Renewed sense of confidence fuels victory

Even when IU women's basketball coach Kathi Bennett said her players weren't believing in each other, Jill Chapman still had Heather Cassady. And Cassady still had Chapman. \nThe two seniors cheered each other up with positive notes after disappointing losses to Michigan and Minnesota last week. The letters stated that the two team captains shouldn't quit on each other, the team needed them, and they had to help each other out.\nThose words of confidence appear to have worked. Chapman hasn't failed to score fewer than double digits since the Michigan loss, and Cassady hasn't fouled out with fewer than 10 points since the Minnesota game. Plus, the Hoosiers (11-11, 5-6 Big Ten) have shot better than 50 percent in their last two games.\nThe notes between Cassady and Chapman represent one example of how the Hoosiers have worked to improve their confidence. A renewed self-assurance has sparked a two-game winning streak, including a 67-55 win against Michigan State (14-9, 4-8 Big Ten) at Assembly Hall Sunday. \n"We're the captains," Chapman said, recalling the content of the notes. "We can't dwell on this. We have to get back and practice the next day and keep focusing. We're going to be there for each other.\n"No matter what happens, we'll have each other."\nBesides improved poise, players have put in extra time before and after practice in recent days to work on their shooting, Bennett said.\nAs a result, the team's offense has blossomed. Sunday's win marked the fourth consecutive game in which the Hoosiers scored at least 60 points, after averaging 57 points in their six Big Ten losses.\nThe Hoosiers are also passing better, registering 16 assists in the triumph against Michigan State. They had ranked last in the conference with a 12.30-assist average.\nIU has caused opponents to scramble to adjust defense against the their aggressive penetration, rapid three-pointers and quick, inside-out game.\nThe Spartans left the sharpshooting Hoosiers unguarded behind the three-point arc for most of the game. IU made 8-of-16 three-pointers, with four from forward Erin McGinnis and three from Cassady.\nThe outside accuracy allowed Chapman to remain quiet. She contributed 12 points as IU's third highest scorer for the game.\nThe three-point shooting -- 27.5 percent in Big Ten losses, but 50 percent Sunday -- forced the Spartans to switch to a man-to-man defense.\n"That's the first time I think we've done that," Bennett said. "We've gotten a team out of a zone into a man instead of the opposite. That felt good."\nBesides threatening from inside, the Hoosiers drove from the outside, resulting in clean passes to Chapman, chances of being fouled and pretty layups.\nIn a play common for the afternoon, guard Jill Hartman caught the ball in front of IU's bench with 4:30 remaining in the second half. She eyed the basket from three-point distance, but chose to drive the lane. Hartman then ran into a Spartan double team, but deposited the ball to Chapman. \nChapman hit the layup and drew a foul, causing the crowd to rise to its feet.\n"I think our offense is penetrating a little better," Cassady said. "We're making the extra pass. Jill really did a good job down low, asking for it and kicking it back out."\nMcGinnis led IU with 14 points, compensating for her game-high eight turnovers with 5-of-8 shooting. Bennett credited McGinnis' output to her getting open.\n"I think penetration is the key," Bennett said. "We're doing a better job of getting a piece of the paint. I think Heather is driving, getting Erin's defender to come out and then kicking to Erin. We're getting more action like that."\nThat effective offense stands as a product of the Hoosiers' renewed confidence -- confidence generated among the players instead of from past games.\n"I don't think any of our last games are really in our minds at all," McGinnis said. "I don't think we're really dwelling on ones in the past. I don't think we're still celebrating any wins. I think we're looking forward"