Nov. 24, 2003
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THE SETTING
The Hawkeyes will play their second tournament in as many weeks when they compete in the Florida International Thanksgiving Classic Friday-Saturday, Nov. 28-29, in Miami, FL. The four-team tournament includes Appalachian State, Florida International, Iowa and Saint Joseph’s. Listed below is the tournament schedule. Times listed are central standard time.
Friday, November 28
Appalachian State vs. Florida International, 4:05 p.m.
Saint Joseph’s vs. Iowa, 6:05 p.m.
Saturday, November 29
Consolation Game, 4:05 p.m.
Championship Game, 6:05 p.m.
ON THE AIR
All Iowa games are broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network. Mark Allen and Karen Schulte call the action. Listen to all the Iowa women’s basketball games on KXIC-AM 800 in Iowa City, WHO-AM 1040 in Des Moines and WMT-AM 600 in Cedar Rapids.
IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 819 games since beginning basketball in 1974. Overall, Iowa’s record is 499-320 (.609). That includes a 266-138 (.658) mark in Big Ten games and a 221-49 (.819) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
MILESTONES APPROACHING
Iowa is only one win away from notching its 500th win in its 30th year as a program.
In addition, Coach Bluder is seven games away from coaching in her 600th career game as a head coach and five away from coaching in her 100th contest at Iowa . She holds a 414-179 (.699) mark in 593 contests.
FAMILAR FACE
Former Iowa Women’s Basketball Director of Basketball Operations, Laquanda Dawkins, has begun her first season as an assistant coach at Florida International. Bluder hired Dawkins her first year at Iowa and was with the Hawkeye basketball program the past three years before leaving in August.
Jennie Lillis NAMED PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN
For the second consecutive year, senior Jennie Lillis was named to the Preseason All-Big Ten team at the annual Big Ten Conference Media Day held Oct. 26 in Rosemont, IL. The three-time captain was the only player to be ranked in the top ten in scoring, rebounding, steals and blocks in the Big Ten last year.
SEASON TICKETS
Hawkeye fans can purchase a season ticket package for only $70 for the 2003-04 season. Senior citizens and faculty/staff can purchase season tickets for $56, while the price for students is $35. There is also a “Family Pack” for $145 that includes admission for two adults and two youths. Tickets can be purchased online by logging on to www.hawkeyesports.com or by calling 1-800-IA-HAWKS. Fans may also order tickets in person at the UI Ticket Office.
GROUP TICKETS
Groups of 20-39 can purchase tickets for $5, while groups of 40 or more can buy tickets for $3. Tickets must be purchased in advance. There are no group sales on gameday.
IOWA CAPTURES SECOND IN HAWKEYE CHALLENGE
For the first time in seven years, Iowa did not win its annual tournament. The Hawkeyes won their first round contest over Butler (83-60), but lost to Houston (70-64) in the championship game last weekend. The Cougars snapped Iowa’s 11-game tournament winning streak.
Iowa had four starters score in double figures to lead the Hawkeyes to a 23-point season-opening win. Junior Jamie Cavey scored a career-high 26 points to pace the Hawkeyes. Senior Jennie Lillis contributed 15 points and a team-high seven rebounds, while sophomores Lindsay Richards and Johanna Solverson each tallied 10 points each.
Iowa collected 28 assists to only 10 turnovers and shot 52 percent (35-67) from the field. The victory improved Iowa’s record to 4-0 in season openers under Coach Bluder.
A superior effort by tournament MVP Chandi Jones lifted Houston past the Hawkeyes in the championship game. The nation’s leading scorer last year, scored 25 of her game-high 34 points in the second half to propel the Cougars to victory.
Cavey led Iowa with 18 points and six rebounds. Lillis scored all of her 14 points in the second half, while senior Kristi Faulkner added 16 points and five rebounds in Iowa’s first loss of the season.
Houston converted 28 Iowa turnovers into 29 points.
TWO HAWKEYES NAMED TO ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Junior Jamie Cavey and senior Jennie Lillis were named to the KCRG-TV9 Hawkeye Challenge All-Tournament Team. It marked the third time Lillis earned the accolade, including being named the MVP last year. Cavey’s honor marked the first time that she was named to the Hawkeye Challenge all-Tournament squad in her three years with the Black and Gold.
RAINING THREES
Iowa has sank at least one three-pointer in 150 consecutive games. It is a streak that has occurred over a span of six seasons. The last time the Hawkeyes did not drain a three-pointer was against Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament on March 1, 1998.
SCOUTING SAINT JOSEPH’S
Saint Joseph’s opened its season with a 62-44 home victory over Drexel on Nov. 22. The Hawks out-rebounded Drexel (36-26) and forced 19 turnovers in the defensive battle. Senior Erin Brady led Saint Joseph’s scoring a game-high 15 points and collecting a team-high seven rebounds. Senior Amra Mehmedic posted 12 points and dished out three assists.
Saint Joseph’s returns seven letterwinners, including two starters from last year’s squad that advanced to the WNIT First Round. In their first game against Drexel, the Hawks started five seniors.
Saint Joseph’s is coached by Cindy Griffin, who is in her sixth season as a college head coach and her third with the Hawks. She has posted an overall record of 92-52 (.639) and 44-19 (.699) during her tenure at Saint Joseph’s.
SCOUTING APPALACHIAN STATE
Appalachian State (ASU) will play its first game of the 2003-04 season Tuesday at South Carolina before heading south to Miami.
The Mountaineers return five letterwinners, including four starters from a team that was 9-19 and tied for sixth in the Southern Conference a year ago. ASU’s top two weapons are sophomore Kiki Conyers, who averaged 9.8 ppg and 4.1 rpg, and junior Lindsay Smith, who averaged 10.1 ppg and 3.3 rpg last year.
Adrienne Shuler enters her second year as a collegiate coach, both with the Mountaineers.
SCOUTING FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL
Florida International (FIU) enters this weekend’s tournament with an 0-2 record. FIU lost two games in the Spartan Classic played on the campus of Michigan State last weekend. The Panthers lost their first round game to Temple in overtime (81-76). FIU let a six-point halftime lead slip away as Temple tied the contest in the final seconds on a free throw and went on to win the first round game. FIU was led by Deniz Boz and Milena Tomova, who both scored 17 points each.
FIU lost the consolation game to Davidson (62-55). The Panthers made three more field goals than Davidson, but were beat at the charity stripe. Davidson out-scored the Panthers 22-8 at the free throw line to capture third place in the Spartan Classic. Tomova led the Panthers, posting a double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds).
Its 14-player roster, includes eight student-athletes from overseas, five from the state of Florida and one from Ohio.
FIU is coached by Cindy Russo, who is in her 27th season as a college head coach and her 25th with the Panthers. She has posted an overall record of 546-212 (.720) and 506-190 (.727) during her tenure at FIU.
ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Iowa is 2-1 against Saint Joseph’s, 1-0 vs. Appalachian State and have never faced Florida International. The Hawkeyes defeated Saint Joseph’s in 1989 (76-57) and in 1995 (66-49), but lost in 1984 (61-60). All three games were played on neutral floors in holiday tournaments. The Hawkeyes defeated Appalachian State in 1995 (68-66) in the Carolinas Holiday Beach Bash.
COMMON OPPONENTS
Saint Joseph’s will play one other Big Ten opponent this year: Penn State (1/29). FIU will make its second trip to a Big Ten campus when it competes in the Roger L. White Invitational at Northwestern (12/5-6).
HAWKEYES TRAVEL TO FLORIDA
The last time the Iowa women’s basketball team traveled to the state of Florida was in 1997. The Hawkeyes lost to Vanderbilt (60-54) in the Honda Elite Four Classic in Lakeland.
Iowa has played on Florida International’s campus before. The Hawkeyes competed in the 1993 FIU Fun and Sun Holiday Classic, but never played the Panthers. Iowa defeated Bucknell (97-39) in the first round game, fell to Colorado (72-70) in the semifinals and bounced Eastern Kentucky (67-63) in the consolation game.
Iowa’s football team played in the 2003 Orange Bowl last January in Miami and is hoping for a return trip to the state of Florida this January for a New Year’s Day bowl game in either Orlando or Tampa.
THE NAME GAME
Iowa has two players with the first name Lindsay (Geoffroy and Richards). The Hawkeyes also have two Jennie’s on its team. Senior forward Jennie Lillis and athletic trainer Jennie Hartgrave.
LILLIS NAMED TO WADE TROPHY WATCH LIST
Senior forward Jennie Lillis is one of 35 players named to the 2004 State Farm Wade Trophy Watch List. This prestigious award is presented to the nation’s top player.
Lillis, who is a three-time captain, was an all-Big Ten first team selection last year by the media and a second team choice by the media her sophomore season. Lillis was also named to the preseason all-Big Ten squad for the second straight year.
Garnered as “The Mother of Modern Women’s Collegiate Basketball,” Lily Margaret Wade pioneered an unprecedented dynasty in women’s basketball, which led to the growth and popularity of the sport during the 1970s.
Highlighting the 2004 list is last year’s recipient, Connecticut senior Diana Taurasi. Lillis is one of five Big Ten players named to the list. Other league players include Penn State senior Kelly Mazzante, Purdue senior Shereka Wright, Minnesota senior Lindsay Whalen and junior Janel McCarville.
CENTER OF ATTENTION
For the fourth consecutive season, Iowa started its season with a new starting center. Junior Jamie Cavey has solidified herself as Iowa’s starting center in preseason practice.
Since Coach Bluder began coaching the Hawkeyes in 2000 Iowa has had a different center start the season. Randi Peterson was Iowa’s starter in 2000-01, followed by Beatrice Bullock (2001-02) and Tracy Schrupp (2002-03). Peterson, Bullock and Schrupp were all seniors. Cavey is the first junior starting center Coach Bluder has coached at Iowa.
CAVEY PACES HAWKEYES
Jamie Cavey was a force in the post for Iowa last weekend. Cavey averaged 22.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg and 2.0 apg in the two games. The native of Mechanicsville, IA, shot 81.8 percent (18-22) from the field and 72.7 percent (8-11) from the free throw line.
Cavey posted career highs in points (26), field goals made (11) and attempted (13) and assists (4) vs. the Bulldogs. She tallied 18 points and six rebounds vs. Houston, and might have produced better numbers if not for early foul trouble in the second half that kept her on the bench.
REMMERDE INJURED
Hawkeye freshman Deb Remmerde suffered a stress fracture in her left foot during a practice in early November. Coach Bluder is hoping to have Remmerde back by Iowa’s game at Iowa State on Dec. 3.
The native of Rock Valley, IA, is the Iowa High School all-time scoring leader. She holds career state records for free throw and three-point percentage. Remmerde was named Iowa’s Miss Basketball her senior year and was the Class 1A State Tournament MVP.
RICHARDS RETURNS TO DIRECT HAWKEYE OFFENSE
Sophomore Lindsay Richards returned to the Hawkeye line-up last weekend as Iowa’s starting point guard. Richards sustained a season-ending knee injury in Iowa’s home win over Denver on Dec 12 last year. The native of Barrington, IL, underwent successful surgery on Dec. 19 to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee.
In her first regular season action since the injury, Richards averaged 9.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg and 5.0 apg in two games. Against Butler, she scored 10 points, tied a career high with seven assists and only turned the ball over once. She registered eight points and three rebounds and assists vs. Houston.
ONE AND THE BONUS
Jennie Lillis has attempted at least one free throw in 89-of-95 games she has played during her three-year career. She is on pace to break both the school’s career free throws made and attempted records. Lillis has made 322 free throws and has attempted 435. The two-time all-Big Ten performer is 10 free throws attempted and 68 free throws made from breaking both records.
Jennie Lillis CONTINUES TO RISE
Senior Jennie Lillis has been Iowa’s leader on and off the court the last couple years. The native of Urbandale, IA, averaged 14.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg and 2.6 apg her sophomore season and 16.3 ppg and 7.2 rpg last season. She has started all but one game in her career and currently has 1,328 career points, which is eighth-best on Iowa’s career scoring chart. She also has collected 659 rebounds, which is ninth-best all-time. Lillis is on pace to finish her career in the top-five in career rebounding and top 10 in career scoring. Lillis, who was a WBCA Region 6 All-American Honorable Mention last year, was the only Big Ten athlete ranked in the top 10 in the conference in scoring, rebounding, blocks and steals. She scored 20 points or more 10 times and posted double figures in 29 of Iowa’s 33 games.
Lillis started the 2003-04 season strong, scoring 15 points and grabbing a team-high seven rebounds vs. Houston and collecting 14 points and five rebounds vs. Houston. The 14 points she scored vs. Houston moved her into eighth on Iowa’s career scoring list past Amy Herrig (1995-99), who was at the game doing color commentary for the Hawkeyes on local television.
Lillis is only eight points from moving into seventh in career scoring and 33 rebounds from sliding into the No. 8 position in career rebounds.
CHANDI JONES TIES CHA RECORD
Houston’s Chandi Jones, the KCRG-TV9 Hawkeye Challenge MVP, tied the Carver-Hawkeye Arena record for women in field goal attempts (29). She tied Iowa’s Franthea Price, who set the record vs. Howard on 11/25/89.
IN THE RANKINGS
Iowa’s preseason non-conference strength of schedule ranking is 63rd, according to the WBCA. The Hawkeyes’ overall strength of schedule, including conference games, is 29th. All 11 Big Ten teams rank in the top 60 in overall strength of schedule. Penn State ranks first among Big Ten teams (No. 5), followed by Illinois (No. 8) and Purdue (No. 11).
Five of Iowa’s opponents are ranked in the preseason ESPN/USA Today poll. Kansas State (No. 5), Penn State (No. 8), Purdue (No. 9), Minnesota (No. 13) and Ohio State (No. 15).
ATTRACTIVE HOME GAMES
Iowa opened its 13-game regular season home schedule with the annual KCRG-TV 9 Hawkeye Challenge last weekend. Besides eight exciting Big Ten Conference home games, Iowa hosts Big 12 power Kansas State (Dec. 12), in-state rival Drake (Dec. 21) and last year’s Missouri Valley Conference co-champions Creighton Bluejays (Dec. 28).
The Hawkeyes play every Big Ten school twice except Northwestern, Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State. Iowa will play the Buckeyes and Wolverines at home, while it will visit the Wildcats and Spartans.
POSTSEASON HONORS
Jennie Lillis was a first team all-Big Ten selection by the media and a second team choice by the coaches last season. She was also a WBCA Region 6 All-America Honorable Mention. Kristi Faulkner was named to the all-Big Ten third team by both the media and coaches, while Johanna Solverson was named to the all-Big Ten Freshman Team.
500 CLUB
Jennie Lillis and Kristi Faulkner became the first and only Iowa duo to collect 500 points or more in the same season. Faulkner (539) and Lillis (537) joined Cindy Haugejorde, Michelle Edwards, Lindsey Meder, Franthea Price, Tangela Smith and Amy Herrig as the only Hawkeyes to record 500 points or more in a single season.
HAWKEYES CAPTURED “STATE TITLE”
Iowa’s three victories over Northern Iowa (98-68), Iowa State (64-39) and Drake (72-52) gave it the mythical state championship. The Hawkeyes boasted a 25.0 average margin of victory against the three in-state opponents. Iowa’s victories snapped a four-game losing streak to Drake and a five-game losing skid to Iowa State.
IOWA’S DYNAMIC DUO
Iowa was the only Big Ten school to have two student-athletes ranked in the top five in scoring in both all games and conference-only contests. Kristi Faulkner ranked fourth and Jennie Lillis fifth in both all games and conference-only contests.
HAWKEYES POST DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Jennie Lillis posted a team-best nine double-doubles, which ranked as the second-most by a Big Ten athlete. She posted back-to-back double-doubles on four occasions. Kristi Faulkner registered her first career double-double in Iowa’s victory over Missouri, while April Calhoun recorded a double-double against Denver.
FAULKNER HAS CAREER YEAR
After directing the Hawkeyes’ offense her sophomore season, Faulkner was shifted to the shooting guard position and put up career numbers. A third team all-Big Ten selection last year, Faulkner ranked first on the team in scoring (16.3 ppg), three-pointers made (52) and attempted (156) and free throw percentage (145-165, .879) and second in assists (90) and third in rebounding (4.0 rpg). The 145 free throws made set a school record.
Faulkner scored in double figures 29 times, including scoring 20 points or more in 11 games. She posted career highs in points twice (29) and rebounds twice (8).
IOWA INFORMATION ON THE WEB
Statistics and play-by-play accounts of all Iowa home games will be available live on the internet. The statistical program allows viewers to read the play-by-play action just moments after it takes place, and to view all individual and team statistics while the game is in progress.
The program can be accessed through www.hawkeyesports.com and then clicking on the Gametracker link.
NUTHIN’ BUT NET
Catch all the University of Iowa women’s basketball games over the Internet at www.hawkeyesports.com. Fans can listen to live or replay previously played games. Just click on the “Multimedia” link near the top of the page.
“HAWK TALK WITH Lisa Bluder”
Catch “Hawk Talk with Lisa Bluder”, the radio call-in program Monday nights featuring Iowa Hawkeye women’s head coach Lisa Bluder, on KXIC-AM 800 in Iowa, WHO-AM 1040 in Des Moines and WMT-AM 600 in Cedar Rapids from 6-7 p.m. The show is broadcast live from the Chili’s Restaurant in Coralville. Fans can call toll-free at (800) 332-5401 or locally at (319) 365-0600.
“THE Lisa Bluder TV SHOW”
“The Lisa Bluder Show” returns for its second season. Fans can watch the show once a month on KCRG-TV 9. The show includes interviews with Coach Bluder and players and feature stories. Below is a list of the dates and times.
Saturday, December 20 – 5 p.m.
Saturday, January 24 – 5 p.m.
Saturday, February 21 – 5 p.m.
Saturday, March 20 – 5 p.m.
NEXT ACTION
The Hawkeyes will play at in-state rival Iowa State on Wednesday, Dec. 3, and then travel to Marquette on Friday, Dec. 5.