IU tries to get back on track as Sinclair closes in on 1,000 points

Only 22 Hoosier women’s basketball players have reached the milestone, but senior forward Aulani Sinclair is more focused on team success.  

“It will just come when it comes,” she said. “I’m more worried about a win than getting my points right now.”

Sinclair enters tonight’s game at Ohio State eight points shy of 1,000 for her career and will try to help the Hoosiers (10-6, 1-2) get back on track against the buckeyes (10-7, 0-4) at 7 p.m. today in Value City Arena, Columbus, Ohio.

Despite starting conference play 0-4, Sinclair said Ohio State cannot be taken lightly.

“We know they can definitely contend with anyone in the Big Ten, so we can’t take them for granted,” she said.

The Buckeyes struggle despite their potent offense. Ohio State averages 71.9 points per game, which is the fourth-best in the Big Ten, and shoots a conference-high 47.2 percent from the floor.

Buckeyes senior guard Tayler Hill leads the league in scoring with 21.3 points per game.

Hill and her fellow OSU guards like to get out in transition and must be contained out on the break, IU Associate Head Coach Chris Day said.

“They are tremendous after a missed basket,” Day said. “They are like a track team. Those three guards are gone.”

The IU offense will benefit from the recoveries of center Sasha Chaplin and guard Jasmine McGhee, who is second on the team in scoring at 11.6 points per game.

Both Chaplin and McGhee nursed injuries last week and played at less-than-perfect health.

With Chaplin at full strength, the Hoosiers are be better prepared for a rugged battle in the paint. Six of Ohio State’s players  are 6-feet-2-inches tall or taller.

“We think Sasha is probably our best scorer on the block” Day said. “When you’re fighting for your lives, you love your shots to come from inside.”

Junior center Simone Deloach excelled during Chaplin’s absence. In the team’s three conference games, Deloach has averaged 10 points and 7.7 rebounds in 27 minutes per contest.

Day said it’s possible she’ll get her first start of the season against the Buckeyes.

“She’s certainly playing really well enough to earn it,” Day said. “We see it in practice, so we’ll give her runs with the first group.”