Stumbling Hoosiers look to get back on track in Big Ten

Coming off a tough road loss at Michigan State last weekend, the IU women's basketball team will wrap up its two-game road trip tonight against a Wisconsin team that has had its own share of struggles in its Big Ten schedule.\nThe Hoosiers led much of the game Sunday in East Lansing, clinging to a lead as late as 6:10 left in the second half. But IU had difficulty dealing with a tenacious Michigan State press that limited the Hoosiers to just one field goal over a span of seven minutes as the Hoosiers succumbed 65-59.\nIU coach Sharon Versyp is looking for her team to focus more in the closing moments.\n"We have to finish games like that and learn from our mistakes," Versyp said. "If we don't, we're not going to get any better. We just need to win some close games."\nAll four of IU's losses in the Big Ten have been to ranked opponents by a combined 26 points. \nThe Hoosiers believe that the close games with ranked conference opponents will benefit them down the road, including when they travel to Indianapolis for the Big Ten tournament.\n"We're always constantly growing with every game," said sophomore guard Nikki Smith. "We have to take the losses and learn from them and grow from them."\nThe Hoosiers head into tonight's contest tied for fourth in the conference with a 5-4 record. The last IU team to win six conference games was the 2001-02 team that went on to win the Big Ten tournament.\nThe Badgers have struggled thus far in the Big Ten with a 2-7 record. Wisconsin snapped their five-game losing streak last weekend with a win against the last-place Michigan Wolverines.\nThe Hoosiers realize they cannot look past Wisconsin to their weekend matchup with Ohio State.\n"It's so crucial where we are in the Big Ten that you can't look past anyone," Smith said. "Everyone in the Big Ten is really talented. Wisconsin is a good team, and they've got people coming back from injury."\nTo beat the Badgers, the IU defense will have to limit sophomore guard Jolene Anderson, the fourth leading scorer in the Big Ten with an average of 17.7 points, and senior guard Ashley Josephson, Wisconsin's second leading 3-point shooter.\n"We need to shut down them down and really play great all-around defense," said junior guard Annika Boyd.\nTip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the game will be televised on ESPNU.