Jan. 4, 2004
Iowa improves to 4-0 in conference home openers under Coach Bluder.Iowa avenged its two losses to Illinois with a 91-73 win in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The 91 points are the most points the Hawkeyes have ever scored against the Fighting Illini in 50 meetings.Iowa converted 5-14 (.357) 3-pointers tonight. The Hawkeyes have sank at least one three-pointer in 160 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.Sophomore Tiffany Reedy started her fifth consecutive game at forward. The native of Dysart, IA, scored six points and grabbed six rebounds in 18 minutes of action. Reedy has averaged 9.0 rebounds in Iowa’s last three contests.Senior Jennie Lillis has converted 358-482 (.743) of her free throw attempts in her career. She has made 43-54 (.796) of her attempts this season. The native of Urbandale, IA, is the school record holder for free throw attempts (482) and is 33 free throws made from breaking the school record, which is held by Amy Herrig (390). Lillis has attempted at least one free throw in 100-of-105 games she has played, including all ten games this year. Junior Jamie Cavey tied a career high with 26 points, bolstered by a career-high 8-11 shooting from the free throw line. She also tied a career high with four assists in the win over Illinois. Tonight marks the eighth time this year that Cavey led the Hawkeyes in scoring. The native of Mechanicsville, IA, has scored 20 points or more five times, inlcuding the last two contests.Iowa has out-scored its opponents in the paint 388-334. The Hawkeyes dominated Illinois in the paint tonight, out-scoring the Fighting Illini 48-32. Iowa has out-scored its opponents in the paint in 9-of-12 games. Saint Joseph’s (26-10) and Kansas State (36-18) are the only squads to out-score Iowa in the paint this season. Iowa and Missouri both scored 24 points in the paint.Sophomore Crystal Smith had one of the best games of her career. Smith tied a career high with 10 points (4-8 FG, 1-1 FT), blocked her first career shot, collected a career-high four assists and tied a season-high with four rebounds. Smith has scored 10 points in a game twice this year (Florida International).Senior Kristi Faulkner finished with 17 points (8-15 FG), three rebounds and five assists. The 17 points is the most points Faulkner has ever scored against her former team. Her previous best was 13 points scored in an 82-72 defeat on Feb. 2, 2003 in City.Senior Jennie Lillis finished with 18 points (8-15 FG, 1-2 FT) and a team-high seven rebounds. Tonight marks the fourth time this year that Lillis has led the Hawkeyes in rebounding and the first time since its loss to No. 12 Kansas State on Dec. 12. Lillis is the only Hawkeye to post double figures in points in every game this year.Iowa posted season bests in field goals made (37) and field goal percentage (55.2%). The Hawkeyes also held Illinois to 20.0% percent (3-15) from 3-point range, which is a season low for a Hawkeye opponent this year.