Looking ahead in Titan Hoops: After getting the season started off on the right foot with an 84-65 win over Wilberforce on Tuesday night, the Titans return to the court looking for a 2-0 mark as they host Goshen College.
Looking back at Wilberforce: Tiffanie Graham knocked down six of her nine field goal attempts en route to a team-leading 17 points. Betsy Grogan and Ashley Hummer each added 13 to the IU South Bend effort. The Titans grabbed a 43-36 halftime lead after holding a double-digit advantage late in the first half. After Wilberforce scored the first two points of the second half on their first possession, IU South Bend ran off a 16-0 run over the next few minutes to take control and ultimately, the victory.
Scouting Goshen: The Maple Leafs will be making their first official trip to the hardwood for the 2009-2010 season. A year ago, Goshen finished with a 7-24 record. Cassie Greives led the Maple Leafs in scoring and rebounding a year ago at 13.2 and 9.3, respectively.
Stapke Shooting Up: Sophomore sharpshooter Lizzie Stapke connected on a trio of three-point shots in the Titans' season-opening win, giving her 82 for her career. After setting the mark for the fourth-most in a single season last year, Stapke's career total is now just seven shy of 10th all-time in IU South Bend History.
Home Sweet Home: After putting up a 10-6 mark at the Student Activities Center last year, the Titans got out of the gate early in 2009-2010 by winning their opener. IU South Bend has three more consecutive home games to close out their season-opening four-contest home stand, then will hit the road for seven consecutive games through the balance of November and the first week of December.
Titans Add Three For 2010-2011: Head coach Steve Bruce has already signed three players for the 2010-2011 freshman class, each a highly-touted prospect from Northwest Indiana. Lauren Hansen is a 5'7" point guard from Griffith, IN, who averaged 7.3 points, 3.8 assists and 2.3 points as a junior for the Panthers, who took home their sectional crown. Brandee Hudspeth, another 5'7" guard from Kankakee Valley, will also join the Titans - likely coming to IU South Bend as the owner of the majority of the school records for the Kougars. The final signee, Emily Strilich, is the only post player of the group. At 6'1", Strilich boasts Porter County Conference Player of the Year honors as a junior, while helping lead her Boone Grove Squad to a share of the PCC title.
