Sports

Purdue center wins the battle in the paint

By Sarah Trotto · Monday, Feb. 19,2001 1:52 p.m.

WEST LAFAYETTE -- Whenever a lazy pass flew her way, she snatched it from the air. If a smaller opponent stood in her way of the basket, she stepped to the side and nailed a shot. In the eighth annual Barn Burner game, Purdue's Camille Cooper exposed IU's rebounding weaknesses and took advantage of the Hoosiers' early foul trouble. She scored 25 points and was named the game's most valuable player in the Boilermakers' (23-4, 13-1 Big Ten) blowout win 87-46.

Purdue spoils Hoosiers' hopes

By Sara Meinecke and Sarah Meinecke · Monday, Feb. 19,2001 1:51 p.m.

WEST LAFAYETTE -- A week ago Thursday, the women's basketball team was experiencing success against a ranked team. Sunday, the Hoosiers were controlling the floor against Michigan State. A week ago Thursday, No. 7 Purdue was experiencing its first Big Ten loss of the season. Sunday, the Boilermakers escaped a loss at the hands of another red and white team, Ohio State.

Hoosiers take 1 win, lose 2 in weekend

Monday, Feb. 19,2001 1:12 a.m.

IU started the 2001 campaign in Greenville, S.C., for a three-game weekend series against Furman. The Hoosiers won once in the three-game set. In the season opener Friday, Furman jumped on top of the Hoosiers early, knocking junior starter Brad Edwards, around for nine runs -- eight earned -- in 3.2 innings. The Paladins pounded out 14 more runs before the game was suspended in the seventh inning because of darkness.

IU dominates Michigan

By Sara Meinecke and Sarah Meinecke · Monday, Feb. 19,2001 1:06 a.m.

After Thursday night's 41-point loss at Purdue, coach Kathi Bennett said the team needs to play harder to get a win against Michigan. Sunday, the team did play harder, and squashed Michigan 73-51. "We were all focused," junior forward Erin McGinnis said. Not only did the Hoosiers (17-8, 8-6 Big Ten) halt a team that had won seven of its last eight Big Ten games, they also ended the optimism Michigan (16-10, 9-6 Big Ten) carried since upsetting No. 25 Iowa Thursday.

Hoosiers gain experience

Monday, Feb. 19,2001 12:59 a.m.

The Hoosiers might not have competed against the toughest competition this weekend at the Hoosier Hills Open, but they came away with experience that will help in the future. The open meet allowed the rookie athletes to compete and the experienced athletes to hone their skills or even take the weekend off to rest.

Swimmers enjoy success

By Matt Pera · Monday, Feb. 19,2001 12:55 a.m.

When the Hoosiers stepped onto the pool deck of Counsilman Billingsley Aquatic Center for the first day of competition in the Big Ten Championships Thursday, they weren't sure what to expect. They knew they had the ability and drive to do well. In one of the strongest swimming conferences in the nation, it was difficult to predict any definite outcome, but IU was determined to swim to its fullest potential.

IU in good position for tournament play

By Aaron Sharockman · Monday, Feb. 19,2001 12:54 a.m.

Michigan and IU were fighting for their postseason lives Sunday in front of 1,832 fans at Assembly Hall. With IU's convincing 73-51 win, the Hoosiers (17-8, 8-6 Big Ten) are one step closer to the NCAA tournament. The Wolverines (16-10, 9-6) are on life support. "We knew we had to get them to continue our dream of getting to the NCAA tournament," coach Kathi Bennett said. "Again, we took one step towards that."

Team loses conference championship

Monday, Feb. 19,2001 12:52 a.m.

FISHERS, Ind. -- In an dramatic weekend at the Fishers Ice Forum, the hockey team crushed Toledo 10-0 Friday, slipped past Dayton 3-2 in overtime early Saturday, then lost the league championship to Miami of Ohio 2-1 in double-overtime Saturday. Friday saw all favorite seeds easily succeed in advancing to the tournament's quarterfinal round. Fourth-seeded Dayton handled No. 5 Kentucky 5-2. Third-seeded Miami crushed No. 6 Purdue 14-3, while No. 2 Michigan defeated No. 7 Ohio State 15-3.

Senior sets season-best records

Monday, Feb. 19,2001 12:48 a.m.

The Hoosiers might not have competed against the toughest competition this weekend at the Hoosier Hills Open, but they came away with experience that will help in the future. The open meet allowed the rookie athletes to compete and the experienced athletes to hone their skills or even take the weekend off to rest. But the Hoosiers who did compete came away with some good performances.

Distance swimmer meets goals

By Matt Pera · Monday, Feb. 19,2001 12:45 a.m.

Indiana distance swimmer Sarah Fiden wasn't quite sure what to expect coming into this season's Big Ten Championships. She decided to try for finishing in the top three in the 500-yard freestyle and the mile -- pretty lofty goals, especially for a freshman. Friday and Saturday, she was able to accomplish those goals. She placed third in the 500 and second in the mile. Not only did she place well in the meet, she broke two school records that were 20 years old. The records Fiden snapped were previously owned by IU Hall of Fame swimmer Jennifer Hooker, who was at the meet and was glad to see her old records go. "It's about time," Hooker said of her records. "They were up there way too long."

Hoosiers spoil Wisconsin fun

By Michael Sherman · Monday, Feb. 19,2001 12:39 a.m.

MADISON, Wis. -- Sunday was wrestling Fan Appreciation and Senior Day at the UW Fieldhouse in Madison, Wis. Among the scheduled events was a "dash for cash," in which three fans slithered around the gymnasium floor on their stomachs gathering as many $1 bills as they could get. Unfortunately for the 400 plus in attendance, the Badger wrestling squad spent a fair share of their day scrambling around the wrestling mat as well.

Illinois targets Haston, Jeffries

By Heater A. Dinich and Heather A. Dinich · Monday, Feb. 19,2001 12:31 a.m.

After junior center Kirk Haston scored a career-high 30 points in the Feb. 11 win against Michigan, interim head coach Mike Davis said if you take Haston and freshman forward Jared Jeffries out of the Hoosiers' mix, they will have a tough time winning. Saturday against a strong Illinois frontcourt, Davis' statement proved correct.

Rookie riders prepare for race

By Guy Cipriano · Monday, Feb. 19,2001 12:28 a.m.

Anybody who has competed in the Little 500 knows riding a bike in winter-like conditions is challenging. For the next two weeks, rookie riders will experience just how difficult it is to prepare for the Little 500 and stay warm at the same time. "Riding in the cold stinks. Especially when it rains," said senior Alan Ireland, a Delta Sigma Pi rider and member of the men's riders council. "Some people are able to do it easier than others."

Illini depth overcomes Hoosiers

By David Uchiyama · Monday, Feb. 19,2001 12:22 a.m.

Interim head coach Mike Davis put it bluntly: "Illinois is just a better basketball team than we are," he said after Saturday's 67-61 loss to Illinois at Assembly Hall. There's no mystery to why the Hoosiers lost -- the No. 7 Illini are stronger, deeper and more experienced than the Hoosiers.

MSU divers capture competition

By Colin Ross · Monday, Feb. 19,2001 12:13 a.m.

A story written about the diving at the Big Ten Women's Swimming and Diving Championship this weekend would essentially be a story about the divers from Michigan State. MSU's Summer Mitchell placed first in the 1-meter and third in the 3-meter and teammate Carly Weiden finished third in the 1-meter competition and won the 3-meter.

Michigan Big Ten's best

By Eric Talbot · Monday, Feb. 19,2001 12:07 a.m.

Claire Tousley of Zionsville said her mom decided it would be a good idea to take her to the Women's Big Ten Swimming and Diving Championships. Tousley, an elementary school student and swimmer, said she likes going fast. Tousley was likely smiling Saturday night, the final night of the three-day event. She did get to see quick swimming -- IU raced to a third-place finish, Penn State jumped to a quick lead but couldn't swim fast enough to hold on for the win and Michigan took the title.

Sitting pretty after day one

By Jason Recker · Friday, Feb. 16,2001 6:10 p.m.

The first race of the finals in the 2001 Big Ten Swimming and Diving Championships might serve as an omen for the Hoosiers. Or at least they hope. The Hoosiers won two events, putting them behind only Michigan after day one of the three-day event at Counsilman Billingsley Aquatic Center. Penn State sits third.

Hoosiers hope long shot turns into tourney bid

By David Uchiyama · Friday, Feb. 16,2001 1:02 p.m.

After defeating Northwestern Wednesday, interim head coach Mike Davis said the Hoosiers can beat any team in the Big Ten. The rest of the league might have something to say about that. First up for the Hoosiers is conference leader No. 4 Illinois at 4:30 p.m. Saturday in Assembly Hall.

Team heads east in second weekend

By Nate Rau · Friday, Feb. 16,2001 2:27 a.m.

Normally, junior Brooke Monroe and sophomore Stormy Hanson are just your run-of-the-mill energetic athletes. But this week the two have hardly been able to contain their excitement. After weeks of anxiously awaiting the start of the women's softball season, the Hoosiers' scheduled season opener Saturday at Evansville was canceled because of soggy field conditions. The cancellation of the game has made the co-captains that much more ecstatic about starting the season, which they will finally be able to do today against Virginia at the Triangle Classic at North Carolina State.

Team anxious for outdoor action, start of season

By Ryan Gunterman · Friday, Feb. 16,2001 2:25 a.m.

If IU's baseball players appear anxious, it's probably because they want to go outside and play. Because of poor weather conditions this spring, the Hoosiers have only ventured outdoors to practice twice, coach Bob Morgan said.