Miller loses 1st regular season game at IU

Forward Gina Lange hit a jumper and guard Laura Richards nailed a three during an 8-0 second half Valparaiso run that put away the IU women’s basketball team for good, outscoring the Hoosiers 33-23 in the second half en route to a 64-52 victory Friday at the Athletics-Recreation Center in Valparaiso.

“Our team, we do not have great talent, we don’t have great depth, but you hate when you feel like you’ve gotten outworked,” IU Coach Curt Miller said. “And teams play their system more efficiently than we play ours.”

It was the season opener for both teams, and the Crusaders shot efficiently throughout in Miller’s IU regular season coaching debut.

Guard Shaquira Scott paced the Crusaders with 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting. Lange (12 points, 5-of-8 shooting) and forward Tabitha Gerardot (11 points, 3-of-7 shooting) rounded out the trio of double-figure scorers for Valparaiso, who shot 45.1 percent (23-of-51) for the game.

Senior forward Aulani Sinclair led the Hoosiers with a game-high 20 points (9-of-17) shooting in 36 minutes, but was just 1-of-4 from three-point range, a trend her teammates followed. IU finished 2-of-15 (13.3 percent) on threes and 37.7 percent (23-of-61) from the floor.

“This team has to find more competitiveness and find ways not to get outworked,” Miller said. “Tonight, one of the things you saw tonight despite a big conference school playing a little conference school is a lot of nights teams are gonna have more talent than us and that’s just where the program is right now.

“When you combine more talent by the smaller school, and then they work harder, and they’re more passionate throughout the game, it creates a long-night opportunity for them.”

IU fell behind 6-0 early on before senior center Sasha Chaplin converted a layup for the Hoosiers’ first points of the game. A little more than two minutes later, a
Sinclair jumper tied the game at six. It was the closest IU would get to having a lead.

Still, the Hoosiers were well within striking distance heading into halftime down just two, 31-29.

A layup from senior forward Linda Rubene and a Sinclair jumper made it 39-37 with 15:27 left in the game before Valparaiso rattled off its 8-0 run. The Hoosiers twice got within six before the Crusaders pulled away.

IU had some success in the post, winning the points in the paint battle 26-18 behind 8 points (4-of-9 shooting) from junior forward Milika Taufa, but struggled to control the boards. Valpo won the rebounding battle handily, 41-29.

The Hoosiers also found some success on defense, forcing 24 Crusader turnovers and 13 steals. It was the first time IU forced at least 20 turnovers and 10 steals in a game since Feb. 12 against Illinois.

But the team’s poor shooting performance negated any advantage it gained by forcing turnovers as players continue to adjust to a brand new offense and coaching staff.

“Everything’s a learning lesson,” Miller said. “We’re never gonna judge this season by wins and losses. Frankly we’re just not gonna have very many wins. We’re gonna have to judge this season on where we come from and the culture that we’re creating along the way.”

After a weekend off to make adjustments, the Hoosiers travel to Murray, Ky., to take on the Murray State Racers at 8 p.m. today. Both teams will be searching for their first win of the season after the Racers lost Friday to Western Kentucky.

Junior guard Erica Burgess leads Murray State with 22 points (9-of-20 shooting) while playing all 40 minutes against the Hilltoppers. Sinclair is coming off her 33rd career game scoring in double figures and seventh career 20-plus point game.