Iowa women's basketball team captures second Big Ten crown


Wednesday, Feb. 25, 1998	Iowa women's basketball team captures second Big Ten crown By CHRIS MASSE Collegian Sports Writer The Illinois women's basketball team ruled the Big Ten for almost the entire season, leading the pack for all but one day. Unfortunately for No. 13 Illinois, the lone day it did not occupy first place was the last one of the regular season. Back-to back losses to Wisconsin and Purdue last weekend cost the Illini a second straight Big Ten title. As a result, Iowa captured its second conference crown in three years.
`Iowa Women's Basketball Home page`	"The weekend was tough," Illinois coach Theresa Grentz said. "We have to put a positive spin on it, though, and get ready for the Big Ten Tournament." Illinois (18-8, 12-4 Big Ten) led the Hawkeyes by a game heading into the weekend and needed only one more win to clinch at least a share of the title. Despite holding double-digit advantages in both games, though, the Illini could not get the job done. Friday against No. 24 Wisconsin, the Illini jumped out to a 13-point lead but struggled in the second half after All-American candidate Ashley Berggren got into foul trouble and was forced to spend much of the half on the bench. Berggren's absence helped the Badgers grab the lead with a little more than two minutes remaining in the game. With the game on the line, Illinois sealed its fate by making only one basket in the final three minutes.
`Collegian Graphic of Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament Bracket`	It was more of the same Sunday at Purdue. Illinois stormed out to a strong start and led by 12 at the half. Again, though, Berggren could not avoid foul problems and the Illini fell apart in the second half. They made Purdue's comeback an easy one, making only eight field goals and shooting an abysmal 24 percent in the second half. "We played a tough game against Illinois," Purdue coach Carolyn Peck said. "It's been an up and down year, but to end the regular season like that is very exciting." Roller coaster season Earlier in the season it looked like No. 25 Iowa (16-9, 13-3) would finish closer to the bottom of the standings than the top. Despite being labeled a preseason national title contender, the Hawkeyes stumbled to a 3-6 start and appeared to be in disarray.
`Big Ten Women's Basketball Home page`	Iowa, though, turned things around in time for its Big Ten opener against Minnesota and has not looked back since. The Big Ten champions have kicked it into overdrive in February, winning six straight games and giving the rest of the country reason to be concerned come NCAA Tournament time. "We're very proud of our young ladies," Iowa assistant coach Wendy Gatlin said. "We were in a must-win situation and we got the job done." Diss-placed? When the Big Ten coaches made their preseason conference predictions, they had Indiana slated for ninth-place. They said it would be an off year for the Hoosiers. Indiana disagreed.
`Indiana Women's Basketball Home page`	The Hoosiers (19-10, 10-6) overcame the odds and finished in a three-way tie for third with Michigan and Purdue. The finish was Hoosiers' highest in 14 years. "We were picked to finish pretty low in the conference and that surprised us. We actually expected this," Indiana coach Jim Izard said. "We came into the season thinking we could win the Big Ten. Take away a few games and we could have."