Titans News
Whitney Cole scored 12 of her career-high 16 points in the first half to lead the Titans to victory.
Whitney Cole scored 12 of her career-high 16 points in the first half to lead the Titans to victory.
Women's Basketball - Tue, Feb 16, 2010
Whitney Cole (North Judson, IN/North Judson HS) scored 12 of her career-high 16 points in the first half, pushing IU South Bend (18-7/5-2 CCAC) to a 65-53 conference win over Robert Morris on Tuesday night. The Titans held a six point halftime advantage, but pushed the edge to 15 with five minutes remaining before holding off the Eagles for the triumph. Katie Hacker (Indianapolis, IN/Franklin Central HS) added 12 points and Ashley Hummer (South Bend, IN/Mishawaka Marian HS) chipped in with 11 more.

The first two minutes of the contest were dominated by the Eagles, as they scored just seconds into the game off the opening tip, and extended their lead to 6-0 three minutes in. The Titans answered on the strength of three triples, two from Cole and the other from Lizzie Stapke (Highland, IN/Highland HS). 

From there, the two teams went through a nip-and-tuck first half, with IU South Bend finally opening up a two possession lead in the final minutes and scoring the final basket of the half to give them their six point lead.

Out of the break, the Titans opened the lead to double figures, and the advantage remained between eight and 12 for most of the balance of the second stanza, until IU South Bend began to open up the lead once more, eventually holding a 15 points edge after a Hummer long ball with just over five minutes remaining.

Then, after a Robert Morris timeout, the Eagles began to go on a run of their own, pulling the lead to just seven points on multiple occasions, but they were never able to get closer, and the Titans were solid from the charity stripe in the final 90 seconds to seal the win.

Hacker and Betsy Grogan (Battle Ground, IN/West Lafayette Harrison) led the way on the boards for IU South Bend, pulling down eight each, while Stapke grabbed seven and Hummer and Becca Hoefler (Valparaiso, IN/Valparaiso HS) each corralled six.

Stapke also handed out seven assists, while Grogan dished out six.

Robert Morris was led by Jessica Harris, who scored a game-high 18 points, but was held to just 8-of-24 shooting from the field. The Titans return to action on Thursday, February 18, when they play host to the Eagles of Judson. That game will be played at the Student Activities Center at IU South Bend and is scheduled to tip off at 7:00 PM.