Hoosiers Drop Battle With Bearcats

Saturday, December 17

Cincinnati, Ohio

2:00 PM

Indiana University

Cincinnati

12/17/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Dec. 17, 2005

Box Score

CINCINNATI - Despite outrebounding Cincinnati, the Indiana women's basketball team could not hold off the physical Bearcats on Dec. 17 at Fifth Third Arena, falling 73-59. Led by freshman Whitney Thomas' second career double-double and senior Cyndi Valentin's 16 points, the Hoosiers dropped to 5-5 on the season. In addition, senior Angela Hawkins registered one block on the day, which tallied her 100th career block, making her one of only five Hoosiers to accomplish such a feat.

"Cincinnati is the best team we've played all season," head coach Sharon Versyp said. "They outplayed us and took us out of our game. Bottom line, they were the better team. We have a lot to work on. We did outrebound them and that is the most positive thing we can take away from this game."

Baskets from Valentin and Thomas sparked the Hoosiers' commanding 4-0 run to open the game. Through the 10-minute mark of the half, Indiana traded leads with the Bearcats several times. With 12 minutes remaining in the first half, IU forced a Cincinnati turnover, allowing junior Carrie Smith to maneuver her way down the lane for a hook shot to tie the score at 14.

Despite a strong start, costly turnovers and foul trouble caused IU to fall behind, 18-14, at the midway point of the half. The Bearcats continued to increase their lead, but junior Sarah McKay snapped an 8-0 UC run with seven minutes left in the half to put the score at 24-16. Junior Annika Boyd sank her first two free throws of the season to tighten the score to 26-18 with five minutes remaining. Nearing the end of the half, Valentin and senior Brigett Branson cut into the Cincinnati lead with late first-half baskets, but the Bearcats wrapped up the half with a 34-22 advantage.

The Hoosiers' 12-point halftime deficit is their largest of the season. Cincinnati's Treasure Humphries and Michelle Jones led all first half scorers with nine points apiece. Valentin led IU with six points, two rebounds and steals in the opening stanza. DeMuth and Thomas contributed four points in the half as well. Additionally, Smith hauled in four first-half boards.

Two minutes into the second half, a steal from Thomas set up Hawkins' three-point play to narrow the score to 36-25. Down 39-27 with 15:40 left in the game, Thomas sank her fifth and sixth points of the afternoon to put IU back within 10 before drawing the foul and returning the ball to the Hoosiers. To cut the UC lead by two more, Valentin knocked down an 18-footer to pull the score to 41-33.

Despite several opportunities to put significant pressure on UC, the Bearcats pulled away with a 48-35 lead with 11 minutes remaining in the game. With less than nine minutes left to play, Valentin tightened the score to 54-45 by draining a long three pointer to put the Hoosiers back within nine, sending her into double figures for the ninth contest of the season. Following Indiana's only three-pointer of the day, the Bearcats pulled away by 13 and never looked back claiming the 73-59 win.

UC, who led the country in rebounding margin (+17.7), were outrebounded by the Hoosiers 36-33, marking the first time all season an opponent has hauled in more boards than Cincinnati.

After a five-gave road stint, the Hoosiers return home to face their final non-conference opponent of the season in North Florida. The Dec. 20 matchup is slated for 7 p.m., at Branch McCracken Court at Assembly Hall and can be heard locally on WHCC-FM 105.1 and on Gametracker on IUHOOSIERS.com.