Feb. 9, 2004
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THE SETTING
Iowa (12-8, 6-3) will look to win its second straight game against a ranked opponent when the Hawkeyes host No. 5 Purdue (19-2, 9-1). Tip-off is slated for 7:06 p.m. in Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,500).
The Boilermakers are the only conference opponent the Hawkeyes have not played yet this season. Iowa will play Purdue twice in as many weeks.
ON THE TUBE
Tuesday’s game will be televised live to a regional cable audience on Fox Sports Chicago. Dave Loane and Toni Roesch will call the action.
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.
Fans can also follow the game’s progress with up-to-the-minute stats and play-by-play by clicking the “gametracker” link on the front page of www.hawkeyesports.com.
IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 837 games since beginning basketball in 1974. Overall, Iowa’s record is 510-327 (.609). That includes a 272-141 (.659) mark in Big Ten games and a 226-52 (.813) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
LAST TIME OUT
Ohio State used an 11-0 run to start the second half to propel the Buckeyes to a 93-82 victory over the Hawkeyes last Thursday. The win was Ohio State’s first win in Carver-Hawkeye Arena since 1986 — Iowa had won 15-straight over the Buckeyes at home. The loss also snapped the Hawkeyes’ season-best five-game winning streak.
Iowa led by four at halftime (40-36), but Ohio State surged ahead of the Hawkeyes scoring on its first nine possessions and 11 of its first 12 of the half to pull away. Iowa was able to trim Ohio State’s lead to three (74-71) with six minutes left but would get no closer.
The Buckeyes shot above their average in every statistical category and had six players post double figures in scoring en route to victory.
Iowa’s Jamie Cavey led the Hawkeyes with a career-high 33 points (14-25 FG, 5-6 FT). Johanna Solverson posted her first career double-double, grabbing 12 rebounds and scoring a season-high 17 points. Kristi Faulkner added 16 points, while Jennie Lillis contributed 13 points and nine rebounds.
DIFFICULT SCHEDULE
Iowa will have a difficult schedule down the stretch. Four of Iowa’s last seven regular season games will come against ranked opponents. The Hawkeyes host No. 5 Purdue, No. 6 Penn State and No. 10 Minnesota and also travel to Purdue.
BIG TEN TOURNAMENT TICKETS
Tickets are available for the 2004 Big Ten Women’s Tournament in Indianapolis, IN. The event is held March 4-8 in the Conseco Fieldhouse. An all-session (10 games) ticket costs $55. Fans interested in sitting in the Iowa section can call the UI Ticket Office at 1-800-IA-HAWKS.
THREE’S A CHARM
Iowa is the only team to have three student-athletes ranked in the top 10 in Big Ten scoring. Jamie Cavey ranks sixth in scoring, followed by Jennie Lillis (eighth) and Kristi Faulkner (10th).
Iowa is also the only conference team to have three players ranked in the top 15 in assists. Lillis ranks 11th in assists, followed by Lindsay Richards (12th) and Johanna Solverson (13th).
IOWA VS. RANKED TEAMS
Tuesday will be Iowa’s fifth game against a ranked opponent. Iowa is 1-3 against ranked opponents this year. The Hawkeyes defeated Michigan State (78-67) and lost to Minnesota (75-61), Penn State (92-64) and Kansas State (82-60).
Iowa has recorded at least one home win over a ranked opponent in each of the last three years under Coach Bluder. These are Iowa’s most recent wins vs. nationally ranked opponents:
At Home: 80-75 over 12th-ranked Penn State, 2/16/03
On the Road: 78-67 over 18th-ranked Michigan State, 2/1/04
Neutral Court: 80-77 over 13th-ranked Minnesota, 3/7/03, at Big Ten Tournament
SCOUTING PURDUE
The Boilermakers enter Tuesday night’s contest against the Hawkeyes riding a season-best 10-game winning streak. Four of its starting five are seniors.
Purdue will have only one day to prepare for Iowa as the Boilermakers defeated Ohio State (57-54) Sunday in West Lafayette. Purdue was led by two of its senior leaders: Shereka Wright and Erika Valek. Wright tallied a game-high 19 points, while Valek added 17 points and four assists. Wright’s lay-up with 10:24 left was her 2,000th career point. She joins Stephanie White and MaChelle Joseph as the only players in school history to score 2,000 points.
Wright is the only Purdue player averaging double figures in scoring (19.7), which ranks fourth in the league. Valek averages 9.2 ppg and 4.14 apg, while Emily Heikes averages 6.6 ppg and a team-best 6.2 rpg. Katie Gearlds, a non-starter who averages 24.2 minutes per game, ranks third on the team in scoring (9.0).
Purdue’s two losses have come to Duke (93-63) and Penn State (47-42).
The Boilermakers boast a Big Ten-best +11.4 scoring margin and +6.8 turnover margin in conference games.
Purdue is coached by Kristy Curry who is in her fifth year as a college head coach, all with the Boilermakers. Curry’s overall record stands at 126-29 (.813).
RPI RANKINGS
Iowa ranks 46th in the latest RPI rankings and 43rd in strength of schedule. Purdue ranks fifth in the RPI and 18th in strength of schedule. Iowa is a perfect 6-0 against teams with an RPI over 100, 1-4 against teams in the top 25 and 5-4 against teams ranked 26-100. As a conference the Big Ten ranks first ahead of the Big XII and Pac-10. The rankings are released daily at www.wbca.org.
Penn State ranks No. 3 in the RPI rankings, followed by Purdue (5), Minnesota (8) and Michigan State (20).
ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Purdue holds a slim 23-22 advantage over the Hawkeyes. Iowa owns a 12-7 edge in games played in Iowa City.
The Boilermakers have won four straight contests over the Hawkeyes, which equals their longest winning streak in the series. Iowa won two consecutive home games over Purdue (2001 & 2002) before the Boilermakers collected a 78-68 triumph in Carver-Hawkeye Arena last season.
Purdue’s 27-point win (84-57) over Iowa in the semifinals of last year’s Big Ten Tournament was its largest margin of victory over Iowa in the 45-game series history.
IOWA, PURDUE NOTES
- Iowa and Purdue played two common non-conference opponents: Kansas State and Houston. The Boilermakers defeated both Kansas State (79-69) and Houston (66-63), while the Hawkeyes lost to the Wildcats (82-60) and the Cougars (70-64).
- Iowa Head Coach Lisa Bluder was an assistant coach on the 2001 gold medal Women’s World University Games that competed in Beijing, China. Bluder helped coach Purdue’s Shereka Wright, who ranked second on the team in scoring in the team’s eight games played.
- Iowa’s Kristi Faulkner drained a career-high five triples in a loss at Purdue last year. She finished with a then-career-high 27 points. In that same contest, Jennie Lillis scored her 1,000th career point with a jumper at the top of the key in the first half.
HOME, AWAY COMPARISONS
In 10 home games, Iowa has out-scored its opponent by a 738-696 margin, shooting 45.5 percent from the field and holding opponents to a 41.7 shooting percentage. Iowa has also posted 185 assists to its opponents’ 128.
In 10 games away from Iowa City, the Hawkeyes have been out-scored its opponent by a slim 744-734 margin. Iowa has a better 3-point shooting percentage on the road (.384) than at home (.355). The Hawkeyes also average 2.4 more rebounds on the road.
LAST MEETING
Iowa kept up its solid tournament play for the first 18 minutes in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament, but Purdue owned the final 22 as the Boilermakers rolled to an 84-57 victory over Iowa.
A long jumper by Kristi Faulkner gave the seventh-seeded Hawkeyes their largest margin, 19-11, with 10:02 left in the opening stanza.
Purdue composed itself and went on an 11-2 run over the next 3:23 to take a 22-21 lead. A free throw by Jamie Cavey temporarily stalled the run and tied the game at 22, but the Boilermakers answered with an Erika Valek three-pointer and a free throw by Shereka Wright to take a four-point edge, 26-22.
It appeared the teams would head into the intermission only separated by a couple of points, if not tied, but the Boilermakers made use of the final two minutes to take control of the affair. Bolstered by 10 points by Wright, Purdue went on a 13-1 sprint to end the frame and take a 44-32 lead at half.
In the first 6:09 of the second half, Purdue picked up right where it left off, pushing the lead to 19 points, 55-36, and the Hawkeyes would get no closer than 14 the rest of the way.
Solverson played well for Iowa, leading the Hawkeyes with 16 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals. Lillis managed just two more points after her hot start to finish with 12 total points on 5-of-15 shooting while Faulkner was held to just eight points – the first time since Dec. 4 (23 games) she was held in single digits.
Cavey put together a solid outing for the second-straight game with 10 points, four rebounds and a career-high two blocked shots.
The Hawkeyes’ 57 points was the second-lowest output of the season (52 vs. Penn State) and the 35 percent shooting was a season low.
HAWKEYES SINK FREEBIES
Iowa converted 91.7 percent (11-12) of its free throws vs. Ohio State, which is a season best. The Hawkeyes have shot 90 percent or better from the charity stripe in their last two contests. Iowa converted 90 percent (18-20) at Michigan State on Feb. 1.
In fact, Iowa shot a combined 89.4 percent (42-47) from the free throw line in its last three games (at Northwestern, 13-15; at Michigan State, 18-20; vs. Ohio State, 11-12).
Four of Iowa’s starters are shooting at an 80 percent or better clip (Solverson, .900; Faulkner, .859; Lillis, .830; Richards, .829). Iowa’s other starter Jamie Cavey is shooting 71.1 percent, but has made 81.8 percent (18-22) from the free throw line the last seven games.
Faulkner has made a season-best 19 straight free throws over a span of seven games.
HAWKEYE DEFENSE COLLAPSES
Iowa allowed 57 second half points to Ohio State, which are the most points it has ever yielded in a game in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The previous record was 54 by Wisconsin in 2000. Ohio State’s second half scoring outburst was one shy of an overall record set by Stanford (58) during the 1988-89 season.
CAVEY ON FIRE!!!
Jamie Cavey, who was named the Big Ten Player of the Week last week, has been a dominant force in the middle lately.
The junior is in the midst of a career season. Cavey averaged 3.7 points per game in Big Ten play last season and 5.6 ppg in overall play. So far this season, she ranks No. 5 in conference and No. 7 in overall play with 19.0 and 17.6 points per game, respectively. She has led Iowa in scoring on 12 occasions this season, and has chalked up at least 20 points in eight outings, including the last three.
Cavey is fresh off a career outing where she posted career highs in points (33), field goals made (14) and attempted (25) vs. Ohio State. The 14 field goals made and 25 attempted were season highs for an Iowa player this season. Her 33 points mark the first time an Iowa player amassed 30 points or more since Jennie Lillis scored a career-high 32 points at Penn State on Feb. 10, 2002.
Cavey sparked the Hawkeyes to their first two conference road wins of the season as Iowa defeated Northwestern (76-61) and No. 18 Michigan State (78-67).
In the 15-point win over the Wildcats, Cavey collected a team-high 24 points and eight rebounds while shooting 11-of-15 from the field (73.3 percent). She also added four assists and a steal in that outing.
Iowa recorded its first victory over a ranked team this season with an 11-point triumph against the Spartans on Feb. 1. The native of Mechanicsville, IA, tallied a team-best 21 points in that win while shooting 57.1 percent (19-of-29) from the field and 83.3 percent (5-of-6) from the free-throw line.
SOLVERSON POSTS FIRST CAREER DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Johanna Solverson registered her first career double-double, which she nearly accomplished in the first half vs. Ohio State last Thursday. The sophomore pulled down 12 rebounds and scored a season-high 17 rebounds. Solverson tallied 10 points and collected nine rebounds in the first frame. She has posted double figures in rebounding a team-best three times this year.
Solverson is the second Hawkeye to record a double-double this year. Jennie Lillis collected her first double-double of the year and 16th of her career vs. Saint Joseph’s on Nov. 28.
LILLIS WATCH
Senior Jennie Lillis scored 13 points and collected nine rebounds vs. Ohio State, which moves her up two notches in career scoring at Iowa. The native of Urbandale, IA, is now tied with Toni Foster for fifth place in career scoring at Iowa with 1,606 points. Her 14 points also move her above 300 points this season (307). Lillis is one of only three Hawkeyes to register 300 points or more all four years. In addition, she is the only Hawkeye to score in double figures in every game this year.
Lillis is three free throws made from breaking the career school record currently held by Amy Herrig (390).
IOWA CRANKS UP THE OFFENSE
Iowa has posted 90 points or more in three games this year. The school record is six times, set during the 2001-02 season.
The Hawkeyes rank first in conference scoring (73.2). In fact, Iowa averaged 78.7 ppg its last three games (at Northwestern, at Michigan State and vs. Ohio State).
QUICK HITS
- Iowa’s loss to Ohio State was its first (9-1) when leading at halftime. In addition, the loss was only Iowa’s fifth (57-5) when leading at the break under Coach Bluder the last four years.
- Ohio State’s 93 points are the most points Iowa has yielded in a game played in regulation this year. The Hawkeyes allowed 101 points to in-state rival Iowa State in two overtimes on Dec. 3.
- Four players scored 96 percent (79 of 82 points) of its offense vs. Ohio State. Jamie Cavey scored 33, followed by Johanna Solverson (17), Kristi Faulkner (16) and Jennie Lillis (13).
- The Hawkeyes out-rebounded their last three opponents (Ohio State, 35-26; Michigan State, 43-35; Northwestern, 36-29).
- Iowa finished its regular season with a 3-1 record against conference teams it plays only once (wins over Michigan, Northwestern and Michigan State and a loss to Ohio State).
- Jennie Lillis has made at least one triple in the last six games and has attempted at least one 3-pointer in 11 of Iowa’ last 12 contests.
LILLIS AMONG ELITE GROUP
Senior Jennie Lillis is among an elite group of Hawkeyes. Lillis is one of only four Iowa players to amass 1,500 points and 750 rebounds (Cindy Haugejorde, Toni Foster and Tangela Smith) and one of only three Hawkeyes to amass 300 points or more all four years (Haugejorde and Lindsey Meder).
Lills is arguably Iowa’s best complete player in its 30-year history. The native of Urbandale, IA, is on the verge of becoming the first-ever Hawkeye to rank in the top ten in the five major statistical categories at Iowa (scoring, rebounding, steals, assists and blocks). She already ranks fifth in scoring, sixth in rebounding, eighth in steals and third in blocks. Lillis is eight assists from cracking the top ten in assists and making history. She would be one of only three Big Ten athletes to accomplish the feat (Minnesota’s Laura Coenen, 1981-85 and Illinois’ Tauja Catchings, 1996-00).
Lillis is a leader on and off the court. She has started all but one game in her career. The two-time all-Big Ten performer, also spends some of her free time at the University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics.
Lillis has drained a season-high 18 3-pointers, besting last year’s total (5). Lillis has made 24 career triples. She has made at least one three-pointer in nine of Iowa’s last 11 games and has attempted at least one triple in 12 of Iowa’s last 13 contests. She attempted a career-high seven 3-pointers at Michigan State on Feb. 1.
The three-time captain is the only Hawkeye to score in double figures in every game this year. She posted her first double-double of the season and 16th of her career vs. Saint Joseph’s (19 points, 10 rebounds).
Iowa Career Scoring
1. Cindy Haugejorde (1976-80) — 2,059
2. Lindsey Meder (1998-02) — 1,906
3. Michelle Edwards (1984-88) — 1,821
4. Franthea Price (1986-90) — 1,742
5. Jennie Lillis (2000-) — 1,606
5. Toni Foster (1989-93) — 1,606
Iowa Career Rebounding
1. Cindy Haugejorde (1976-80) — 998
2. Toni Foster (1989-93) — 887
3. Tangela Smith (1994-98) — 859
4. Lisa Long (1983-87) — 848
5. Amy Herrig (1995-99) — 789
6. Jennie Lillis (2000-) — 768
Iowa Career Blocks
1. Tangela Smith (1994-98) — 235
2. Toni Foster (1989-93) — 145
3. Jennie Lillis (2000-) — 102
Iowa Career Steals
1. Franthea Price (1986-90) — 321
2. Laurie Aaron (1989-93) — 248
3. Michelle Edwards (1984-88) — 235
4. Steph Schueler (1987-91) — 222
5. Jolette Law (1986-90) — 205
6. Nadine Domond (1994-98) — 177
6. Lisa Anderson (1980-84) — 177
8. Jennie Lillis (2000-) — 172
Iowa Career Assists
1. Cara Consuegra (1997-01) — 576
2. Michelle Edwards (1984-88) — 431
3. Franthea Price (1986-90) — 387
4. Steph Schueler (1987-91) — 367
5. Nadine Domond (1994-98) — 357
6. Jolette Law (1986-90) — 353
7. Lisa Anderson (1980-84) — 322
8. Tricia Blair (1983-87) — 280
9. Laurie Aaron (1989-93) — 279
9. Necole Tunsil (1990-94) — 279
11. Jennie Lillis (2000-) — 272
RAINING THREES
Iowa has made 17 3-pointers in its last two games, including a season-high 10 at Michigan State on Feb. 1. Iowa has made five or more 3-pointers in 12 of its last 13 games. The Hawkeyes have made at least one 3-pointer in 168 consecutive contests. It is a streak that has occurred over a span of seven seasons. The last time the Hawkeyes did not make a 3-pointer was against Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament on March 1, 1998.
ONE AND THE BONUS
For the first time this year and only the sixth time in her career, Jennie Lillis did not attempt a free throw in Iowa’s loss to Ohio State last Thursday. She has attempted at least one free throw in 107-of-113 games she has played.
Lillis has converted 388-516 (.752) of her free throw attempts in her career. She has made 73-88 (.830) of her attempts this season, including a perfect 6-6 (1.000) at Michigan State. The native of Urbandale, IA, is the school record holder for free throw attempts (516) and is three free throws made from breaking the school record, which is held by Amy Herrig (390).
FAULKNER ON PACE TO BREAK SCHOOL RECORD
Senior Kristi Faulkner has converted .849 (241-284) 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: IOWA’S 3-POINT THREAT
Senior Kristi Faulkner ranks third on the squad in scoring (15.2), first in 3-pointers made (37), attempted (81) and percentage (.457) and fourth in rebounding (4.1). She has made at least one triple in 19-of-20 games this year. Faulkner has scored in double figures in 16-of-20 games, including posting 20 points or more five times.
The native of Glen Ellyn, IL, celebrated her 23rd birthday in style, scoring 22 points (8-12 FG, 3-3 FT) and grabbing five rebounds playing in her hometown in Iowa’s win over Northwestern on Jan. 29. The senior tallied 16 of her points in the second half on a perfect 6-6 shooting from the field and 3-3 from the charity stripe.
She registered a game-high 26 points at Florida International, 22 points at Iowa State and 24 vs. Drake. She made a season-high four 3-pointers against the Cyclones. Faulkner scored a season-high 27 points, including her 1,000th career point in an Iowa uniform, in Iowa’s home win over Indiana on Jan. 15.
Faulkner has made 118 career 3-pointers, which ranks second in career triples at Iowa. She has posted 1,077 career points at Iowa, which ranks 17th. Faulkner is 24 points from moving past Shanda Berry (1985-89) and into 16th place.
Faulkner was a third team all-Big Ten honoree last year.
FOUL PLAY
Jamie Cavey has fouled out seven times this year, while Jennie Lillis has fouled out five times. Lillis 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 16 times this season, topping its total all of last year (9).
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 64-90 (.711) from the charity stripe this year. Last year, she made 38-72 (.528) of her attempts.
Cavey has converted 81.8 percent (18-22) of her free throw attempts the last seven games.
CAVEY PACES HAWKEYES
Jamie Cavey has been a force in the post for Iowa. Cavey ranks first on the squad in scoring (17.6) and field goal percentage (.576) and third in rebounding (5.10. In addition, she ranks sixth in Big Ten scoring, third in field goal percentage and 26th in rebounding. Cavey has led the Hawkeyes in scoring in 12-of-20 games. She has scored in double figures 17 straight games and 19-of-20 this season. She has posted 20 points or more eight times, including the last three games.
The native of Mechanicsville, IA, posted career highs in points (33), field goals made (14) and attempted (25) vs. Ohio State. She averaged a point per minute against the Buckeyes, seeing 33 minutes of action on the court. She matched a then-career high with 26 points and posted career highs in free throws made (8) and attempted (11) in Iowa’s home win over Illinois. She tallied a game-high 20 points, grabbed six rebounds and posted career highs in steals (4) and minutes played (36) at Missouri.
Against Creighton, Cavey scored 17 points (6-13 FG, 5-5 FT) and posted career bests in blocks (5), rebounds (10) and tied a career high in assists (4).
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.
ATTENDANCE RANKINGS
Iowa ranks 25th in the nation in attendance (3,591). The Hawkeyes are the seventh-highest Big Ten team ranked. Purdue ranks fifth, followed by Penn State (6), Minnesota (8), Wisconsin (13), Michigan State (17) and Ohio State (3,942). Rankings are as of Feb. 2.
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.
SOLVERSON PICKING UP HER GAME
Sophomore Johanna Solverson has improved her game since returning to the starting lineup. Solverson averaged 8.0 ppg, 7.8 rpg and 5.4 apg in the last five games. She dished out a game-high eight assists in the Hawkeyes’ win at Northwestern and grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds vs. Wisconsin on Jan. 18. Solverson tallied a season-high 17 points and grabbed 12 rebounds vs. Ohio State.
Solverson missed the Kansas State game (Dec. 12) with an injured left ankle and came off the bench the following seven games.
The 6-2 forward had one of her best complete games of the year against the Badgers. Solverson scored five points, grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds, dished out six assists, collected three steals and blocked a career-high four shots.
She came off the bench to score a season-high 16 points and also pulled down three rebounds at Penn State on Jan. 8. She was a perfect 6-6 shooting from the field, including 3-3 from 3-point range. She was also 1-1 from the free throw line. That performance marked the first time in her career that she recorded a perfect shooting performance from the field.
Solverson ranks second 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 seven times in rebounding. She led Iowa in rebounding twice last year. Solverson collected a then-career-high nine rebounds twice last year. This year, she posted rebounding games of 13 (vs. Saint Joseph’s), 12 (vs. Ohio State), 10 (vs. Wisconsin) and nine (at Iowa State and at Marquette).
NEVER TO EARLY FOR NCAA TOURNAMENT PROJECTIONS
Projections have already begun for the NCAA Tournament and www.collegerpi.com has the Hawkeyes as a No. 11 seed in the East Region in its first bracket projection. The web site has Iowa playing No. 6 seed Georgia in the first round, with the game being played in Albuquerque, NM. Iowa is one of six Big Ten teams (Penn State, Purdue, Minnesota, Michigan State and Ohio State) projected, while the web site projects the Big East (8) and the Big XII (7) to lead the pack.
The web site will make weekly projections each week leading up to the NCAA Tournament.
SMITH HAVING BREAKOUT YEAR
Sophomore Crystal Smith has been Coach Bluder’s first guard off the bench this year, averaging 15.6 minutes per game. It can be argued that Smith is Iowa’s top defender, who ranks second on the team in steals (33) behind starter Jennie Lillis (38). She ranks seventh in conference steals (2.22), the highest ranking non-starter.
Smith had one of the best games of her career vs. Illinois and Minnesota. The native of Haughton, LA, matched her career high with 10 points, blocked her first career shot, collected a career-high four assists and grabbed four rebounds vs. the Illini. Smith collected seven points (2-2 FG, 2-2 FT), three rebounds and a career-high five steals at Minnesota. Her five steals came while guarding one of the conference’s and nation’s top players — Lindsay Whalen.
Smith scored a career-high 10 points on 4-5 from the field, bolstered by a perfect 2-2 from three-point range at Florida International. She also collected four rebounds, three of which were offensive, and two steals.
Smith scored seven of her eight points in the first half against the Hoosiers and finished the game with six rebounds. Five of her six rebounds were offensive — a career high.
She has collected two or more steals 10 times.
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.
BIG TEN RANKINGS — ALL GAMES
Iowa ranks second in Big Ten Conference scoring (73.6), 3-pointers made (5.85) and assists (17.55), third in field goal percentage (.447) and free throw percentage (.755), first in 3-point field goal percentage (.377) and fifth in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.297).
Jamie Cavey ranks sixth in scoring (17.6) and third in field goal percentage (.576). Kristi Faulkner ranks 10th in scoring (15.2), second in 3-point percentage (.457), third in free throw percentage (.859) and seventh in 3-pointers made (1.85). Jennie Lillis ranks eighth in scoring (15.4), 16th in rebounding (6.1), eighth in steals (1.9) and 11th in assists (3.3).
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.
HAWKEYES ON THE TUBE
Iowa has eight regular season games that will be televised this year. KCRG-TV9 broadcast Iowa games against Houston, Iowa State, Drake, Wisconsin and Ohio State. Fox Sports Chicago will televise Iowa games vs. Purdue on Tuesday and at Illinois (Feb. 29). Fox Sports North showed the Hawkeyes’ game at Minnesota (Jan. 11) and will broadcast their game against the Gophers on Feb. 19 in Iowa City.
“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-TV9. The show includes interviews with Coach Bluder and players and feature stories. Below is a list of the dates and times.
Saturday, February 21 – 5 p.m.
Saturday, March 20 – 5 p.m.
NEXT ACTION
Iowa has only one day to prepare for Wisconsin as the Badgers host the Hawkeyes on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. in the Kohl Center. Iowa will then travel to Bloomington, IN, to face the Indiana Hoosiers on Sunday.