IU places 8th in New Mexico Tournament

The Hoosiers' luck ran out as the cream and crimson recorded a season worst, placing eighth at the Price's "Give 'Em Five Fund" New Mexico State Invitational in Albuquerque, N.M.\nIU coach Clint Wallman was disappointed with the finish but said he will not allow it to get his team down.\n"We have the talent to compete in any tournament," Wallman said. "Yet, despite a good week of practice, we did not play as well as we would have liked."\nIn terms of individual performances, Wallman said he was fairly happy despite the fact that no Hoosiers placed in the top 10.\n"I was pleased with a number of the (individual) performances our team had," he said. "Unfortunately, though, we could not get them on the same day, and no one was consistent." \nLeading the way for the Hoosiers for the second straight tournament was freshman Laura Nochta, who tied for 13th and lowered her score by one stroke in each of the three rounds. Freshman Kellye Belcher came in second for IU, finishing tied for 23rd, while junior Elaine Harris and freshman Anita Gahir placed 35th, and sophomore Tara Boone placed 64th.\nWinning the tournament was host New Mexico State University, while Baylor University, San Jose State University and University of Missouri rounded out the top four.\nWallman said the tournament finish might have taught the Hoosiers something.\n"You learn something no matter how well you play," he said. "However, in this tournament, we learned that we can hang in there even without our A-game."\nThe Hoosiers will take this weekend off to recuperate before closing out the fall season Oct. 30 in South Carolina, where they will compete in the Edwin Watts/Palmetto Intercollegiate Tournament.\nWallman said the Hoosiers' fall season overall has been one to remember.\n"We have had a very positive fall season in general, despite an average tournament this weekend," he said. "Between our win in Wisconsin, our top-five finish in Michigan and some great individual performances, I feel we have had a good run"