Nov. 29, 2005

Box Score

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Indiana women's basketball head coach Sharon Versyp claimed her 100th career victory in commanding fashion with a 17-point win over Belmont at the Curb Event Center on Nov. 29. Led by four Hoosiers in double figures, including a career night from sophomore guard Nikki Smith, Indiana picked up the season's first road win.

"I am very pleased on how we rebounded from Saturday's loss," Versyp said. "It feels good to get our first road win of the season. The keys to winning this game were to get to the free-throw line and rebound. We did both very well tonight." Versyp's new aggressive style of play was evident as IU got off an early lead and never looked back. Despite Belmont's Tonisha Jones' eight early points, senior Cyndi Valentin got the Hoosiers rolling with a long three pointer followed by Smith's second and third threes of the game to counter any Bruin offense.

At the midway point of the first half, the Hoosiers controlled the game with a 12-point lead. IU's fierceness continued as senior Jenny DeMuth registered her third block of the season before hitting a fade-away jumper forcing Belmont to call a timeout with less than five minutes remaining in the half and Indiana up 14.

Smith, who tallied 15 first-half points and shot a perfect 5-5 from behind the arc, led the Hoosiers to a 39-26 halftime lead. Smith eclipsed her previous career highs of 11 points and a trio of three pointers in the first half alone. For the half, Indiana shot 67 percent from three-point range and 15-27 from the field. Freshman Angela Hawkins netted eight points in the first half, followed by DeMuth's seven.

Indiana opened the second half where it left off with a 15-0 run through the 12:22 mark. DeMuth joined the three-point barrage, hitting her first trey of the game to put her in double figures to open the second half. Solid IU defense prompted another Indiana three pointer as DeMuth found Valentin open to add her to the list of Hoosiers in double figures with 15:30 remaining.

With 10 minutes remaining, Indiana had full control of the game with a 54-30 lead, holding Belmont to only four points to that mark. DeMuth increased the IU lead to 24 after converting an offensive rebound into her 12th point of the game with just under seven minutes left.

For the game, IU held the Bruins to 25 percent from the field and 22 percent from beyond the arc. Led by freshman Whitney Thomas' nine boards, the Hoosiers out-rebounded Belmont by 10. Indiana, led by Valentin's 18 points and four assists, had double figure games from DeMuth, Hawkins and Smith.

The Hoosiers remain on the road taking on Southern Illinois on Friday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. The game can be heard locally on WHCC 105.1.