Senior Jenny DeMuth knocked down 20 points and collected 11 rebounds to lead the Hoosiers against the No. 13/14 Irish. |
No. 13/15 Irish Edge Hoosiers in Big East/Big Ten Battle
Nov. 23, 2005
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Indiana women's basketball team continued its pre-conference schedule tonight, taking on the No. 13/15 Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Branch McCracken Court in Assembly Hall. Despite a solid defensive effort and 20 points from IU leading scorer senior guard Jenny DeMuth, IU fell to the Irish 74-61.
Along with DeMuth's 20 points on 7-13 shooting, forward freshman Whitney Thomas and junior Carrie Smith chipped in 14 points to give the Hoosiers three players in double figures. Thomas and DeMuth both tabbed a double-doubles, bringing in 12 and 11 rebounds, respectively.
Senior Megan Duffy led the Irish with a game-high and career-high 26 points and 3-6 efficiency from behind the arc. Junior Breona Gray and sophomore Charel Allen netted 14 and 11 points, respectively, to round out the Fighting Irish in double digits.
The game started out physical on both sides of the ball, with both teams making trips to the charity line early. With six minutes left in the opening half, both squads enjoyed the double bonus at the line, with IU and Notre Dame making nine and seven trips, respectively, to the free-throw line in the first half alone.
Indiana chose a combination of full-court pressure and a suffocating defense to keep the Irish out of rhythm early. Notre Dame, behind the shooting of Gray with 10 points and a 2-3 mark from behind the arc in the first half, were able to hold a lead over the Hoosiers, 32-23.
However, with four minutes left in the opening period, the Hoosiers battled back. Behind back-to-back field goals from DeMuth and a three point basket from junior guard Leah Enterline to pull within four, 36-32, the Hoosiers went into the locker room on a 7-0 run.
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Senior guard Cyndi Valentin Thomas got into the Hoosier scoring mix in the second half to bring the Hoosiers within striking distance, 44-45. Thomas's drive at the 13-minute mark, coupled with a foul and the basket, gave the Hoosiers their first lead, 47-45, since holding a 6-5 at 17:32 in the first.
Notre Dame, however, had the answer to the Hoosier run as Duffy hit three three-pointers to give the Irish the lead with three minutes to go in the game, 70-59.
Despite a valiant effort by IU in the final minutes, Notre Dame forced a pair of late turnovers to hold onto the lead and claim the victory.
The Hoosiers return to the hardwood Friday, Nov. 25 to host the Hampton Inn Classic. Indiana will welcome Bowling Green, IUPUI and Youngstown to Assembly Hall with Bowling Green and IUPUI opening the Classic at 4:30 p.m., followed by Indiana taking on Youngstown at 7 p.m. The classic wraps up on Saturday, Nov. 26 with the consolation game slated for a 4:30 p.m. start followed by the championship affair at 7 p.m.