Fighters not down for the count

Two weary boxers dance around the ring, waiting for the right moment to strike. Unfortunately, both the Michigan Wolverines and the Hoosiers have already been knocked out by their heavyweight conference opponents. While the championship belt may be out of reach, these two featherweights are trying to fight their way into the Big Ten Tournament. \nThe Hoosiers come into the bout on the wrong end of a seven-game streak and are currently 3-10 in conference action and 10-14 overall. Michigan also has its back against the ropes with a similar 4-9 Big Ten record and 11-15 overall record. \nIU has a pair of heavyweights in all-conference candidates junior Jenny DeMuth and sophomore Cyndi Valentin. The 5-foot-10 DeMuth is a veritable Oscar De La Hoya, as she is now only eight points shy of reaching the coveted 1,000 career point total. If she is successful in reaching the goal, she will become only the eighth IU player to reach the 1,000 point mark in her junior season. Currently, DeMuth is averaging 18.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.75 steals per game, making her the only player in the Big Ten to rank in the top five in all three categories. \n"Jenny (DeMuth) brings a lot of energy to the team," freshman Sarah McKay said. "She's a very good leader, she plays all-out all of the time, and I think that's something we need on the court."\nMake no mistake, Valentin is no Butterbean, as she is the only Big Ten sophomore currently ranked in the top 10 in scoring with a 15.1 ppg average. Valentin is also one of the most deadly shooters in the conference, placing herself in the top 10 in three-point field goal percentage (.369) and currently sits atop the conference in free throw percentage, hitting just over 91 percent from the charity stripe.\nWhile featherweights rule the roost in IU's corner, heavyweight post players provide the punch for the big blue. Senior center Jennifer Smith and junior forward Tabitha Pool provide the bulk of Michigan's offense. The 6-foot-4 Smith leads the Wolverines and stands at second in the Big Ten with a 21.1 ppg average and also ranks in the top 10 in rebounding with 7.4 rpg, while Pool averages 13.5 ppg and 7.4 rpg.\n"Jennifer Smith is probably one of the best players in the conference," Bennett said. "She had a great game the first time against us, and I feel like we're going to have to double or triple team her to get her stopped. Tabitha Pool is an all-conference candidate, too, and can create her own shots." \nThe last time the Hoosiers and Wolverines fought, IU suffered the TKO in a 65-59 battle. But Bennett said a lot has changed for the Hoosiers since the Jan. 10 contest.\n"I feel like we're better at defense since the last time we played them," Bennett said. "I think we're better at team defense. Offensively, I think we're struggling right now and hopefully we're going to find our way back."\nWhile the seven-game slide has been difficult for the team, Hoosier sophomore April Williams said her team isn't down for the count.\n"It's been tough, but we have each other as a team," Williams said. "We know we can pick it up and get through it, and we need to prepare for the Big Ten tourney"