IU rebounds with win versus PSU

The Hoosiers did not let some early difficulties get in the way of their seventh Big Ten win last night, picking up a 58-43 victory against Penn State.\nBoth teams struggled in the first half offensively, but a late Hoosier run powered by senior forward Brigett Branson gave IU a six-point cushion going into the break. Branson came into the game averaging two points per game, but finished the night with eight points, four rebounds and three assists.\n"Brigett really played some solid minutes for us," IU coach Sharon Versyp said. "For (the bench) to score some points for us is key as we go further down the stretch."\nAfter struggling mightily in the first half with just four points and six turnovers, senior guard Cyndi Valentin came out of the locker room rejuvenated. Led by Valentin, IU's all-around game began to click as Penn State's offense started to sputter.\nValentin led a 15-4 Hoosier run coming out of the break that gave IU a 37-20 lead. Penn State never gave up in the second half and drew as close as 10 points. But the Nittany Lions would get no closer.\nWith only 1:35 remaining in the game, senior forward Jenny DeMuth intercepted a lazy pass from Penn State freshman guard Brianne O'Rourke, dribbled the length of the court and laid the ball in to ice the game for the Hoosiers. DeMuth's third steal of the night -- the 211th of her career -- vaulted her into the top spot on IU's all-time career steals list.\nOn the night, Penn State shot better from the floor than IU -- 34 percent compared to 33 -- but the Hoosier defense allowed IU to hold on to the hard-fought victory.\n"Both teams got killed physically," Versyp said. "I'd rather have games that way than have a little touch foul and have people sitting. You have to play through it and some days it's good, some days it's not so good."\nIU ended up pulling down 42 rebounds in the game, including 15 offensive.\n"We've played some pretty physical teams in the Big Ten so we know what to expect," freshman forward Whitney Thomas said. \nThomas only scored one point against Penn State but finished with 10 rebounds.\nRegrouping from her miserable first half, Valentin rebounded to score 18 of her 22 points in the second half as IU claimed its 13th victory of the season.\n"Coach V helped me. She gave me a kick in the butt," Valentin said. "My teammates were behind me, telling me that the second half was my half and that I'll come out and play well." \nIn the last matchup between IU and Penn State on Jan. 1, the Hoosiers snapped the Nittany Lions' 26-game home winning streak. \nIU will play its last home game of the season at 2 p.m. Sunday against \nNorthwestern.