Dec. 22, 2003
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THE SETTING
Iowa (6-3) hosts Creighton (3-5) Sunday at 2:05 p.m. in Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,500). Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for youths.
Creighton is the Hawkeyes’ third opponent from the Missouri Valley Conference. Iowa defeated Northern Iowa (76-67) on Dec. 8 in Cedar Falls and Drake (79-65) in Iowa City on Dec. 21.
ON THE AIR
All Iowa games are broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network. Listen to 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. Mark Allen and Karen Schulte call the action.
IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 826 games since beginning basketball in 1974. Overall, Iowa’s record is 504-322 (.610). That includes a 266-138 (.658) mark in Big Ten games and a 222-50 (.816) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
LAST TIME OUT
Propelled by a strong second half, Iowa defeated Drake, 79-65, in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The victory was the Hawkeyes’ second straight over the Bulldogs.
Iowa trailed 39-37 at the half, but out-scored Drake 42-26 in the second half en route to its sixth win of the year. The Bulldogs took the two-point halftime lead after shooting 59.3 percent (16-27) from the field, including 66.7 percent (2-3) from beyond the arc. Drake cooled down in the second half, shooting 36.4 percent (8-22), including 12.5 percent (1-8) from 3-point range. Iowa finished the game shooting 48.3 percent (28-58) from the field and a season-high 85.7 percent (18-21) from the charity stripe.
The Hawkeyes were led by Kristi Faulkner, who scored 20 of her game-high 24 points in the first half. The senior also pulled down a team-high four rebounds all in the first half. Junior Jamie Cavey contributed 12 points and tied a career high with two blocks. Senior Jennie Lillis added 16 points, three rebounds and collected a game-high four steals.
Iowa out-scored Drake, 36-26 in the paint and converted 26 Bulldog turnovers in 33 points.
EXCITING ACTION EARLY
Five of Iowa’s first nine games this year have been decided by seven points or less, including one double overtime thriller. Iowa had six games decided by seven points or less all of last year.
NUMBER OF THE WEEK – – 21
Junior Lindsay Geoffroy will celebrate her 21st birthday on Saturday.
THIEVING HAWKEYES
Iowa posted a season-high 17 steals vs. Drake last Sunday. The last time the Hawkeyes collected 17 thefts in a game was in an overtime win over IUPUI in last year’s season opener (11/23/02). Senior Jennie Lillis led Iowa with four steals against the Bulldogs. The native of Urbandale, IA, recorded six thefts in the Hawkeyes’ previous game vs. Kansas State. She is Iowa’s leader in steals and ranks seventh in the Big Ten (2.11).
ONE AND THE BONUS
Senior Jennie Lillis has converted 349-468 (.746) of her free throw attempts in her career. She has made 34-40 (.850) of her attempts this season. The native of Urbandale, IA, is the school record holder for free throw attempts (468) and is 42 free throws made from breaking the school record, which is held by Amy Herrig (390).
Lillis has attempted at least one free throw in 97-of-102 games she has played, including all nine games this year.
SCOUTING CREIGHTON
Creighton enters Sunday’s game with a 3-5 overall record and 1-4 mark in road contests. The Bluejays lost their last two games, both on the road at Kansas State (94-60) and Nebraska (70-62).
Four of Creighton’s starters average double figures in scoring. Dayna Finch leads the Bluejays (14.7), followed by Laura Spanheimer (13.0), Christy Neneman (12.5) and Angie Janis (10.5). Janis also leads Creighton in rebounding (5.3).
Neneman posted double-doubles in both games against the Hawkeyes last year. The senior from Omaha posted 32 points and 11 rebounds in the first meeting and 18 points and 13 rebounds in the second game.
Creighton can be tabbed “Road Warriors” as 10 of its first 11 games are played away from Omaha. Jim Flanery is in his second season with Creighton, boasting a 27-14 (.659) record. In his first season as head coach with the Bluejays, Flanery guided Creighton to a share of the Missouri Valley Conference regular season title and advanced to the semifinals of the WNIT.
ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Sunday’s game will be the eighth meeting between the two schools. Creighton holds a slim 4-3 series advantage, including winning both games last year. The Bluejays defeated the Hawkeyes (89-82) in Omaha during the regular season and repeated the feat (70-64) in Iowa City in the quarterfinals of the WNIT. The series is tied 2-2 in games played in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Neither team has been able to string together three-straight victories over the other squad. The Hawkeyes defeated Creighton in 1995 and again in 2001 when the series resumed, before dropping two-straight to the Bluejays last year.
COMMON OPPONENTS
Creighton and Iowa share six common opponents: Drake, Northern Iowa, Kansas State, Michigan, Minnesota and Northwestern. The Bluejays defeated Michigan (82-66), but lost at Northwestern (59-41), Minnesota (82-71) and Kansas State (94-60). Creighton will will play Northern Iowa and Drake twice each as part of its conference schedule.
Iowa defeated Northern Iowa (76-67) and Drake (79-65), but lost to Kansas State (82-60). The Hawkeyes will play Minnesota twice and Northwestern and Michigan once as part of their league schedule.
RPI RANKINGS
Iowa ranks 61st in the RPI rankings and 127th in strength of schedule. Creighton ranks 103rd in the RPI rankings and 36th in strength of schedule. As a conference the Big Ten ranks first ahead of the Big XII and Pac-10. The rankings are updated every Monday by the WBCA.
All 11 Big Ten schools have records above .500. Penn State ranks No. 2 in the latest RPI rankings, followed by Purdue (8), Minnesota (17) and Michigan State (25).
LAST MEETING
Creighton out-lasted the Hawkeyes with a 70-64 triumph in Carver-Hawkeye Arena on March 25. The loss was Iowa’s second to Creighton last year and eliminated the Hawkeyes from the Women’s National Invitational Tournament and ended their season.
Creighton dominated the boards the entire game, helping itself advance to the WNIT Semifinals. The Bluejays converted 20 offensive rebounds into 19 points, while the Hawkeyes were only able to collect seven offensive boards for two points.
Creighton had four players score in double figures, including two players collecting double-doubles. Christy Neneman, the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year, scored a team-high 18 points and grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds. Angie Janis tallied 17 points and corralled 11 rebounds off the bench.
Iowa was led by Jennie Lillis, who finished with a game-high 20 points, four rebounds and two blocks.
After yielding the opening basket of the second half, Iowa went on a 6-0 run to trim the lead to two (45-43) with 15:26 remaining. The two squads exchanged baskets for the next couple minutes until Iowa finally reclaimed the lead (53-52) on a Lillis lay-up with 11:40 left. One minute later, Lillis scored another lay-up giving Iowa its biggest lead (55-52). But Creighton answered yet again, going on an 11-0 run to stretch its lead to 63-55 with 6:04 remaining.
Undaunted, Iowa battled in the closing minutes cutting the Bluejays’ lead to 66-64 with 36 seconds remaining. However, Creighton converted all four foul shots in the final seconds to close the contest and advance to the WNIT Semifinals.
Creighton, who played its third road game in five days, finished the game out-rebounding Iowa by 14 (50-36). Iowa was also hampered by poor shooting from behind the arc. The Hawkeyes recorded season lows in three-pointers made (1) and percentage (.077) in their final game of the season.
SOLVERSON RETURNS
Sophomore Johanna Solverson returned to the Hawkeye lineup after missing the Kansas State game with an injured left ankle. Solverson did not start, but did collect four points, four rebounds and three steals in 21 minutes of action off the bench.
Solverson ranks first on the Hawkeyes and 13th in the Big Ten in rebounding (6.0). She pulled down a team-high nine rebounds at Iowa State and Marquette. The native of Lake Zurich, IL, has led the Hawkeyes in rebounding in 5-of-8 games she has played this season. She led Iowa in rebounding in two games all of last year. Solverson collected a then-career-high nine rebounds twice last year. Already this year, she has posted rebounding games of 13 (vs. Saint Joseph’s) and nine (at Iowa State and at Marquette).
RAINING THREES
Iowa converted 5-14 (.357) 3-pointers vs. Drake. The Hawkeyes have sank at least one three-pointer in 157 consecutive games. It is a streak that has occurred over a span of seven seasons. The last time the Hawkeyes did not make a three-pointer was against Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament on March 1, 1998.
SLOW STARTS
Iowa has trailed by as many as eight points in the first half in four of its last five games. The Hawkeyes trailed by as many as 13 points at Iowa State, 10 at Marquette, eight at Northern Iowa and 15 vs. Kansas State. Iowa fought back against the Cyclones, only to fall in double overtime (101-94). The Hawkeyes rallied to win their next two contests at Marquette (65-62) and at Northern Iowa (76-67), but fell to 11th-ranked Kansas State (82-60). Iowa ended the game on a 16-3 run at Marquette and 23-10 at Northern Iowa to lift the Hawkeyes to victory.
FOUL PLAY
Four Hawkeyes fouled out at Iowa State (Jennie Lillis, Jamie Cavey, Johanna Solverson and Kristi Faulkner). Jennie Lillis has fouled out in three of Iowa’s first nine games this season. The senior from Urbandale, IA, fouled out only once in 33 games her junior year and three times in 29 contests her sophomore season.
As a team, Hawkeye players have fouled out nine times in Iowa’s first nine games, matching its total all of last year.
SMITH HAS CAREER GAME
Sophomore Crystal Smith has had a good start to the 2003-04 season, putting together a career game in Iowa’s contest at Florida International. The native of Haughton, LA, scored a career-high 10 points on 4-5 from the field, bolstered by a perfect 2-2 from three-point range. She also collected four rebounds, three of which were offensive, and two steals.
Smith as been Coach Bluder’s first guard off the bench in Iowa’s first nine games, averaging 15.3 minutes per contest.
HAWKEYES EARN TOURNAMENT HONORS
Kristi Faulkner was named the 2003 FIU Thanksgiving Classic Most Valuable Player. The senior averaged 20.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg and 2.5 apg in the two games. Senior Jennie Lillis, who averaged 17.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg and 2.5 apg was named to the all-tournament team.
The honor was Faulkner’s first of her career in a holiday tournament, while Lillis was named to a holiday tournament all-tournament team for the sixth time in her career.
HAWKEYES WIN FIU THANKSGIVING CLASSIC
Iowa defeated Saint Joseph’s (62-58) in a thriller in the first round of the FIU Thanksgiving Classic played in Miami, FL. In a game that saw six lead changes and seven ties, Iowa rallied to win its second game of the year. Trailing 55-50 with 4:30 left the Hawkeyes ended the game on a 12-3 run, including scoring the game’s final seven points.
Senior Jennie Lillis led the Hawkeyes, posting her first double-double of the season and 16th of her career (19 points, 10 rebounds). Sophomore Johanna Solverson added seven points and collected a career-high 13 rebounds. Senior Kristi Faulkner contributed 15 points and eight rebounds.
The Hawkeyes cruised to a 93-86 victory over host school Florida International in the championship game. Five players scored in double figures for the Hawkeyes. Faulkner scored a game-high 26 points and collected four rebounds, Lillis posted 15 points and six rebounds, junior Jamie Cavey registered 13 points and eight rebounds, while sophomores Crystal Smith and Lindsay Richards each added 10 points.
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. 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.
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.
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.
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.
LILLIS CONTINUES TO CLIMB CAREER CHARTS
Senior Jennie Lillis is a leader on and off the court. The native of Urbandale, IA, has started all but one game in her career and currently has 1,432 career points, which ranks seventh on Iowa’s career scoring chart. She also has collected 697 rebounds, which is eighth-best all-time. Lillis is on pace to finish her career in the top-five in career rebounding and scoring. Lillis, who also spends some of her free time at the University of Iowa Hospital & Clincs, was a preseason all-Big Ten sleection the last two years.
Lillis drained a career-high three 3-pointers vs. Kansas State. She has made five 3-pointers this year, matching her last year’s total. Lillis has made 11 career 3-pointers.
The three-time captain started the 2003-04 season strong, collecting 11 points or more and in all nine games. She posted her first double-double of the season and 16th of her career vs. Saint Joseph’s (19 points, 10 rebounds).
Lillis is 167 points from moving into sixth in career scoring and 30 rebounds from sliding into the No. 7 position in career rebounds.
CAVEY PACES HAWKEYES
Jamie Cavey has been a force in the post for Iowa. Cavey ranks second on the squad in scoring (16.0) and third in rebounding (4.7). In addition, she has led the Hawkeyes in scoring in 5-of-9 games, scoring 20 points or more three times. The native of Mechanicsville, IA, scored 23 points (11-16 FG, 1-2 FT) in only 25 minutes of play at Iowa State. Her 11 field goals made tied a career high, while her 16 attempts set a new career high. She posted a team-high 15 points, bolstered by converting a career-high 7-8 from the free throw line at Marquette. She scored the game’s final five points to help preserve the come-from-behind victory. Cavey scored 11 of her 15 points in the final 6:43 at Northern Iowa to help propel the Hawkeyes to their fifth victory of the season. She scored 20 points (8-15 FG, 4-4 FT) vs. Kansas State.
Cavey ranks fifth in the Big Ten lead in field goal percentage (.620) and ranks tenth in scoring (16.0).
CAVEY IMPROVES AT THE CHARITY STRIPE
Jamie Cavey’s free throw shooting is just one aspect of her game that she has improved on this year. Cavey has converted 30-46 (.652) from the charity stripe in nine games this year. Last year, she made 38-72 (.528) of her attempts.
FAULKNER ON PACE TO BREAK SCHOOL RECORD
Senior Kristi Faulkner has converted .846 (208-246) of her free throw attempts during her three years with the Hawkeyes. She is on pace to break Lindsey Meder’s school record of .799 (287-359) set 1998-2002.
FAULKNER RISES TO THE TOP
After a sluggish start to the 2003-04 season, senior Kristi Faulkner has returned to form. The native of Glen Ellyn, IL, registered a game-high 26 points at Florida International, 22 points at Iowa State and 24 vs. Drake. She made a season-high four three-pointers against the Cyclones. Faulkner ranks first on the squad in scoring (16.6), three-pointers made (19) and percentage (.487).
Faulkner has made 100 career 3-pointers and has posted 922 career points at Iowa, which ranks 21st. She is 15 points from cracking the top 20 and surpassing Randi Peterson (1997-00).
Faulkner was a third team all-Big Ten honoree last year.
PAINT JOB
Iowa has out-scored its opponents in the paint 280-250. The Hawkeyes out-scored Drake 36-26 in their last contest. Iowa has out-scored its opponents in the paint in 7-of-9 games. Saint Joseph’s (26-10) and Kansas State (36-18) are the only squads to out-score Iowa in the paint this season.
HAWKEYES ON THE TUBE
Iowa has eight regular season games that will be televised this year. KCRG-TV9 has already broadcast Iowa games vs. Houston, at Iowa State and vs. Drake and is slated to show two more (Wisconsin, Jan. 18 and Ohio State, Feb. 5). Fox Sports Chicago will televise Iowa games vs. Purdue (Feb. 10) and at Illinois (Feb. 29). Fox Sports North will broadcast the Hawkeyes’ game at Minnesota (Jan. 11).
ATTENDANCE RANKINGS
Iowa ranks 24th in the nation in attendance (2,937). The Hawkeyes are the sixth-highest Big Ten team ranked. Purdue ranks fifth, followed by Penn State (6), Wisconsin (11), Minnesota (13) and Michigan State (19). Rankings are as of Dec. 22.
BIG TEN RANKINGS
Iowa ranks third in the Big Ten Conference in assists (17.44), 3-pointers made (6.0), second in 3-point percentage (.391) and fifth in scoring (75.1), free throw percentage (.739) and field goal percentage (.464).
Jamie Cavey ranks fifth in field goal percentage (.620) and tenth in scoring (16.0). Kristi Faulkner ranks eighth in scoring (16.6), fourth in 3-point percentage (.487) and fifth in 3-pointers made (2.11). Johanna Solverson ranks 13th in rebounding (6.0), while Jennie Lillis ranks seventh in steals (2.11).
Iowa boasts the conference team high in field goal attempts (80 – at Iowa State) and 3-point attempts (26 – vs. Saint Joseph’s) in a game.
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.
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 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 show is on a holiday break and returns Jan. 5.
“THE Lisa Bluder TV SHOW”
“The Lisa Bluder Show” returns for its second season. Fans can watch the show once a month on KCRG-TV9. The show includes interviews with Coach Bluder and players and feature stories. Below is a list of the dates and times.
Saturday, January 24 – 5 p.m.
Saturday, February 21 – 5 p.m.
Saturday, March 20 – 5 p.m.
NEXT ACTION
Iowa travels to Columbia, MO, on Dec. 30 to play Missouri, the Hawkeyes’ third opponent from the Big XII Conference. Tip-off is slated for 1:05 p.m. in the Hearnes Center. Iowa opens its Big Ten Conference schedule vs. Illinois at 7:05 p.m. on Jan. 2 in Caver-Hawkeye Arena.