Titans News
Lizzie Stapke nad the Titans take to the road for the first time in 2009-2010 as they face Holy Cross.
Lizzie Stapke nad the Titans take to the road for the first time in 2009-2010 as they face Holy Cross.
Women's Basketball - Fri, Nov 13, 2009
 
Game #5: November 14, 2009, 12:00 PM EST
IU South Bend (4-0, 0-0)
at Holy Cross (2-3, 0-1)
Pfeil Center - Notre Dame, IN
 
Looking Ahead In Titan Hoops: The Titans hit the road for the first time in the 2009-2010 season after closing a perfect season-opening homestand at 4-0. The contest for the Titans marks the first of seven consecutive games away from the confines of the Student Activities Center and will also be their first CCAC contest of the season.
 
Looking Back At UM-Dearborn: Four Titans scored in double figures for the second consecutive game, led by 13 from Lizzie Stapke. Courtney Simpson chipped in with a career-high 12 (she also added a career-best nine rebounds, narrowly missing a double-double), while Becca Hoefler and Katie Hacker each tallied 11. IU South Bend struggled from the floor, shooting just 37.5% (24-of-64) and 29.4% (5-of-17) from behind the three-point line, but it would be enough to hold off the Wolves for a 72-59 win.
 
Scouting Holy Cross: After a season- and program-opening win over Grace, Holy Cross currently sits at 2-3 on the young season. In their last two contests, the Saints have struggled, falling 82-52 at the hands of Bethel on Saturday and then suffering a 111-34 loss to St. Xavier in their first conference contest. Tanesha Vanardo leads the Saints in scoring at 10.0 PPG, the only player on the squad averaging in double figures.
 
Veterans Step Up: In arguably the biggest game of the season to this point for the Titans, the only two players appearing in their third season of play in an IU South Bend uniform stepped up. Katie Hacker and Betsy Grogan led the way with 15 points apiece in the Titans upset victory.
  
Simpson Steps In: Four games into her career, Courtney Simpson just missed a double-double against UM-Dearborn with 12 points and nine rebounds.
 
"Newcomers" Leading The Way: In the first two games, no player that appeared in the second half of last season for the Titans has led the team in scoring. In the season opener against Wilberforce, Tiffanie Graham - who missed the latter portion of 2008-2009 - led the way with 17 points, while it was Ashley Hummer - who sat out the entire year - taking top honors against Goshen by dropping in 16.
 
Stapke Shoots...: Sophomore sharpshooter Lizzie Stapke added another three triples to her career tally Thursday against UM-Dearborn, bringing her total to 89 in her first two seasons. That number puts her in a tie with Mindy Manger (1999-2001) for tenth on the Titans career list.
 
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 first four home contests of the season. IU South Bend now hits the road for seven consecutive games through the balance of November and the first week of December. From there the Titans have consecutive home games before one final road contest to finish out the first semester.
 
Nationally Noted: For the first time during the tenure of head coach Steve Bruce, the Titans were mentioned in the NAIA D1 Ratings. In the preseason balloting, IU South Bend is listed as Receiving Votes. The poll was taken prior to the start of the season, and the second edition is set to be selected on December 7.
 
Picked Third: A season after finishing third in the CCAC with a 6-4 record, the conference coaches picked the Titans to finish in that same position this season, as they garnered 24 points in the voting. In preseason voting, St. Xavier was chosen first, receiving all six first place tallies, while St. Francis edged out the Titans with 26 markers. Robert Morris came home fourth with 18, while Olivet Nazarene (17) and first-year member Holy Cross rounded out the voting. Due to the late entry of Holy Cross, they were forced to schedule conference games early in the season, so conference play kicks off on November 11 when the Saints travel to Chicago to take on St. Xavier.
 
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.