Sports

Little 500 practice begins

By Guy Cipriano · Tuesday, Feb. 20,2001 12:48 a.m.

Serene rides through campus and the streets of Bloomington seemed distant memories for many first-year Little 500 riders as Rookie Week started Monday at Bill Armstrong Stadium. "I was riding next to a girl who wasn't very vocal, and she actually touched the girl's bike in front of her and almost fell," said sophomore Alpha Delta Pi rider Lauren Moore. "Everybody kind of stopped to miss her. I was scared because I didn't know what way she might fall." Riders bumping into each other is a part of the race. Moore said she has seen the scrapes and bruises on her teammates. Rookie Week is designed to limit serious injuries to riders.

Pitchers seek stability

By Alyson Brodsy and Ryan Gunterman · Tuesday, Feb. 20,2001 12:35 a.m.

To say the Hoosiers are looking for a little more stability in their pitching staff after giving up a school-record 49 runs in three games last weekend against Furman would be an understatement. And the Hoosiers have one day off to try to find that stability before they face Indiana Wesleyan at 3 p.m. today at Sembower Field.

Hoosiers bounce back against Brown

By Alyson Brodsy and Greg Jenkins · Tuesday, Feb. 20,2001 12:32 a.m.

A road trip to Indiana proved difficult for the Brown University Bears. Entering the Hoosier state 3-0, Brown leaves with a 3-3 record after suffering losses to Indiana State and Purdue over the weekend, and IU Monday afternoon.

Softball team opens season with 2 wins, 3 losses in tourney

Tuesday, Feb. 20,2001 12:31 a.m.

Weeks of preparation left the Hoosiers itching to get their season started. When it began, they responded with a 5-2 victory against Virginia in the Triangle Classic at North Carolina State. But the young Hoosiers were unable to maintain their momentum, as they walked away from Raleigh with a 2-3 record.

Hoosiers make final preparations for Big Tens

By Aarno Retherford and Aaron Retherford · Monday, Feb. 19,2001 1:56 p.m.

After 16 career bests in the Penn State Collegiate last weekend, the men's indoor track team returned home for the last time before the conference championship with hopes of continuing the momentum from the past couple of meets.

Water polo squad headed to Michigan

Monday, Feb. 19,2001 1:56 p.m.

There definitely is not any rest in sight for the weary water polo team. After splitting four matches at the Princeton Invitational last weekend, the Hoosiers look to break the .500 mark this weekend as they travel to Ann Arbor to compete in the Michigan Invitational.

Michigan leads by 22 points

By Eric Talbot · Monday, Feb. 19,2001 1:55 p.m.

After day one of the Big Ten Swimming and Diving championship, the Hoosiers are sitting in second place trailing only to Michigan. Eleven swimmers set personal records; five shattered school records. IU started the Big Ten meet at Counsilman Billingsley Aquatic Center by setting a school record in the 200-yard freestyle relay. A time of 1:31.07 was good enough to earn the Hoosiers first place, beating Michigan by nine-tenths of a second.

Cristy breaks record 3 times

By Matt Pera · Monday, Feb. 19,2001 1:54 p.m.

Jenn Cristy called it. The senior said she was going to block out the Olympic and All-American caliber athletes surrounding her. She did. She said she was going to swim the best she ever has this weekend. She was off to a good start Thursday night. "I know I'm going to wake up tomorrow and be like, 'Wait, it's Thursday, I have to do the 50,' because I feel like I'm dreaming right now." Cristy said.

Divers contribute to team's success

By Colin Ross · Monday, Feb. 19,2001 1:53 p.m.

Of the eight divers who would be competing in the Big Ten Diving finals of the 1-meter springboards Thursday night at Counsilman Billingsley Aquatic Center, things looked good for IU. Of the 42 divers that competed in the preliminaries, IU owned three of the top eight spots. IU freshman Cassandra Cardinell was in eighth, sophomore Jennifer Sonneborn placed third and senior Erin Quinn was in the lead after scoring 289.5 points.

Purdue center wins the battle in the paint

By Sarah Trotto · Monday, Feb. 19,2001 1:52 p.m.

WEST LAFAYETTE -- Whenever a lazy pass flew her way, she snatched it from the air. If a smaller opponent stood in her way of the basket, she stepped to the side and nailed a shot. In the eighth annual Barn Burner game, Purdue's Camille Cooper exposed IU's rebounding weaknesses and took advantage of the Hoosiers' early foul trouble. She scored 25 points and was named the game's most valuable player in the Boilermakers' (23-4, 13-1 Big Ten) blowout win 87-46.

Purdue spoils Hoosiers' hopes

By Sara Meinecke and Sarah Meinecke · Monday, Feb. 19,2001 1:51 p.m.

WEST LAFAYETTE -- A week ago Thursday, the women's basketball team was experiencing success against a ranked team. Sunday, the Hoosiers were controlling the floor against Michigan State. A week ago Thursday, No. 7 Purdue was experiencing its first Big Ten loss of the season. Sunday, the Boilermakers escaped a loss at the hands of another red and white team, Ohio State.

Hoosiers take 1 win, lose 2 in weekend

Monday, Feb. 19,2001 1:12 a.m.

IU started the 2001 campaign in Greenville, S.C., for a three-game weekend series against Furman. The Hoosiers won once in the three-game set. In the season opener Friday, Furman jumped on top of the Hoosiers early, knocking junior starter Brad Edwards, around for nine runs -- eight earned -- in 3.2 innings. The Paladins pounded out 14 more runs before the game was suspended in the seventh inning because of darkness.

IU dominates Michigan

By Sara Meinecke and Sarah Meinecke · Monday, Feb. 19,2001 1:06 a.m.

After Thursday night's 41-point loss at Purdue, coach Kathi Bennett said the team needs to play harder to get a win against Michigan. Sunday, the team did play harder, and squashed Michigan 73-51. "We were all focused," junior forward Erin McGinnis said. Not only did the Hoosiers (17-8, 8-6 Big Ten) halt a team that had won seven of its last eight Big Ten games, they also ended the optimism Michigan (16-10, 9-6 Big Ten) carried since upsetting No. 25 Iowa Thursday.

Hoosiers gain experience

Monday, Feb. 19,2001 12:59 a.m.

The Hoosiers might not have competed against the toughest competition this weekend at the Hoosier Hills Open, but they came away with experience that will help in the future. The open meet allowed the rookie athletes to compete and the experienced athletes to hone their skills or even take the weekend off to rest.

Swimmers enjoy success

By Matt Pera · Monday, Feb. 19,2001 12:55 a.m.

When the Hoosiers stepped onto the pool deck of Counsilman Billingsley Aquatic Center for the first day of competition in the Big Ten Championships Thursday, they weren't sure what to expect. They knew they had the ability and drive to do well. In one of the strongest swimming conferences in the nation, it was difficult to predict any definite outcome, but IU was determined to swim to its fullest potential.

IU in good position for tournament play

By Aaron Sharockman · Monday, Feb. 19,2001 12:54 a.m.

Michigan and IU were fighting for their postseason lives Sunday in front of 1,832 fans at Assembly Hall. With IU's convincing 73-51 win, the Hoosiers (17-8, 8-6 Big Ten) are one step closer to the NCAA tournament. The Wolverines (16-10, 9-6) are on life support. "We knew we had to get them to continue our dream of getting to the NCAA tournament," coach Kathi Bennett said. "Again, we took one step towards that."

Team loses conference championship

Monday, Feb. 19,2001 12:52 a.m.

FISHERS, Ind. -- In an dramatic weekend at the Fishers Ice Forum, the hockey team crushed Toledo 10-0 Friday, slipped past Dayton 3-2 in overtime early Saturday, then lost the league championship to Miami of Ohio 2-1 in double-overtime Saturday. Friday saw all favorite seeds easily succeed in advancing to the tournament's quarterfinal round. Fourth-seeded Dayton handled No. 5 Kentucky 5-2. Third-seeded Miami crushed No. 6 Purdue 14-3, while No. 2 Michigan defeated No. 7 Ohio State 15-3.

Senior sets season-best records

Monday, Feb. 19,2001 12:48 a.m.

The Hoosiers might not have competed against the toughest competition this weekend at the Hoosier Hills Open, but they came away with experience that will help in the future. The open meet allowed the rookie athletes to compete and the experienced athletes to hone their skills or even take the weekend off to rest. But the Hoosiers who did compete came away with some good performances.

Distance swimmer meets goals

By Matt Pera · Monday, Feb. 19,2001 12:45 a.m.

Indiana distance swimmer Sarah Fiden wasn't quite sure what to expect coming into this season's Big Ten Championships. She decided to try for finishing in the top three in the 500-yard freestyle and the mile -- pretty lofty goals, especially for a freshman. Friday and Saturday, she was able to accomplish those goals. She placed third in the 500 and second in the mile. Not only did she place well in the meet, she broke two school records that were 20 years old. The records Fiden snapped were previously owned by IU Hall of Fame swimmer Jennifer Hooker, who was at the meet and was glad to see her old records go. "It's about time," Hooker said of her records. "They were up there way too long."

Hoosiers spoil Wisconsin fun

By Michael Sherman · Monday, Feb. 19,2001 12:39 a.m.

MADISON, Wis. -- Sunday was wrestling Fan Appreciation and Senior Day at the UW Fieldhouse in Madison, Wis. Among the scheduled events was a "dash for cash," in which three fans slithered around the gymnasium floor on their stomachs gathering as many $1 bills as they could get. Unfortunately for the 400 plus in attendance, the Badger wrestling squad spent a fair share of their day scrambling around the wrestling mat as well.