Purdue Fort Wayne
4-4
Indiana
8-2
'Dons Drop Heartbreaker to Hoosiers
12/10/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - In the nightcap of Hoopla: Celebrating Women in Basketball, the Mastodons and the Hoosiers kept the crowd on the edge of their seats all the way to the last second. Indiana University just edged IPFW, 69-68.
"I am very proud of our ladies, they competed well against a Big Ten team and didn't back down," said Head Coach Chris Paul. "We went toe-to-toe with them. They are a very good team and we handled ourselves well."
The defense was key for both teams early in the first. Three minutes into the half the game was tied up at 4 after IPFW enjoyed a short lived two point lead. The Hoosiers would go on 9-2 run to take a seven point lead when Johnna Lewis-Carlisle connected for three to cut the lead to four at 11:55. Ashley Johnson would cut it down to a two point difference just 21 seconds later.
IU would go on another run, taking their lead to seven once again with 10:51 left in the half. The Mastodons would once again rally back, going on their own 6-0 run to cut the lead to one after two good freebies by Tina Moen with 6:27 left.
The Mastodons continued to keep the game close throughout the first, running back after the Hoosiers made their own runs. With just over three minutes left Johnson connected for a three-pointer to cut IU's lead to one. The Hoosiers would take their lead to five with 34 seconds left before Lewis-Carlisle connected on a jumper to finish the half, 32-29.
The Mastodons kept the start of the second half close, taking a one point lead at the 18:21 mark after a good shot by Samantha Edwards. After IU made an 8-0 run the Mastodons went on their own 8-2 run to take the margin to one with 13:58 left in the game.
The back-and-forth battle of the runs ended with just under ten minutes left in the game after the 'Dons fought back from a six point IU lead IPFW took the lead again with just over seven minutes left on a good lay-up by Juliane Hhne, 57-56.
At the 4:39 mark Lewis-Carlisle connected for another three-pointer to tie the game up at 62. Johnson would give the 'Dons the lead after she connected from beyond the arc. The Hoosiers would tie the game up for a third time of the half at the 3:17 mark.
After going up by four, Lewis-Carlisle connected for a final shot from beyond the arc to take the 'Dons within one with just seven seconds left on the clock. A turnover by IU would give IPFW the ball back, but good defense kept the 'Dons from scoring. The Mastodons fell to the Hoosiers, 69-68 in the heartbreaker that kept the fans on the edge of their seats.
"We knew the Hoosiers would come out with a lot of enthusiasm starting the second half, they wanted to put us away. They went up by seven twice and we answered both times. When we were down by four with 12.9 seconds left the ladies listened. What we diagramed they ran perfectly three straight times, scoring, defending and then getting the ball to Johnna (Lewis-Carlisle). The last play didn't work - but they put the effort into making it work.
"The ladies are very disappointed in themselves they expect to win. Our freshmen kept their composure and handled themselves well throughout the game. We were able to control ourselves and put ourselves into a position to win the game."
The Mastodons finished with four ladies in double figure points. Lewis-Carlisle led with 19 points. She was 4 of 7 from the arc and pulled down four boards and had three steals.
Johnson had 16 points and led in rebounds with six. She was perfect at the line, 4-4.
Hannah Thieke came off the bench and connected for 11 points, a personal best. She was 3 of 8 from the arc and perfect at the line, 2-2.
Edwards rounded out the 'Dons in double figures with 10 points. She added four boards and was 5 of 8 from the field.
The Hoosiers were led by Whitney Thomas with 21 points and 14 boards. Sarah McKay connected for 13 points and Jamie Braun had 12 points and 11 boards.
The Mastodons will have a break until Sunday, December 17th when they head to their next Big Ten challenge, Illinois. Game time is 12:00 Central. The Mastodons will host the Marygrove College Mustangs on December 23rd at the Gates Center starting at 1 PM.
~ Dons~
