wanted to bring them to the side and tell them, ‘This still is our time.’”

A series of back-and-forth baskets gave Wisconsin a lead of 44-43 with 13:08 to play, but it would be its last lead of the game.

The seniors who were honored afterward include Andujar and Goodwin, both of whom contributed in their last home game in Bloomington.

Andujar achieved her first Big Ten double-double of the season by scoring 12 points and grabbing a game-high 13 rebounds while also contributing two steals and two blocks.

Goodwin scored nine points, grabbed two rebounds, stole the ball three times and connected from long range once.

Both Goodwin and Andujar played 34 minutes.

Legette-Jack praised her seniors’ effort.

“They’re good kids that are going to leave their mark,” she said. “They want to leave their legacy, and they had to do a lot of work in order for that to happen.”

Andujar said this win ranks as one of her best memories of her collegiate career.
“I’ve had a few (great moments),” she said. “This is up there with them. I really can’t compare it to anything else. To win making those last two free throws, it’s an honor. I’m very proud of myself, I’m proud of my teammates, and I’m just ecstatic.”

Junior forward Aulani Sinclair led the team in scoring with 19 points. She also notched six rebounds and three assists while playing all 40 minutes. She has now averaged 19 points per game during the past four contests.

Sinclair said she was excited to land the win for her senior teammates.

“It meant a lot to all of us,” she said. “We knew from the jump we weren’t just fighting for ourselves and our team to get this win, but most importantly it was for Alisha and (Andujar). Everything we did tonight was for them and the team, but more importantly them because it’s their last time playing on Assembly Hall’s court.”

Legette-Jack raved about her team’s performance.

“This is a group I’ve always been proud of,” Legette-Jack said. “And I’m proud today.”