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(02/28/03 6:39am)
WEST LAFAYETTE -- Mackey Arena was a sea of gold and black with the occasional spec of cream and crimson. In front of a crowd of 9,819, the IU women's basketball team (11-14, 4-11 Big Ten) fell to Purdue (22-5, 11-4) for the second time this year. While the last meeting at the RCA Dome left the Hoosiers with only a two-point loss, this contest had Purdue the victors 74-48.\nSophomore guard/forward Jenny DeMuth said it was different playing at Purdue instead of a neutral location, but that it shouldn't make a difference in how the team played.\n"Here it was a lot louder," DeMuth said. "Here everything is on top of you. You feel enclosed, but that doesn't really make a difference. You have to go out there and do what you have to do."\nIt was the Hoosiers' ballgame for the first 10 minutes of the first half. Purdue never saw the lead until nine minutes remained until halftime. It was then that they really started scoring and drew some key fouls against the Hoosiers.\nFreshman guard Cyndi Valentin had three fouls and DeMuth and freshman center Angela Hawkins each had two fouls apiece heading into halftime.\nScoring was all over the roster for IU in the first half, but DeMuth led the team with eight and finished with 15 overall.\nThe score was in Purdue's favor 30-24 at halftime, but it was downhill from then on for the Hoosiers in the second half. Coach Kathi Bennett said she knew at halftime that Purdue was physically wearing down her team.\n"I feel that we got worn down," Bennett said. "In the first half we fought and then it started getting away, and this is where this team, when it starts to get away, really needs to come together."\nPurdue led the entire second half and also managed to get IU into even more foul trouble. Valentin and DeMuth both had four fouls but stuck it out the rest of the game without fouling out.\nIt was rough for the Hoosiers to get inside looks, Bennett said. She also said the Purdue defense threatened her team's aggressiveness on the court.\nWhile junior forward Shereka Wright was Purdue's standout player the last time these two teams met, it was Purdue's junior guard Erika Valek that dominated on the court with 15 points and two assists.\n"She's a really good guard," Bennett said. "She's one of the best point guards we've gone against this season, and she had a great game. She was dynamite."\nFreshman guard/forward April Williams saw her first action in a Purdue game and said it was even more fierce on the court than she had imagined.\n"It was exciting because there is such a huge crowd," Williams said. "We wanted to go out there and win so bad."\nSunday marks the Hoosiers' last regular game of the season. It's also senior night. The team will recognize its graduating seniors Lisa Eckart, Jill Hartman, Kristen Bodine, Jamie Gathing, Allison Skapin and Khisha Asubuhi in a game against Illinois.\n"We really want to win on Sunday," Williams said. "We're going in with a positive attitude, and it's senior night so we want to get the win for the seniors"
(02/26/03 6:32am)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Two towering forwards couldn't be ignored in Tuesday's men's basketball game. While the Hoosiers (16-10, 6-7 Big Ten) suffered yet another road loss 80-54, senior Jeff Newton's role in the game was to step up for the Hoosiers in guarding Illinois (19-5, 9-4 Big Ten) senior Brian Cook. \nCook entered this season ranked 26th on the Illini scoring list. He has recorded an average 19.7 points per game this season but scored only 17 in the contest with IU. \nNewton, among the six most improved players in America according to the Feb. 10 issue of Sports Illustrated, may have held Cook to only eight points in the first half, but Newton also only scored one three-point basket himself and had one assist in the first half. \nIU coach Mike Davis said he was pleased with his team's play in the first half and its ability to get the ball inside, but working against the Hoosiers was a change Davis noticed in Cook. \n"Cook has improved a lot defensively," Davis said. "He's a very good ball player and when you can get all five guys to play good defense the way you want them to play, you have a chance to win."\nCook only made four of 11 shots in the first half from the field and missed his only three-point attempt.\n"I knew I wasn't shooting well in the first half," Cook said. "But I knew if I kept on shooting it would eventually go in."\nAnd in it did go for Cook in the second half. Cook scored nine points in the second half and ended the game with 17 points, grabbing seven boards and three assists. Cook has scored in double figures in 21 of 22 Illini games this season. \nNewton and Cook both put in 37 minutes of playing time in the game.\n"Cook was out on the court a lot more this game," Newton said. "And anytime he's on the court he's going to be effective."\nNewton came out to start the second half with a field goal but was unable to stop Cook from scoring as well. Newton had IU's only four points five minutes into the second half and fought hard against the dominating Cook.\nThese two forwards last met in January when IU defeated the Illini 74-66. Newton held the 6-foot-10 Cook to 15 points on 7-of-17 shooting from the field in that game. Newton also blocked four of Cook's shots. It was also a notable game for Newton as he scored a career high 28 points and grabbed eight rebounds. \nThe 6-foot-9 IU starter didn't score a career high in Tuesday night's game but did manage to record 11 points and one block. He also knocked down his only two free throw shots of the night. \nCook said that playing against IU wasn't any different than the time before when the two played at IU's Assembly Hall in January.\n"They have some big guys but we came out and executed well," Cook said. "We did things we needed to do in the ballgame."\nNewton also said that it was the same old story for him and Cook out on the court. He said it was as physical as always and that the crowd at Illinois was a big factor in Ithe Illinis' success.\n"I'm used to it now," Newton said. "It's nothing new, we've been battling it out for four years"
(02/24/03 5:55am)
Coach Kathi Bennett had been looking for someone on her team to step up this season. No one was really showing leadership or showing that they would give it their all an entire game. Despite a 75-64 loss to the Michigan Wolverines (12-13, 3-11 Big Ten) on Sunday, there was finally a notable senior that helped the Hoosiers (11-13, 4-10) at least not give Michigan an easy win. Bennett found that leader in senior forward Lisa Eckart. \n"I've noticed it in the last few games," Bennett said. "She's a key player on our team."\nHolding over half of the team's first half points, Eckart contributed 14 points in the first half and one assist. Twelve of her first half points were three-point baskets. \nBut Eckart wasn't finished after the first half. She scored one field goal and three free throws in the second half giving her 22 total points in the ballgame and four assists.\nIt was Eckart's three-point basket that helped the Hoosiers come within four points of the Wolverines 62-58 with just 2:03 left in the game. While a major basket for the Hoosiers at the time, they never came any closer to Michigan for the remainder of the game.\nFreshman guard Cyndi Valentin said the seniors, like Eckart, on the team are huge when it comes to leadership on and off the court.\n"They really get us into the game," Valentin said. "They help us on offense, and more than anything they are scorers and leaders for all of us."\nEckart said the loss to Michigan was character-building in that the team still realizes they have to come together to get some wins. She said she'd like to see five players all playing hard at the same time.\n"I do anything I can to help this team while I'm out there," Eckart said. "I want to make a difference with this team even if it's not a change this year but in the future."\nAnother notable game for Eckart was against Ball State on Nov. 23, 2002. She recorded 24 points and four rebounds. She also had back-to-back double-doubles against Purdue and South Florida earlier this season. \nBack in January when the Hoosiers lost in Michigan, Eckart had 11 points and eight rebounds. \nBennett said she's been pleased with Eckart's play lately, and that against Michigan it was obvious that she played as hard as possible the entire game.\n"She's barely 5'11" and was against such big size," Bennett said. "I feel like she's playing for every possession, and we need more people to do that on this team."\nEckart was on the floor with a couple of six-footers from Michigan but was still able to defend well. Michigan junior center Jennifer Smith was the top scorer in the game with 25, only three points more than Eckart had.\nEven when the team was down, Eckart was there to help lead the team.\n"I am so thankful for how hard she plays," Bennett said. "Sometimes I think she's the only one out there that really plays from start to finish."\nWith only two regular season conference games left, Eckart is concerned with where the team is headed. She said she isn't ready for the season to be over.\n"I'll do anything in my power to help this team win the rest of the season," Eckart said. "I love to play, and I don't want it to be over any time soon"
(02/20/03 6:40am)
First came a win against Iowa in Assembly Hall 89-68. Then it was the surprise ending at Wisconsin 49-48 that gave the women's basketball team a two game winning streak. They look to continue the streak when they play Northwestern (7-17, 2-11 Big Ten) tonight at the Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, Ill.\nIU (11-11, 4-8) last met this Northwestern team at Assembly Hall and defeated the Wildcats 62-52. It was a game where three Hoosiers scored in double figures.\nCoach Kathi Bennett said playing Northwestern over a month later has both teams playing new ball games. Northwestern's two Big Ten wins this season have been against Michigan and Michigan State. Bennett said Northwestern is a confident team, especially on their home court but she believes her team can dominate when they arrive.\n"We're really looking to end the season good and this win would be big for us at this point," Bennett said. "We've just got to come out and play hard at the beginning of both halves. How we started out at Wisconsin is how we've got to play again."\nThe Hoosiers started that game on a 17-1 run in their road win against a massive Wisconsin team. They proved their ability to defend large size and their ability to shoot the ball well. Contributing to the team success was freshman Cyndi Valentin. \nValentin said she plans to do her best on the court against Northwestern.\n"My best is all I can do and as long as I am working hard out there I can try and help the team," Valentin said.\nValentin recorded a career high 23 points against the Badgers but scored only eight points the last time she played against the Wildcats. With the loss of freshman Kali Kullberg due to a torn ACL, Valentin said she has been forced to step up her game and improve.\nSenior Lisa Eckart said it was exciting to win at Wisconsin in front of lots of friends and family members, but that the team needs to remember not to get too comfortable with their last two wins.\n"Coach has still really been on us to keep improving and getting better," Eckart said. "We're not as confident as we could be because we've still got a ways to go."\nOne factor against the Hoosiers is the loss of freshman Brigett Branson for the Northwestern game. Branson suffered a serious sprain to her ankle just minutes into the Wisconsin game. Bennett said she should be back for their home game against Michigan on Sunday.\nBut it's possible that Kullberg will be returning. Kullberg suffered her ACL injury in December and is already looking at a possibility of coming back.\n"She's just amazing in her ability to overcome her injury," Bennett said. "We'd love to have her back for the Big Ten Tournament, but I could even see her coming back for the Illinois game."\nBefore thinking about the Big Ten Tournament or the Illinois game in March, the team first has to record a victory against Northwestern.\n"This is a very driven team," Bennett said. "I know I've said it before, but I believe in them and I think we only get better everyday"
(02/20/03 5:00am)
When Michael Cunningham finished what he thought would be his artsy little novel, he expected to sell a few thousand copies and retire as gracefully as possible. It never crossed his mind, or the mind of his agent or editor, that "The Hours" would be a hit. Little did they know that it would win the Pulitzer Prize or be elegantly turned into a movie that would garner Golden Globe and Oscar nominations.\n"Winning the Pulitzer was shocking," Cunningham says. "After something like that you think, 'What's next?'"\nWhat came next for Cunningham was the idea to turn his book into a movie. It was something that had never crossed his mind throughout the writing process. Cunningham didn't write the screenplay and says he didn't want to. The story needed a fresh eye, he says, and British playwright David Hare was the man to do it.\nCunningham often offered suggestions to Hare as he wrote the screenplay. Hare took some of the suggestions and others he did not, but Cunningham was pleased with the entire process.\n"I was involved with the screenplay exactly as much as I wanted to be," Cunningham says. "I didn't want to write the screenplay myself."\nCunningham's novel "The Hours" is a glimpse into the lives of three women living in three different time periods. His original idea for the book was a modern version of Virginia Woolf's "Mrs. Dalloway." He says he soon realized it was a silly idea, since the world already has the novel "Mrs. Dalloway." He then put more of his own spin on it and decided to include Virginia Woolf herself in his story.\nIU Associate Professor of English Alyce Miller was one of the first reviewers of the book version of "The Hours." Miller says she thinks Cunningham's portrayal of Woolf in his book is amazing and full of tenderness.\n"I think Cunningham makes some nice playful moves in his book that keep him in dialogue with Woolf, and he has fun with the language and parallel references," Miller says. "He never tries to compete, nor is his book simply a takeoff."\nMaura Stanton, who teaches in the M.F.A. program and has published several books, hasn't seen the movie but loved the book. She says each of the three parts of the novel imagines different worlds in completely convincing ways. \n"It's really a tour de force and beautifully written," Stanton says. "The prose style is spare and clean but full of great images and details."\nCunningham, a University of Iowa graduate, says his book-turned-movie ended up being a success in the way that it illustrates life in the face of the worst that can happen. \n"What's important in the movie is the notion that we're here for a short time and every single thing that happens to us is a miracle," Cunningham says. "And if we ignore the small and wait for the occasional big ones, we'll miss most of the pleasures of life."\nWhat helped make the transition from Cunningham's unorthodox book into Hare's screenplay were the actresses chosen to represent the characters.\nAt first, he says, he was skeptical of Nicole Kidman being cast as Virginia Woolf. He didn't think she had done anything that made it clear she would be capable of playing someone so complicated. Now Cunningham says he can't imagine anyone else playing the part.\n"I think she did it magnificently," Cunningham says. "I think it's a huge testament to not only her talent but to the notion that we've been underestimating her all these years."\nCunningham says he was proud of Kidman when she won the award for Best Actress at the Golden Globes for her role in the movie. He even gave her a hug after she won and went dancing with her to celebrate.\n"I guess I would say I feel like I'm part of a team," Cunningham says of his involvement with the Oscar-nominated movie. "I'll be in the audience at the Oscars cheering everyone on involved in the movie."\nBesides Kidman, the movie also stars Meryl Streep and Julianne Moore. Ironically enough, Meryl Streep is mentioned a few times in his novel. He obviously had no idea she would eventually be cast in the film version.\nCunningham spent a good amount of time on the set, traveling back and forth between New York and London. His time spent there gave him an opportunity to meet the actresses.\n"I've gotten to know all of them rather well," Cunningham says. "I'd tell you if any one of them was some sort of monstrous diva but they are incredibly intelligent, warm and funny women."\nPerhaps one of Cunningham's only disappointments in the film is part of a scene that was cut. It was his only line in the entire movie and it was taken out during the editing process.\n"I had a tiny walk on role and I was brilliant," Cunningham says laughing.\nPlaying a larger role in his life is his most recent project, which deals with a novel he wrote over ten years ago, "A Home at the End of the World." He wrote the screenplay for this film to be directed by Michael Mayer and starring Colin Farrell, which begins in April. \nCunningham enjoyed writing the screenplay for "A Home at the End of the World" so much that his next goal in life is to write an original screenplay. \n"I've promised Julianne Moore that I'll write her a screenplay someday in which she isn't neurotic and doesn't have any children at all," Cunningham says. \nEven with the surprising success of his book and now the film, Cunningham says he still isn't one for giving advice to aspiring writers. It took him ten years to get published, so the best advice he says he as to offer is: don't give up.\n"The successful novelist is the one that just doesn't stop doing it no matter what," Cunningham says. "Sit by the door long enough and sooner or later they have to let you in."\nCunningham says his book and the movie aren't targeted at any specific age category or gender. "The Hours" does explore the sexuality of the three women, but doesn't offer any specific labels. \nHe says he loves the way the movie turned out, and adds even if you haven't read his book, you won't feel like your missing out on anything.\n"I hope the movie will show an extra dimension of life," Cunningham says. "I think it's always great to see any work of art transposed into yet another form of art. It shows that art lives on"
(02/19/03 4:37pm)
When Michael Cunningham finished what he thought would be his artsy little novel, he expected to sell a few thousand copies and retire as gracefully as possible. It never crossed his mind, or the mind of his agent or editor, that "The Hours" would be a hit. Little did they know that it would win the Pulitzer Prize or be elegantly turned into a movie that would garner Golden Globe and Oscar nominations.\n"Winning the Pulitzer was shocking," Cunningham says. "After something like that you think, 'What's next?'"\nWhat came next for Cunningham was the idea to turn his book into a movie. It was something that had never crossed his mind throughout the writing process. Cunningham didn't write the screenplay and says he didn't want to. The story needed a fresh eye, he says, and British playwright David Hare was the man to do it.\nCunningham often offered suggestions to Hare as he wrote the screenplay. Hare took some of the suggestions and others he did not, but Cunningham was pleased with the entire process.\n"I was involved with the screenplay exactly as much as I wanted to be," Cunningham says. "I didn't want to write the screenplay myself."\nCunningham's novel "The Hours" is a glimpse into the lives of three women living in three different time periods. His original idea for the book was a modern version of Virginia Woolf's "Mrs. Dalloway." He says he soon realized it was a silly idea, since the world already has the novel "Mrs. Dalloway." He then put more of his own spin on it and decided to include Virginia Woolf herself in his story.\nIU Associate Professor of English Alyce Miller was one of the first reviewers of the book version of "The Hours." Miller says she thinks Cunningham's portrayal of Woolf in his book is amazing and full of tenderness.\n"I think Cunningham makes some nice playful moves in his book that keep him in dialogue with Woolf, and he has fun with the language and parallel references," Miller says. "He never tries to compete, nor is his book simply a takeoff."\nMaura Stanton, who teaches in the M.F.A. program and has published several books, hasn't seen the movie but loved the book. She says each of the three parts of the novel imagines different worlds in completely convincing ways. \n"It's really a tour de force and beautifully written," Stanton says. "The prose style is spare and clean but full of great images and details."\nCunningham, a University of Iowa graduate, says his book-turned-movie ended up being a success in the way that it illustrates life in the face of the worst that can happen. \n"What's important in the movie is the notion that we're here for a short time and every single thing that happens to us is a miracle," Cunningham says. "And if we ignore the small and wait for the occasional big ones, we'll miss most of the pleasures of life."\nWhat helped make the transition from Cunningham's unorthodox book into Hare's screenplay were the actresses chosen to represent the characters.\nAt first, he says, he was skeptical of Nicole Kidman being cast as Virginia Woolf. He didn't think she had done anything that made it clear she would be capable of playing someone so complicated. Now Cunningham says he can't imagine anyone else playing the part.\n"I think she did it magnificently," Cunningham says. "I think it's a huge testament to not only her talent but to the notion that we've been underestimating her all these years."\nCunningham says he was proud of Kidman when she won the award for Best Actress at the Golden Globes for her role in the movie. He even gave her a hug after she won and went dancing with her to celebrate.\n"I guess I would say I feel like I'm part of a team," Cunningham says of his involvement with the Oscar-nominated movie. "I'll be in the audience at the Oscars cheering everyone on involved in the movie."\nBesides Kidman, the movie also stars Meryl Streep and Julianne Moore. Ironically enough, Meryl Streep is mentioned a few times in his novel. He obviously had no idea she would eventually be cast in the film version.\nCunningham spent a good amount of time on the set, traveling back and forth between New York and London. His time spent there gave him an opportunity to meet the actresses.\n"I've gotten to know all of them rather well," Cunningham says. "I'd tell you if any one of them was some sort of monstrous diva but they are incredibly intelligent, warm and funny women."\nPerhaps one of Cunningham's only disappointments in the film is part of a scene that was cut. It was his only line in the entire movie and it was taken out during the editing process.\n"I had a tiny walk on role and I was brilliant," Cunningham says laughing.\nPlaying a larger role in his life is his most recent project, which deals with a novel he wrote over ten years ago, "A Home at the End of the World." He wrote the screenplay for this film to be directed by Michael Mayer and starring Colin Farrell, which begins in April. \nCunningham enjoyed writing the screenplay for "A Home at the End of the World" so much that his next goal in life is to write an original screenplay. \n"I've promised Julianne Moore that I'll write her a screenplay someday in which she isn't neurotic and doesn't have any children at all," Cunningham says. \nEven with the surprising success of his book and now the film, Cunningham says he still isn't one for giving advice to aspiring writers. It took him ten years to get published, so the best advice he says he as to offer is: don't give up.\n"The successful novelist is the one that just doesn't stop doing it no matter what," Cunningham says. "Sit by the door long enough and sooner or later they have to let you in."\nCunningham says his book and the movie aren't targeted at any specific age category or gender. "The Hours" does explore the sexuality of the three women, but doesn't offer any specific labels. \nHe says he loves the way the movie turned out, and adds even if you haven't read his book, you won't feel like your missing out on anything.\n"I hope the movie will show an extra dimension of life," Cunningham says. "I think it's always great to see any work of art transposed into yet another form of art. It shows that art lives on"
(02/17/03 5:14am)
MADISON, Wisc. -- Through many lead changes and runs from both teams, the women's basketball team was still able to defeat the Wisconsin Badgers 49-48 on Sunday. IU improved to 11-11 overall and 4-8 in the Big Ten while the Badgers fell to 7-17 overall and 5-8 in the Big Ten. The two teams last met in Bloomington when Wisconsin won the battle 69-58.\nThe Hoosiers went on a 17-1 run to start off the game, with Wisconsin's first field goal going in after six and a half minutes of play. \nWisconsin coach Jane Albright said her team was flat and lacked confidence in the game. \n"A 17-1 run is inexcusable," Albright said. "Indiana had so much confidence and I don't understand why, but we're having trouble defending our home floor."\nBut once Wisconsin started making shots, the tables turned as the Badgers held IU scoreless for almost six minutes. \nSenior guard Kristen Bodine had seven points in the game and said Wisconsin's defense was tough against the Hoosiers because of the difference in size.\n"They're long and they've got long arms, which makes it tough when you try and pass the ball in," Bodine said. "We had to be very sharp and crisp with our passing and shooting."\nWith five minutes left in the first half, it was four field goals and a free throw from freshman guard Cyndi Valentin that helped the Hoosiers keep the lead at halftime 26-21. Valentin did her share for the Hoosiers by scoring 17 points in the first half alone. She ended the game with a career high 23 points.\nWith 8:40 to go in the first half, freshman Brigett Branson fell to the ground with a scream that silenced the crowd in Kohl Center. The deafening silence ended as Branson was escorted off the court. Branson, an Indiana All-Star, sat out the remainder of the game. \nThe second half was a messy one for the Hoosiers. Their first field goal came from junior Jamie Gathing five minutes into the second half. Wisconsin grabbed its first lead in the game 29-28 with 13 minutes to go in the game. It was back and forth between the two teams with fifteen lead changes in the second half.\nIt was down to the wire with just 36 seconds left in the game when IU was up by one point thanks to a three-point basket from Bodine. It put the Hoosiers up by one 49-48. \nIU had another chance to grab the lead after a foul on Wisconsin's Lello Gebisa. Bodine missed the free throw and the ball was in the Badgers' hands with 19.3 seconds remaining. None of their attempts went in and IU called a timeout with six-tenths-of-a-second left in the game. Wisconsin hoped to lob the ball in after the timeout but was unsuccessful. \n"They are smart defenders," junior Badger center Emily Ashbaugh said. "They got in between us and we couldn't get the shot off."\nThe victory in Wisconsin marked Bennett's first win in Madison and the first time IU has won in Madison since Feb. 7, 1997. IU's win came in front of a crowd of 7,170 fans at the Kohl Center. \nBennett said the victory was even sweeter since she had friends and former players from Wisconsin in the stands.\n"I'm just really happy that it happened with this team," Bennett said. "Our last three games we've played really hard and really come together so its fun to do it with this team. It was a great win for us"
(02/14/03 5:24am)
It finally came together for the 10-11 (3-8 Big Ten) Hoosier women's basketball team against 12-10 (4-7) Iowa on Thursday night. They defeated the Hawkeyes 89-68 in a contest that coach Kathi Bennett said has helped the team regain their confidence. \nHelping lead the Hoosiers to their first victory since Jan.12 were senior guard Kristen Bodine and sophomore guard/forward Jenny DeMuth. \nBodine made some crucial shots to help the Hoosiers win the game, especially her three pointer that put Indiana back in the lead by 10 points when there was only 3:37 left in the game. She had a career high 23 points in the game.\nIowa's coach Lisa Bluder said she was impressed with Bodine's ability to lead the team and penetrate their defense. Bodine's two career highs have come against Iowa.\nDeMuth was one point short of tying her career high with 25 points. She was also 11-15 from the free throw line. \nDeMuth said the team finally came out in the game and showed their confidence. \n"This is a start for us, a big turnaround for us," DeMuth said. "The past five games we haven't had any confidence. This puts us on the right track now, and we've got our confidence back."\nBennett says the two women are a big part of their key to success. She has noticed their leadership and ability to play well on the court.\n"We needed their leadership and drive on the court tonight and they did that," Bennett said. "I was really proud of them."\nIU's next challenge will be against the Wisconsin Badgers on Sunday. Wisconsin recently lost a road game with No. 25 ranked Ohio State. \nThe last time these two teams met was on Jan. 24. It was a bittersweet moment for the Hoosiers as they broke attendance records at Assembly Hall in "Pack the Hall" night but also suffered a loss to the Badgers 69-58. It was a night when the Hoosiers were 11-25 from the charity stripe.\nBennett said she is anxious to see how the Hoosiers will measure up against the Badgers after their win over Iowa. The loss to Wisconsin at home is still fresh in their minds. When her team last played the Badgers, they were a team that played hard but didn't play smart, Bennett said.\n"I just watched the tape of the Wisconsin game the other day," Bennett said. "I think we just missed a lot of easy shots, and now those shots are starting to fall for us."\nShe's hoping the team isn't satisfied with their win over Iowa and wants the team to stay hungry for yet another win, this one on the road.\n"They can't get comfortable," Bennett said. "The Wisconsin game is the next biggest game, and I can't wait to see how they respond"
(02/13/03 5:00am)
Man gets paid to take out woman. Plan fails when he falls for her. She finds out, gets angry and gets over it. Haven't moviegoers seen this before over and over again? It's been done before, and apparently it's still popular among screenwriters because the latest LL Cool J flick, "Deliver Us From Eva" is exactly like other movies we've seen in this genre. \nThis is Gabrielle Union's first starring role and she shines as the evil Eva Dandridge. Evil is an understatement when it comes to Eva. While she spends her Sunday's leading the church choir, during the week Eva is tormenting restaurant owners as a health inspector. But that's the least of Eva's issues. She spends a good chunk of her time running her three sisters lives and ruining their relationships with their husband or boyfriend.\nThe men that are either married to a Dandridge sister or dating one hate Eva. It's then that they decide to have "player" Raymond (LL Cool J) slide his way into Eva's life and take her mind off all of her sisters' relationships. For $5,000, Raymond accepts the challenge and as predicted, falls in love with the independent, bitchy Eva and turns her into a loving and caring woman.\nBy saying she ends up finding out about the heartless bet and then eventually forgives him is not giving away the end of the movie. It's obvious that "Deliver Us From Eva" is just a grown up version of teen flicks like "She's All That" and "10 Things I Hate About You," two movies that also cast Union. \nIn addition to an unoriginal plot, the movie also lacks humor. Cheesy lines and some ridiculous situations make for good laughs even when the audience wasn't intended to laugh.\n"Deliver Us From Eva" provides some nice eye candy for the female and male audience and the acting is okay. As long as the audience isn't expecting anything out of the ordinary, they won't be disappointed. It's too bad though that the writers couldn't have been more creative in their formulaic tale of a bet that leads to heartache and eventually ends like a fairy tale, white horse and all.
(02/12/03 5:45pm)
Man gets paid to take out woman. Plan fails when he falls for her. She finds out, gets angry and gets over it. Haven't moviegoers seen this before over and over again? It's been done before, and apparently it's still popular among screenwriters because the latest LL Cool J flick, "Deliver Us From Eva" is exactly like other movies we've seen in this genre. \nThis is Gabrielle Union's first starring role and she shines as the evil Eva Dandridge. Evil is an understatement when it comes to Eva. While she spends her Sunday's leading the church choir, during the week Eva is tormenting restaurant owners as a health inspector. But that's the least of Eva's issues. She spends a good chunk of her time running her three sisters lives and ruining their relationships with their husband or boyfriend.\nThe men that are either married to a Dandridge sister or dating one hate Eva. It's then that they decide to have "player" Raymond (LL Cool J) slide his way into Eva's life and take her mind off all of her sisters' relationships. For $5,000, Raymond accepts the challenge and as predicted, falls in love with the independent, bitchy Eva and turns her into a loving and caring woman.\nBy saying she ends up finding out about the heartless bet and then eventually forgives him is not giving away the end of the movie. It's obvious that "Deliver Us From Eva" is just a grown up version of teen flicks like "She's All That" and "10 Things I Hate About You," two movies that also cast Union. \nIn addition to an unoriginal plot, the movie also lacks humor. Cheesy lines and some ridiculous situations make for good laughs even when the audience wasn't intended to laugh.\n"Deliver Us From Eva" provides some nice eye candy for the female and male audience and the acting is okay. As long as the audience isn't expecting anything out of the ordinary, they won't be disappointed. It's too bad though that the writers couldn't have been more creative in their formulaic tale of a bet that leads to heartache and eventually ends like a fairy tale, white horse and all.
(02/11/03 5:09am)
The women's basketball team's season took an unexpected turn on Nov. 9. Junior guard LeeAnn Stephenson stepped up for a lay-up during practice and tore her ACL. It was almost a month later on Dec.17 when freshman guard Kali Kullberg tore her ACL as well. To this day coach Kathi Bennett grimaces at the thought of losing the two players.\n"You can always tell when they go down and what their reaction is," Bennett said. \nKullberg remembers the day clearly and said it started out like any other practice. She wasn't even at full speed when she was running the drill. Kullberg was dribbling to the top of the key to make a pass and stepped forward. She said nothing felt weird and didn't land weird. Kullberg also had no idea how serious the injury was. \nStephenson's story isn't much different than Kullberg's. It was the first drill of practice, a little one-on-one, she said. She went to make a lay-up and heard something pop.\n"I thought it would hurt for awhile but that I'd be back in a few weeks," Stephenson said. "Everyone else seemed to know it was more serious."\nBoth Kullberg and Stephenson were told the bad news after meeting with doctors: They had each torn their ACL.\nKullberg's immediate reaction was a rough one.\n"It was heartbreaking," Kullberg said. "I thought of all the hard work I had done so far in the season, and all of a sudden it was over."\nStephenson said she felt the same way -- the news was terrible. She had only played in an exhibition game and her season was already at an end.\nAnother Hoosier, senior Kristen Bodine is still recovering from the same type of injury. Bennett said there are a lot of different theories concerning why women are so often troubled with ACL injuries. \n"Some say it has a lot to do with the hip and the menstrual cycle," Bennett said. "And the quad string compared to the hamstring, the wideness of the hip."\nWhatever the reason, Bennett and her team could have a different record right now if the two injured women were still playing. The Hoosiers are currently 9-11, 2-8 in the Big Ten.\n"I think we'd have more depth," Bennett said. "I think Kali and LeeAnn were two of our best defenders, so from a defensive standpoint they would have definitely affected us."\nOne thing is for sure, Kullberg and Stephenson said they were both tired of sitting on the bench. Kullberg said it helps push her to recover faster when she has to sit on the sidelines and watch her teammates play in a game without her. \n"You take your time to be upset and everything, but then you have to get over it," Kullberg said. "Rehab is what's going to get you back."\nBennett said both the women are improving at an impressive rate. She said she has seen players bounce back before and believes they can come back better than 100 percent.\n"They are so driven and conscientious and I think they're both so much ahead of schedule," Bennett said. "I think it helps to have both of them so that they're doing things together and pushing each other. If there's a blessing in it, it's that they have each other"
(02/10/03 5:27am)
It was a game that showed the IU women's basketball team's (9-11, 2-8) spirit, their drive and determination to come out with a victory in the Big Ten. But when things didn't go their way in the last seconds of the game, the Hoosiers fell to No. 15 Minnesota (17-4, 6-4) 59-56.\nAlthough a heartbreaking loss, the team had a great time playing in the game, senior Jill Hartman said.\n"We were really intense and excited and I really think the crowd helped that," Hartman said. "We play better when we're having fun and fired up."\nThe beginning of the first half was quite a struggle for the Hoosiers. With less than 14 minutes to go in the first half, IU was down 4-13. Their struggle didn't last long as they came back within three points of Minnesota before a field goal from senior Lisa Eckart tied the game 22-22 with just 4:30 to go. \nWith 30 seconds left in the first half, Minnesota's Tanisha Gilbert hit a basket to tie the game once again at 25-25. It was a last second shot by IU freshman Cyndi Valentin that put the Hoosiers up by two 27-25 going into halftime. \nThe second half had IU trailing Minnesota almost the entire period. Key baskets from Hartman held the Hoosiers closely behind Minnesota.\nThe seniors of the team are finally stepping up and showing the leadership that coach Kathi Bennett has been looking for, Hartman said.\n"I think we, as seniors, have started to realize that this is it for us," Hartman said. "There's a lot on our shoulders and we know we have to step up."\nStepping up for Minnesota was Janel McCarville, but the 6-foot-2-inch center fouled out with 3:54 left to go in the game. McCarville scored 12 of Minnesota's 59 points.\nIt was a one-point ballgame with less than two minutes to go. The 3,867 fans that came out to watch the Hoosiers stood on their feet to cheer on the team in the remaining minutes. It was the third time this season that the IU crowd has ranked in the top ten for women's games at Assembly Hall.\nAfter a timeout, IU set up a double screen for Hartman, but Minnesota's defense dominated the remaining seconds and caused Valentin to take the shot. It didn't go and left the Golden Gophers victors of the game. \nMinnesota coach Pam Borton said she was pleased her team got a road win and said she gives IU a lot of credit for the good ball game they played.\n"Indiana played great defense against us and did a great job taking care of the basketball," Borton said. "They made very few mistakes and made it very difficult for us to score."\nIU played their game without freshman center Angela Hawkins. Assistant media relations director Gavin Lang said Hawkins is healthy but sat out due to a violation of team rules. She will play in IU's next game Thursday against Iowa.\nBennett said she was pleased with her team's defense. Minnesota is one of the highest scoring teams in the nation, and IU held them to just 59 points. Minnesota made less than 40 percent of their shots.\n"Our defense was outstanding," Bennett said. "It's one of the better defensive games we've had."\nIU's defense did struggle some against Minnesota's Lindsay Whalen, an All-American and former Big Ten Player of the Year. Whalen scored 27 points in the game.\nAlthough it's another loss, Bennett said she still believes her team is improving and continues to look better in every game.\n"I'm very disappointed in the loss because I felt like we played good enough to win," Bennett said. "Those are the one's that hurt the most"
(01/31/03 5:43am)
After a week of good practices, the women's basketball team was still unable to pull off a win at Iowa. They lost the game 78-62 and are left with the record of 9-9, 2-6 in the Big Ten. The Iowa Hawkeyes improve to 11-7 (3-4). \nAlso going on in the Big Ten last night was a battle for the top of the conference. Penn State defeated Ohio State 68-53 to lead the Big Ten. Penn State's (17-5, 7-1) next game is at home against the Hoosiers.\nIt will be senior forward Lisa Eckart's first trip to Penn State, but said she has seen them on television and thinks they are a talented team.\n"I think we are going to have to be a strong team to beat them," Eckart said. "I think we can compete with them though, and we have no reason to go in there and hang out heads or be scared."\nFreshman forward Brigett Branson has heard from the upperclassman about what it's like to play at the Bryce Jordan Center and said she looks forward to seeing what the crowd is like.\n"I've heard it's pretty intimidating," Branson said. "They bring in a big crowd, and that's something we're not used to playing in front of."\nPenn State and IU will meet for the 17th time in Big Ten play as the Hoosiers look for only its third win against Penn State in the regular season. The last time these two teams met was at the Big Ten tournament when the Hoosiers won it by three, 75-72.\nCoach Kathi Bennett said the team has been working hard in practice and what has stood out the most is that they've gotten some transition baskets.\n"We're running the floor very hard consistently," Bennett said. "That was real good to see. I do feel good about all our practices this week."\nBranson said she thinks she and all her teammates have really stepped up in practice and have been working extra hard.\nOn a personal level, Branson has stepped up her defense, she said. \n"Not only to help me out," Branson said, "but also to help out our offensive players. I'm also running the floor harder."\nIt will take a major team effort for the Hoosiers to beat the Penn State Lady Lions. Their only loss has come to Purdue when they were defeated 73-66.\nBennett's biggest concerns with the Lady Lions are guards junior Kelly Mazzante and sophomore Tanisha Wright, she said. But Bennett also said the other players on Penn State's team are stepping up.\n"They surround Mazzante with four other players that can also score," Bennett said. "It's not just her anymore."\nWright is one of the best players in the conference, Bennett said, because of her powerful shots off the dribble. \n"We've got to stop their guards," Bennett said. "They are a very good team"
(01/30/03 5:54am)
Michigan State, Michigan and Wisconsin are the three teams that have stopped the Hoosiers from winning their last four games. The Hoosiers (9-8, 2-5) will try to end that streak as they look for their first Big Ten road win of the season against the Iowa Hawkeyes (10-7, 2-4) at 7 p.m. tonight in Iowa City. It's a game that could set the tone for the rest of IU's season.\nThere's a lot to learn with so many young players, senior forward Lisa Eckart said, but the team isn't walking away from any losses without learning a lesson.\n"I think we've learned from each of our losses," Eckart said. "We're preparing as much as we can for each game we play from here on out."\nThe mental attitude of the team is positive right now, said coach Kathi Bennett, even coming off of four losses.\n"I think the team has been really good lately," Bennett said. "Their attitudes are tremendous."\nFreshman forward Brigett Branson said she likes where the team's attitude is right now and that before each game they are excited and enthusiastic about what they're going to do on the court.\n"We know from here on out we really need to win every game," Branson said. "Right now we're willing to put in the work and effort to win every game."\nThe team has been working hard since their two losses at home this past weekend to Wisconsin and Michigan State, Bennett said. Both heartbreaking losses have left the team hungry for a win and looking for leadership on the court.\nBennett said she has seen the leadership in practice, but is waiting to see that leadership during an actual game.\n"I feel that in practice I saw Jill Hartman and Kristen (Bodine) and Lisa (Eckart) try to hold people accountable and bring people together, and now it has to happen in a game," Bennett said.\nEckart said she has been doing her best to be a positive leader. She said she tries to lead by example.\n"I come in everyday and work as hard as I can and try to help the younger players," Eckart said. "The most I can do for this team is come in and give everything I have when I'm on the floor."\nIt will take more than leadership for this young team to be successful in Iowa City. It marks the 43rd meeting between the two schools with Iowa leading 31-11. The Hoosiers haven't won in Carver-Hawkeye Arena since 1994.\nBennett said she hopes the team's defense will be strong against the Hawkeyes. IU leads the Big Ten with a 37.4 field goal percentage and tops the conference in defensive rebounds (26.59).\n"If we play with the intensity that's required, our defense will win us the game," Bennett said. "I like our team D and I think we're a very good defensive team and that's our strength. We need to take advantage of it."\nBennett said the team takes advantage of that defense by not fouling when there are 10 seconds left on the shot clock.If they can control fouling in the remaining 10 seconds against Iowa, it would be huge, she said.\nThe team is down from their four losses in a row, Eckart said, but doesn't think that they are giving up anytime soon.\n"I think we're just excited to get on the floor again and try and redeem ourselves," Eckart said. "Iowa is a very beatable team for us and I think we're excited for the game"
(01/30/03 5:00am)
While some bars and clubs in town are crowded, the Bluebird has always given the word an entirely new meaning. Only one entrance, a narrow walkway and terrible women's restrooms have made the Bluebird a not so popular place for some music lovers because of its crowded and stuffy atmosphere.\nFifteen cent draft nights every Wednesday have brought many students to the bar and new bands like The 17th Floor and Hairbangers Ball have made the nightclub as popular as it has ever been in its 30 years of existence.\nSteve Ross, owner of the Bluebird, says the place has always been popular, drawing in students for the drink specials and great bands, but not to the extent that it's currently at.\n"We felt the bands have been drawing more people in here lately," Ross says among sawdust and hammers the day before opening night. "And you get so many people in here that it's uncomfortable. We want people to enjoy the bands."\nRoss says he never thought the place would be as popular as it is today. \n"When I bought the 'Bird it was eight years old," Ross says. "I knew it had a reputation and we of course kept that reputation going, but I never thought we'd have to expand."\nThe fact that the Bluebird is expanding is music to some student's ears. No major structural changes have ever been made to the place since it first opened its doors 30 years ago and was named after a soda shop in Washington, Ind. \nGeneral Manager Dave Kubiak has been at the Bluebird for eight years and says there has been a need for expansion for quite some time now. Kubiak says that as times change, people change and changing the space at the Bluebird was just what the nightclub needed.\nAny female that has had one too many drinks and a quick need for the restroom can talk about the insufficient women's restrooms at the Bluebird, which Kubiak says is one of the main reasons for expansion. The line was often 15 people out the door and one out of the three stalls was usually out of order.\nFemales will be happy to know that the new section of the Bird has additional restrooms that are much bigger and have more mirrors. No more squeezing into tight spaces just to check hair or makeup.\nKubiak says the Bluebird will finally be handicapped accessible, something it has always lacked.\n"We also have problems getting people from the front of the club to the back of the club because it narrows and then widens up," Kubiak says. "And having one front door, one door in and the same door out, has been a problem too."\nKubiak is also excited about having better sightlines to the stage. They hope the expansion will help bring new and popular bands to the nightclub. He says it's hard to find bands with the style of groups like The 17th Floor, but they try their best to bring in the best bands they can get.\nThe changes are drastic with some of the original walls knocked down, new walkways, an additional new bar and new seating, but owners say the atmosphere will remain the same. \n"We've tried to create some of the old nostalgia of the Bluebird and yet make it modern at the same time," Kubiak says. "So we restored as much brick as possible and created replicas of the booths already here to make it look like the Bluebird. Yet we always wanted to brighten it up a little bit. That was the reason for the glass up front."\nAnd Kubiak is right. A stranger probably wouldn't know by looking at the expansion that it's a new area of the bar. They've created replica booths of the original ones and kept the same nostalgic look of the original bar. Customers will still feel like they're at the Bluebird, just with a lot more room.\nSenior Mike Holden was impressed with the change on Saturday night when many other students came out in the cold and snow to check out Pfreak Show and the new expansion.\n"I think it's better than before because you no longer have to squeeze through that narrow entrance by the original bar," Holden says. "When you're standing near the stage and look back and see all the open space it looks a lot bigger."\nStudents worried about missing the expansion's opening night have nothing to worry about. Kubiak says the grand opening of the new side is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 31. Playing for the first time at the Bluebird will be The Dave Matthews Cover Band from Georgia. Even Pam Thrash from B97 will DJ on Saturday, Feb. 1 from 8 p.m. to midnight. Kubiak says it will be their first big blow out with the new section.\nThe idea for the expansion really got serious only recently last October. Construction started the first of December.\n"People have been working here all the time," Kubiak says. "Saturdays, and long days and nights. It's been quite a project."\nIt's been an expensive project too, Kubiak says. While they have always owned the space next to the existing bar, Kubiak says it's been difficult and very expensive to restore parts of such an old building.\nNew space means new customers for the Bluebird, which also means new employees to keep people drinking and having a good time. From two bars to three and a new entrance, more employees will be needed to keep the place running smoothly.\n"First we'll give the people here more shifts," Kubiak says. "But we'll end up hiring new people. It's great because everyone we have right now is really excited about the expansion."\nEmployees aren't the only ones excited about the expansion. Kubiak has had people tell him for years about the insufficient women's restrooms and crowded entrance. He can't wait for those people to check out the new side.\n"People will be really surprised how cool the new space looks and how much easier it will be to get around the club," Kubiak says. "The people who know about it are very excited."\nThe drink specials will be the same and the bands will hopefully only get better from this point on. More space and more restrooms aren't a drastic change for the Bluebird, and owners say it will stay the same as it's always been. Ross hopes that if they keep the people happy they will keep coming back.\n"We had a staff meeting the other night and our goal was to keep it as the lovable old Bluebird," Ross says. "As we go into our 30th year, it's up to the people who work here to make it a family and have everybody happy when they come in and out of the club."\nThe opening nights of the expansion did keep customers happy. No more crowded narrow walkway at the entrance because there are now two. No long women's line at the restrooms either. The Bluebird's goal was to make the people happy, and already it has done just that.\n"That's our goal of the addition," Ross says. "It's just another part of the Bluebird and has the same warmth and feel it's always had"
(01/29/03 10:27pm)
While some bars and clubs in town are crowded, the Bluebird has always given the word an entirely new meaning. Only one entrance, a narrow walkway and terrible women's restrooms have made the Bluebird a not so popular place for some music lovers because of its crowded and stuffy atmosphere.\nFifteen cent draft nights every Wednesday have brought many students to the bar and new bands like The 17th Floor and Hairbangers Ball have made the nightclub as popular as it has ever been in its 30 years of existence.\nSteve Ross, owner of the Bluebird, says the place has always been popular, drawing in students for the drink specials and great bands, but not to the extent that it's currently at.\n"We felt the bands have been drawing more people in here lately," Ross says among sawdust and hammers the day before opening night. "And you get so many people in here that it's uncomfortable. We want people to enjoy the bands."\nRoss says he never thought the place would be as popular as it is today. \n"When I bought the 'Bird it was eight years old," Ross says. "I knew it had a reputation and we of course kept that reputation going, but I never thought we'd have to expand."\nThe fact that the Bluebird is expanding is music to some student's ears. No major structural changes have ever been made to the place since it first opened its doors 30 years ago and was named after a soda shop in Washington, Ind. \nGeneral Manager Dave Kubiak has been at the Bluebird for eight years and says there has been a need for expansion for quite some time now. Kubiak says that as times change, people change and changing the space at the Bluebird was just what the nightclub needed.\nAny female that has had one too many drinks and a quick need for the restroom can talk about the insufficient women's restrooms at the Bluebird, which Kubiak says is one of the main reasons for expansion. The line was often 15 people out the door and one out of the three stalls was usually out of order.\nFemales will be happy to know that the new section of the Bird has additional restrooms that are much bigger and have more mirrors. No more squeezing into tight spaces just to check hair or makeup.\nKubiak says the Bluebird will finally be handicapped accessible, something it has always lacked.\n"We also have problems getting people from the front of the club to the back of the club because it narrows and then widens up," Kubiak says. "And having one front door, one door in and the same door out, has been a problem too."\nKubiak is also excited about having better sightlines to the stage. They hope the expansion will help bring new and popular bands to the nightclub. He says it's hard to find bands with the style of groups like The 17th Floor, but they try their best to bring in the best bands they can get.\nThe changes are drastic with some of the original walls knocked down, new walkways, an additional new bar and new seating, but owners say the atmosphere will remain the same. \n"We've tried to create some of the old nostalgia of the Bluebird and yet make it modern at the same time," Kubiak says. "So we restored as much brick as possible and created replicas of the booths already here to make it look like the Bluebird. Yet we always wanted to brighten it up a little bit. That was the reason for the glass up front."\nAnd Kubiak is right. A stranger probably wouldn't know by looking at the expansion that it's a new area of the bar. They've created replica booths of the original ones and kept the same nostalgic look of the original bar. Customers will still feel like they're at the Bluebird, just with a lot more room.\nSenior Mike Holden was impressed with the change on Saturday night when many other students came out in the cold and snow to check out Pfreak Show and the new expansion.\n"I think it's better than before because you no longer have to squeeze through that narrow entrance by the original bar," Holden says. "When you're standing near the stage and look back and see all the open space it looks a lot bigger."\nStudents worried about missing the expansion's opening night have nothing to worry about. Kubiak says the grand opening of the new side is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 31. Playing for the first time at the Bluebird will be The Dave Matthews Cover Band from Georgia. Even Pam Thrash from B97 will DJ on Saturday, Feb. 1 from 8 p.m. to midnight. Kubiak says it will be their first big blow out with the new section.\nThe idea for the expansion really got serious only recently last October. Construction started the first of December.\n"People have been working here all the time," Kubiak says. "Saturdays, and long days and nights. It's been quite a project."\nIt's been an expensive project too, Kubiak says. While they have always owned the space next to the existing bar, Kubiak says it's been difficult and very expensive to restore parts of such an old building.\nNew space means new customers for the Bluebird, which also means new employees to keep people drinking and having a good time. From two bars to three and a new entrance, more employees will be needed to keep the place running smoothly.\n"First we'll give the people here more shifts," Kubiak says. "But we'll end up hiring new people. It's great because everyone we have right now is really excited about the expansion."\nEmployees aren't the only ones excited about the expansion. Kubiak has had people tell him for years about the insufficient women's restrooms and crowded entrance. He can't wait for those people to check out the new side.\n"People will be really surprised how cool the new space looks and how much easier it will be to get around the club," Kubiak says. "The people who know about it are very excited."\nThe drink specials will be the same and the bands will hopefully only get better from this point on. More space and more restrooms aren't a drastic change for the Bluebird, and owners say it will stay the same as it's always been. Ross hopes that if they keep the people happy they will keep coming back.\n"We had a staff meeting the other night and our goal was to keep it as the lovable old Bluebird," Ross says. "As we go into our 30th year, it's up to the people who work here to make it a family and have everybody happy when they come in and out of the club."\nThe opening nights of the expansion did keep customers happy. No more crowded narrow walkway at the entrance because there are now two. No long women's line at the restrooms either. The Bluebird's goal was to make the people happy, and already it has done just that.\n"That's our goal of the addition," Ross says. "It's just another part of the Bluebird and has the same warmth and feel it's always had"
(01/27/03 6:36pm)
It might have been just like any other game for the women's basketball team on Friday if there wasn't $5,000 on the line. Instead, there was money on the line. Coach Kathi Bennett made a personal donation of $5,000 to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation after the single-game attendance at a women's game was broken on Friday night at the Wisconsin game.\nIt only would have taken 5,504 fans to break the record, but 7,986 showed up instead and showed their support for the women's basketball team. But, the Hoosiers suffered a 69-58 loss to Wisconsin that leaves IU 2-5 in conference play and 9-8 overall.\n"I wish we could have given them a win like you wouldn't believe," Bennett said. "But I thought it was really neat for this team and these young women to have this opportunity."\nEven the visiting Wisconsin team said they were impressed with the crowd and support the community showed for the team.\nWisconsin's coach Jane Albright thanked the community and Bennett for providing such a great atmosphere for women's basketball.\n"Anytime a community comes together like this and sees a great women's basketball game it does nothing but strengthen the Big Ten," Albright said. "I would venture to say that I can't imagine that any one of these fans would not come back again to see a very well coached Indiana team play hard and make it tough on anybody that comes in here."\nPerhaps the crowd had its largest impact during a technical call on Bennett with 4:06 left to play in the second half. The Hoosiers were down only six points when the technical was called. Bennett and her team were never informed as to why the technical was called. It was apparent that the crowd didn't understand either.\n"During that technical you could really hear all the people that were here," Wisconsin guard Stephanie Rich said. "To come in here in this environment, you know, it was an awesome crowd."\nSophomore Jenny DeMuth said she enjoyed the support of the crowd and loved to run onto the court with so many screaming fans.\n"At the end of the fight song you could even hear the people say 'IU,'" DeMuth said laughing. "That's a first!"\nAlthough the team lost, Bennett said she wasn't disappointed with what her team did in front of all the fans. She hopes her team learns from the experience and makes the necessary changes to provide the rest of the season with good games.\nThe last time the attendance record was broken was in 1999 when the Hoosiers played Purdue in front of a crowd of 5,503. Before that it was once again against Purdue in 1998. An earlier attempt this season was when IU upset a ranked Ohio State team in front of 2,845 fans, a number that now ranks as the 7th highest single-game total ever at IU.\nSunday's game against Michigan State was more of a normal crowd for the Hoosiers when they lost 64-53 in front of a crowd of 1,117. Junior Jamie Gathing said the team appreciated the crowd on Friday night but that it didn't have an effect on how much effort the players put into their game.\n"It was a drastic difference, but regardless of how many people are in the stands we need to play hard and give it our best shot," Gathing said. "8,000 one day and 50 the next you know, it doesn't matter because we still play the same game."\nBennett said she too was thankful for the crowd at the game on Friday and hopes that they saw the heart her IU team played with.\n"I also hope they saw the effort and the good plays," Bennett said. "I thought there was some good play and I hope they come back because we're only going to get better"
(01/25/03 5:02am)
On Jan. 12 the women's basketball team (9-6 overall, 2-3 Big Ten) upset Ohio State in front of 2,845 screaming fans. It was the sixth-highest single-game attendance total ever at IU. But 2,845 fans aren't enough for coach Kathi Bennett. She said she wants to see over 5,000 at the game against Wisconsin tonight to break the attendance record.\nThe highest single-game total at IU for women's basketball was in January of 1999 when the Hoosiers took on Purdue in front of a crowd of 5,503. \nBreaking the attendance record isn't the only thing Bennett and her team are hoping for tonight. That, a win against Wisconsin (3-13 overall, 1-5 Big Ten) and a $5,000 donation to the Wabash Valley affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Foundation for breast cancer would make the night complete for Bennett and her team.\nThe $5,000 that will be donated if the attendance record is broken will come right out of Bennett's pocketbook.\nThe night has been titled "Pack the House" and will be full of information from volunteers from the Komen Foundation. They will hand out educational information on breast cancer awareness. The Komen Foundation has awarded more than 700 international grants totaling more than $87 million in breast cancer research. \n"I think it's an excellent idea," freshman forward Brigett Branson said of Bennett donating her own money. "I'm so excited about it. Not just to win the game but to have Coach donate the money."\nBennett said she really wants to see her team win tonight and hopefully in front of a record-breaking crowd. She said the awareness that they are bringing is really good.\nA large crowd at the Wisconsin game also means a source of inspiration for the players.\nBranson said the crowd is the team's source of energy and enthusiasm. She said her favorite memory this year is playing in front of the huge crowd when the team upset Ohio State.\n"The crowd makes you want to play harder and give it your all," Branson said. "You score a basket or get a defensive stop and you know there will be a huge roar from the crowd."\nSenior Jill Hartman said she remembers the intensity of the crowd when they played the Buckeyes at Assembly Hall. She recalled how the team was excited when they ran onto the court and so many people were actually there supporting the team.\n"(The fans) do so much for us," Hartman said. "They get us pumped to play."\nBennett said she thinks the crowd's support in close games is especially drastic. While it's the team's job to provide a game worth cheering for, Bennett said close games are where the crowd is most important. She's a firm believer in the sixth-man and it's effect on the players, she said.\nPlaying in front of a huge home crowd can make or break a game in the sport of basketball, which is why it's often hard to win on the road. The Hoosiers are 0-3 on the road so far in the Big Ten season. \nThe Hoosiers are hoping to break 5,000 in attendance, which has only happened twice at IU, but when compared to the rest of the Big Ten, that isn't such a big number. Purdue ranks eighth in attendance in the nation with an average of 6,945 fans a game. Seven other Big Ten schools made the list of high attendance but IU was not one of them.\n"I think we've got to build our own tradition and be consistent with some winning," Bennett said about IU's low attendance record. "Some people might not even know much about us. I think they're finally putting an emphasis on marketing women's basketball and really making a push for that."\nBennett said they've got to start somewhere and hopefully if they continue to put teams on the floor that work hard it will eventually draw big crowds.\nWhether or not the crowd helps IU win is a small issue compared to the good cause the team is playing for. High school and middle school girls' basketball teams throughout the state have been invited to attend the game compliments of the IU Athletic Department. IU students get in free with their student ID. \nHartman said she couldn't wait to see the crowd at the game on Friday and hopes that people know about their chance to attend the game and help fight cancer.\n"Not only can the crowd help us win our game," Hartman said, "but they can contribute to a good cause"
(01/25/03 5:01am)
Coach Kathi Bennett is out $5,000 after the women's basketball team's loss to Wisconsin 69-58, but the money went to a good cause. Her $5,000 donation to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation was the result of a record-breaking crowd in Assembly Hall for a women's basketball game. The goal was to have at least 5,503 fans at the game. That number was shattered as the Hoosiers played in front of 7,986 people on Friday night. People from the community and around the state filed into Assembly Hall to see the game.\n"The atmosphere was amazing tonight," Bennett said. "We're very thankful for the crowd and wish we could have given them a win."\nBennett said it was nice for the team to have the opportunity to play in front of such a large crowd and to bring awareness to the Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Bennett said she also hopes that while the crowd saw the Hoosiers lose, they will come back for another game.\n"I hope they saw the effort and the good play," Bennett said. "We're only going to get better"
(01/23/03 5:00am)
Paul (Jason Lee) is totally in love with his fiancee Karen (Selma Blair), but too many drinks at his bachelor party leave him with no memory of that night. He wakes up to Becky (Julia Stiles) in bed and assumes he's just cheated on his soon-to-be wife.\nMoviegoers are once again stuck with a romantic comedy that just doesn't make us laugh enough or even tug at the heartstrings. Romantic comedies are supposed to make viewers bust out laughing one moment and melt hearts the next. "A Guy Thing" creates a few chuckles, but it misses the warm-hearted feeling it needs.\nStiles, however, is once again creative and impressive in her role as the air-headed Becky. From a tough teenager in "Ten Things I Hate About You" to the preppy, popular girl in "O," Stiles shows her versatility in "A Guy Thing." Too bad she picked the wrong script to show it.\nWhile Paul is falling in love with Becky and out of love with Karen, it's hard to feel it. Lee doesn't come through in his role. As the lead male, it's important that viewers feel the love he feels. \nSome of the humerous parts in the movie are funny, but they've all been done before. A bathroom scene, a wedding scene and parental meetings are not novel, just scenes that viewers can watch in any movie classic.\n"A Guy Thing" is also disturbing in its portrayal of men. What is referred to as "a guy thing" is when Paul wakes up with a woman other than his fiancee. More like a jerk thing. The situations Paul puts himself through in order to lie are ridiculous. It just doesn't hit the mark. "A Guy Thing" has its moments, but not enough to be remembered. Some movies like this have worthless scripts but still bring tears to girl's eyes. This one does not.