Determined Hoosiers deflate defending tournament champs

INDIANAPOLIS -- IU wanted to win its quarterfinal matchup of the Big Ten Tournament against defending tournament champions, Iowa. Associate head coach Trish Betthauser even said so. \nShe said the IU women's basketball team just did not want to lose. \nAnd they didn't, defeating the Hawkeyes 78-76 in overtime. \n"I could see it in their eyes," Betthauser said.\nIowa's coach, Lisa Bluder, saw something else. What she saw was a performance by her fourth-seeded team filled with fouls and turnovers. But despite the Hawkeyes play, Bluder implied the Hoosier faithfuls weren't the only ones in Conseco Fieldhouse that wanted the home-state team to win. \n"I don't think we played to our capabilities, but at the same time, I think that the team everybody wanted to win won this game," Bluder said. "That's unfortunate that a game of this magnitude, with so much at stake, that something like that can happen."\nIowa did have its chances to win the game at the end of regulation, as a wide-open shot by senior forward guard Lindsey Meder hit the rim, but refused to fall. The Hawkeyes had two such opportunities at the end of overtime, needing two to tie. \nAfter committing the foul that sent IU senior center Jill Chapman to the line for the game-winning points, Iowa center Jennie Lillis drove to the basket hoping to send the game into a second overtime. That didn't happen. \nLillis' shot went over the basket, with the rebound grabbed by Iowa forward Beatrice Bullock. Her putback refused to fall as time ran out on the game and on Iowa's hopes for a repeat tournament championship. Bluder wanted a foul. She didn't get one.\nThe Hawkeyes coach was clearly upset at the outcome in the post-game press conference, but instead of ripping on the officials, Bluder simply pointed out the statistics. \nIowa outshot the Hooisers 40 percent to 34.6 percent. \nAdvantage: Iowa. \nIowa pulled down 50 rebounds to IU's 43. \nAdvantage: Iowa.\nIU made 38 trips to the free throw line. The Hawkeyes made 19. \nAdvantage: IU.\nBluder said that was all the Hooisers needed. \n"I think (the foul situation) speaks volumes," Bluder said. "They scored 29 points from the free throw line."\nAt the free throw line alone, IU came back from an early 13-point first half deficit. Those 29 charity points was good enough to come back from two 13-point deficits. Chapman's 21 points didn't hurt, nor did senior point guard Heather Cassady's 45 minutes for 20 points.\nBut to say Cassady "worked" for her points might be an understatement. \nMidway through the first half, Cassady took a knee to the back, laying her out on the floor. With some help from her teammates, Cassady got up, let out a ferocious scream and ran down the court to continue the game. \nBetthauser considered taking Cassady out, but she knew better. Despite noting Cassady's bumps and bruises, including ones that haven't healed and were still bleeding at game time, Betthauser knew Cassady wanted to remain on the floor.\n"I do worry about injury because she does play so hard, and she's thrown around so many times," she said. "(Cassady has) taken so many charges over the years. This is what Heather is. She loves to do this. This is what she lives for. She's always going to give you everything she's got."\nStaying physical in the post kept Chapman on the bench for 14 minutes of the contest, but Iowa's Jerica Watson fouled out opening up the post for perimeter players like Cassady. That's when she took over. \nThe senior guard averaged 38.4 minutes in Big Ten play, so her 45-minute, fatigueless performance was nothing new to her.\n"It really doesn't matter anymore," Cassady said of playing so many minutes. "I know guards were just as physical as the post. It's just adrenaline. I think it kicked in around the 7-minute mark. I just love being out there competing against teams like Iowa, because they're a good team"