Senior guard shines in home finale

After IU defeated Penn State 79-67 Sunday afternoon at Assembly Hall, all eyes were on senior guard Nikki Smith. \nSmith, who just completed the final home game of her career, was at the microphone for her post game ceremony. She ran through an extensive list of people to thank, everyone from family members to the fans to the team managers, making sure to credit everyone who made a difference in her career. \nOn the court, Smith turned in a performance to remember. \nAveraging 7.3 points per game coming into the game, Smith broke through with 17 points. She hit her first 3-point attempt 17 seconds into the game and never looked back on her way to five 3-pointers. \nBut after the game, Smith quickly deflected the praise to her teammates. \n“I didn’t really do that much,” she said. “Jamie (Braun) penetrated and hit me on the three, and then we had great ball movement today. I always say that I have the easiest part. I just get to stand there and shoot.”\nThe Hoosiers rallied around Smith in her final game, turning in an impressive overall team performance. \n“It was Nikki’s last game,” junior guard/forward Kim Roberson said after grabbing eight rebounds and scoring 17 points of her own. “I played for her and her energy, and I just wanted to make sure she went out on top.”\nIU played with passion all game long, diving for loose balls, fighting for rebounds and finding the open teammate. After the game, IU coach Felisha Legette-Jack said it was all in an effort to send off Smith in style. \n“They really love Nikki, and it was their energy towards her and their appreciation for all she’s done in her four years here,” Legette-Jack said of the team’s effort.\nAs a part of the “Head to the Hall” promotion, 8,136 fans showed up to the game, the most to watch a women’s basketball game at Assembly Hall. It was a fitting crowd to see Smith’s final home game. \n“The last four years have been so amazing here,” Smith said after the game. “Even though we don’t pull the greatest numbers, I truly believe our fan base is one of a kind because they come day in and day out to all of our games.”\nWith less than a minute remaining in the game, Legette-Jack substituted Smith out of the game one last time in front of the home crowd. The crowd was on its feet as Smith hugged Legette-Jack and the rest of her coaches and teammates before finding a seat on the bench.\nWith 184 career 3-pointers, Smith is second on IU’s all-time list for 3-pointers, but it hasn’t come easy for Smith during her four years.\nAfter being recruited by former coach Kathi Bennett her freshman year and playing one year under current Purdue coach Sharon Versyp, Smith has played under three different coaches. Through everything, however, she has remained loyal to IU.\n“I really do love this university, and I’m so proud to be a Hoosier,” she said.