March 20, 2006
Women's Basketball
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HOOSIERS ESCAPE HULMAN CENTER WITH HARD FOUGHT VICTORY

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State had control of their second round WNIT match-up with Indiana for the first 38-minutes of the game, but it was in the final two-minutes that the Sycamores stumbled and eventually fell to the Hoosiers 68-62. Indiana State was paced by Lisa Verhoff with 18 points, shooting six-of-10 from the field and 6-of-9 behind the arc. ISU’s season ends at 27-6, while the Hoosiers continue to the WNIT quarterfinals with a mark of 19-13.

It was IU’s Cyndi Valentin’s three-point basket with 2:10 that put the Hoosiers up 61-59. Kristen Weddle would shave the lead to one, hitting 1-of-2 free throws, but it would be the closest the Sycamores would come.

"That was a heckuva game, I was just disappointed to be on the losing end," ISU head coach Jim Wiedie said. "The kids played hard and I thought that there effort was outstanding. Indiana’s defense was much better in the second half that it was in the first half."

During the first 20 minutes both teams went on runs and then the momentum would shift as defense began to prevail and create runs to answer. Indiana State capitalized with its first run of 11-4 over a span of six minutes in the middle of the first half. The Hoosiers would counter and go on a 16-7 run down the stretch to trim the lead to two going into the break.

Following the break, the Sycamores press smothered the Hoosiers and ISU capitalized and topped their lead at seven with 11:48 remaining in the half. The teams would once again battle back and forth until Valentin’s three-point basket swung the momentum to Indiana in the final two minutes.

"Our seniors have a accomplished alot this season. I was disappointed that this was the way our seniors had to go out, but they have built a tradition with everything that they have done," Wiedie concluded.

ISU ends its season as the best in school history. The Sycamores won more games (27), played in more contests (33) and had the best winning percentage (.818) of any team prior. The Sycamores won a school-record 18 games at one point in the year, and finish the year 12-2 at Hulman Center. ISU finishes the season by averaging 3,815 fans per game – a new school-record and what will prove to be as ranked in the nation’s Top 30.

The game also caps the career of one of the greatest Sycamore basketball players of all-time – Melanie Boeglin. Her standout career ended with 1,800 points scored (third best in school history), 685 assists (first in Valley and tops at ISU), 444 steals (tops at ISU and the Valley and ninth-best in NCAA history), and 576 made free throws (best at ISU and third in The Valley). Her 600 points this season are the most by a single-player during one year in the history of the school. Not to be forgotten also is Lisa Verhoff, who finished her career with 1,041 points and 214 made 3-pointers – the second-most in school history. It was fitting that she closed her career with six 3-pointers and led the team in scoring with 18 points.

ISU scored 2,512 points this season – a new record. Verhoff knocked down 78 3-pointers this year, which is the second-best mark during a year in the history of the school.

The Sycamores lose the services of seniors Melanie Boeglin, Lisa Verhoff, Erin Hendrickson, Ashley Clark and Kristen Weddle. The future remains bright despite the heavy losses to graduation as the Sycamores return sophomores Leah Phillips, Tiffany Reida and Kara Schilli. ISU will also gain the services of junior transfer Angela Phillips as well as redshirt junior Anne Thatcher.

GAME BOX SCORE