Dec. 29, 2003
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THE SETTING
Iowa (6-4) will face Missouri (6-2) Tuesday in Columbia, MO. Tip-off is slated for 1:05 p.m. in the Hearnes Center (13,611). The Hawkeyes are in a middle of a stretch of three games in six nights. Iowa lost to Creighton (84-72) in overtime on Sunday, travel to Missouri Wednesday and host Illinois in its conference opener on Friday in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
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 827 games since beginning basketball in 1974. Overall, Iowa’s record is 504-323 (.609). That includes a 266-138 (.658) mark in Big Ten games and a 222-51 (.813) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
LAST TIME OUT
Creighton defeated Iowa, 84-72, in overtime Sunday in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The loss was Iowa’s third straight to the Bluejays.
The Bluejays out-scored the Hawkeyes 14-2 in overtime. Iowa was unable to find the basket in the extra sesssion as the Hawkeyes were 0-7 from the field and 2-4 from the free throw line. Iowa finished regulation on a 19-10 run enabling it to send the game into overtime. The contest was tied (67-67) until Jennie Lillis drained a 3-pointer with 26 seconds left. Creighton answered with a 3-pointer of its own with 17 seconds left. Iowa’s Kristi Faulkner tried to end the game on a nine-foot jumper, but her shot attempt did not fall as time expired.
For the fourth time this year, Iowa had four starters score in double figures. Jamie Cavey and Lillis scored a team-high 17 points each. Tiffany Reedy added 15 points, while Faulkner tallied 12. Reedy started her third straight game for the Hawkeyes at forward. Iowa blocked a season-high seven shots. The loss was Iowa’s first defeat to a team from the Missouri Valley Conference this year (2-1). The Hawkeyes played in front of a season-high 3,394 fans.
EXCITING ACTION EARLY
Five of Iowa’s first ten 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. In addition, the Hawkeyes’ last game was an overtime thriller, but Creighton pulled away in the extra seassion and won by 12.
NUMBER OF THE WEEK – – 7
Iowa has played seven overtime games the last four years. The Hawkeyes are 2-5 in those games under Coach Bluder. Two of Iowa’s four losses this year have come in overtime.
REMMERDE DECIDES TO TRANSFER
Iowa Head Coach Lisa Bluder announced Monday that freshman shooting guard Deb Remmerde has decided to transfer to Northwestern College (Orange City, IA). Bluder has granted Remmerde her release.
“My decision to leave the University of Iowa was an extremely difficult decision,” said Remmerde. I have nothing but positive things to say about the players and coaching staff. Both went out of their way to make me feel welcome. The reason I’ve decided to transfer is that I want to be closer to home. I wish Iowa and the Hawkeye basketball family nothing but the best.”
“We regret Deb’s decision to leave the University of Iowa, but we also understand and have witnessed how homesick she is,” commented Bluder. Her unfortunate injury only added to Deb’s desire to return to her home community. We know that Deb has a bright future ahead of her and she will excel at Northwestern College.” Remmerde suffered a stress fracture in her left foot in preseason practice and has still not recovered 100 percent from her injury. The native of Rock Valley, played limited minutes in two games this year (Kansas State and Drake). Remmerde is the Iowa high school all-time scoring leader and was named Miss Basketball her senior year.
SCOUTING MISSOURI
Missouri enters Wednesday’s contest with a 6-2 record, including a 4-1 mark in home games. The Tigers defeated Evansville (78-72) in their last game, which was played on Dec. 21. Four Missouri starters scored in double figures. Evan Unrau paced the Tigers with a double-double (22 points, 10 rebounds). Stretch James contributed 17 points and five rebounds, LaToya Bond added 15 points and eight assists, while Tracy Lozier tallied 12 points and six rebounds. Evansville did out-rebound the Tigers, 36-32. The Tigers are coached by Cindy Stein, who is in her ninth year as a head coach and seventh season with Missouri. Stein holds an overall mark of 155-93 (.625) and a 90-68 (.570) record with Missouri.
ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Iowa leads the all-time series 4-0, including a 1-0 edge in games played in Columbia, MO. The Hawkeyes won last year’s meeting, 87-65, in Iowa City. Iowa won the 1991 contest played in Columbia, 89-62, which is the Hawkeyes’ largest margin of victory over the Tigers. Iowa has won the four games against Missouri by an average of 12.5 ppg.
COMMON OPPONENTS
Missouri and Iowa share two common opponents: Kansas State and Iowa State – both Big XII teams. The Tigers will play both squads twice as part of their conferece schedule. The Hawkeyes lost at Iowa State (101-94) in double overtime and fell to Kansas State (82-60) in Iowa City.
LAST MEETING
Iowa defeated Missouri, 87-65, in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
The Hawkeyes were led by Kristi Faulkner, who had a career day. The native of Glen Ellyn, IL, recorded her second career double-double while posting career highs in points (25), rebounds (8), free throws made (13) and attempted (14) and tied career highs in assists (10) and steals (3). Faulkner’s 13 free throws made mark the most by Iowa player in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Also scoring in double figures for the Hawkeyes was Jennie Lillis, who scored 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Johanna Solverson tallied 11 points and collected three steals.
The Hawkeyes out-rebounded the Tigers 47-26 en route to victory. Iowa also shot 50.8 percent (30-59) from the field, while it held Missouri to 38.5 percent (25-65). Iowa has held all 10 of its 2002-03 opponents to under 50 percent shooting from the field.
Iowa did a great job distributing the ball as 21 of Iowa’s 30 field goals were assisted on. Additionally, the Hawkeyes were on fire from the free throw line, converting on 92.3 percent (24-26) of its attempts.
Tracy Lozier scored 13 points for Missouri.
RPI RANKINGS
Iowa ranks 46th in the RPI rankings and 53rd in strength of schedule. Missouri ranks 73rd in the RPI rankings and 139th in strength of schedule. As a conference the Big Ten ranks first ahead of the Big XII and Pac-10. The rankings are as of Dec. 27 on www.collegerpi.com.
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).
THIEVING HAWKEYES
Iowa posted a season-high 17 steals vs. Drake on Dec. 21. 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 (2.2). Iowa has posted 10 steals or more in five games this year.
ONE AND THE BONUS
Senior Jennie Lillis has converted 353-476 (.742) of her free throw attempts in her career. She has made 38-48 (.792) of her attempts this season. The native of Urbandale, IA, is the school record holder for free throw attempts (476) and is 38 free throws made from breaking the school record, which is held by Amy Herrig (390).
Lillis has attempted at least one free throw in 98-of-103 games she has played, including all ten games this year.
ABOVE THE RIM
* Jenna Armstrong collected one rebound vs. Creighton, giving her 100 career rebounds. * Crystal Smith has collected two steals in Iowa’s last three games. She collected a career-high three assists vs. Creighton. * Jennie Lillis and Jamie Cavey have each recorded one double-double this year. * Jennie Lillis collected four rebounds vs. Creighton. She now has 701 for her career making her only the eighth Hawkeye to pull down 700 or more rebounds in a career. * Kristi Faulkner has scored 934 points at Iowa and is three points from moving into the top 20 on Iowa’s career chart. * Lindsay Richards is one point away from 100. She has scored 99 career points, 63 this year. * Morgan Kasperek has played in every game this year. * Jamie Cavey became the first Iowa player to block five shots in a game since Jerica Watson blocked five vs. Virginia (3/16/02) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. * Iowa lost its first game of the year (6-1) when having a higher 3-point percentage than its opponent. The Hawkeyes shot 45.5 percent (5-11) from beyond the arc, while Creighton was 40.0 percent (10-25).
REEDY HAS STRONG OUTING
Sophomore Tiffany Reedy has started at forward the last three games. The native of Dysart, IA, scored the Hawkeyes’ first eight points and 11 of their first 14 in the first 5:30 of the Creighton game. Reedy finished with a season-high 15 points (4-8 FG, 4-4 FT) and tied a career high with two steals in 28 minutes of action. Reedy’s 15 points mark the first time this season she has posted double figures and the fifth time in her career.
SOLVERSON REBOUNDS
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. She collected four points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals in 16 minutes off the bench vs. Creighton.
Solverson ranks first on the Hawkeyes in rebounding (5.6). 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).
SLOW STARTS
Iowa has trailed by as many as eight points in the first half in four of its last six 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 ten times in Iowa’s first ten games, topping its total all of last year (9).
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 is Coach Bluder’s first guard off the bench, averaging 15.0 minutes per contest.
CAVEY PACES HAWKEYES
Jamie Cavey has been a force in the post for Iowa. Cavey ranks first on the squad in scoring (16.1) and field goal percentage (.600) and third in rebounding (5.2). In addition, she has led the Hawkeyes in scoring in 6-of-10 games, scoring 20 points or more three times.
In Iowa’s last game vs. Creighton, Cavey scored 17 points (6-13 FG, 5-5 FT) and posted career bests in blocks (5), rebounds (10), minutes played (35) and tied a career high in assists (4).
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 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 35-51 (.686) from the charity stripe this year. Last year, she made 38-72 (.528) of her attempts.
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 1,449 career points, which ranks seventh on Iowa’s career scoring chart. She also has collected 701 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 and a clutch triple down the stretch vs. Creighton. She has made a season-high six 3-pointers this year, besting last year’s total. Lillis has made 12 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 150 points from moving into sixth in career scoring and 26 rebounds from sliding into the No. 7 position in career rebounds.
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.
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.
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.
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.
FAULKNER ON PACE TO BREAK SCHOOL RECORD
Senior Kristi Faulkner has converted .839 (213-254) 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 scored 12 points and pulled down eight rebounds vs. Creighton.
Faulkner ranks first on the squad in scoring (16.1), three-pointers made (20) and percentage (.500).
Faulkner has made 101 career 3-pointers and has posted 934 career points at Iowa, which ranks 21st. She is three points from cracking the top 20 and passing Randi Peterson (1997-00).
Faulkner was a third team all-Big Ten honoree last year.
RAINING THREES
Iowa converted 5-11 (.393) 3-pointers vs. Creighton. The Hawkeyes have sank at least one three-pointer in 158 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.
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.
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.
PAINT JOB
Iowa has out-scored its opponents in the paint 316-278. The Hawkeyes out-scored Creighton 36-28 in their last contest. Iowa has out-scored its opponents in the paint in 8-of-10 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).
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 opens its Big Ten Conference schedule vs. Illinois at 7:05 p.m. on Jan. 2 in Caver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes then hit the road for two games at Penn State (Jan. 8) and at Minnesota (Jan. 11).