Seniors have their day with dominant win over Wildcats

Sunday was Senior Day for the IU women's basketball team. It was only fitting, then, that star senior guard Cyndi Valentin made the biggest contribution in IU's 60-46 victory over Northwestern.\nIn leading the Hoosiers to victory, Valentin scored 22 points, grabbed seven rebounds, dished out five assists and stole the ball twice.\n"The win was important in general just in the Big Ten to get where we want to in the postseason," Valentin said.\nEarly in Sunday's game, Northwestern refused to cooperate, taking a 12-2 lead as IU struggled to get a bucket. \n"Senior Day is always hard," said IU coach Sharon Versyp. "It's always a tough game emotionally. I'm glad we got through it. (Falling behind early) is a concern and we'll make sure to adjust it this week."\nNot wanting to lose her final game in Assembly Hall, Valentin proceeded to score 18 of IU's next 21 points, including three straight 3-pointers as the Hoosiers took a five-point lead into the break.\n"I was feeling it late in the first half," Valentin said. "Our offense was getting stagnant, and I was doing what I can to help my team win so I kept shooting."\nIU continued its hot shooting early in the second half, extending its lead to 12 points at 41-29. Northwestern went on a run of its own, cutting the deficit to just seven points, but the senior combo of Valentin and Jenny DeMuth put the team on their backs and carried the Hoosiers to their eighth Big Ten victory of the year. \nFollowing the game, IU honored the five-member senior class of Valentin, DeMuth, Angie Hawkins, Brigett Branson and Kali Kullberg. Each senior was presented with a framed personal jersey and given the opportunity to address the crowd of 3,047.\n"It was huge for us to go out like that -- this being the last time I'll ever play on this floor," Branson said following her address. "Getting a win definitely felt good."\nThe Hoosiers realize they cannot linger on their last home game with one final road trip still ahead of them. \n"I told myself I wasn't going to be sad today because we still have a lot of basketball to play," Kullberg said in her post-game address to the crowd. \nWith their home schedule now complete, the 14-10 Hoosiers will head out on the road for a three-game road trip before heading to Indianapolis for the Big Ten tournament, which begins March 2. IU will lace it up next against in-state rival Purdue at 2 p.m. Sunday in West Lafayette.