Feb. 16, 2004
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THE SETTING
Iowa (14-9, 8-4) hosts No. 11 Minnesota (19-4, 8-4) Thursday. Tip-off is slated for 7:06 p.m. in Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,500). Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for youths.
The Hawkeyes enter Thursday’s game winners of seven of their last nine contests, while the Golden Gophers have won three of their last four. The winner of this game will tie Michigan State for third place in the league standings. The Spartans are 9-4 in conference play and are idle Thursday.
ON THE AIR AND INTERNET
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.
ON THE TUBE
Thursday’s game will be broadcast on Fox Sports North, which is channel 641 for those fans who have DIRECTV. Marney Gellnar and ex-Minnesota Lynx player Andrea Lloyd Curry will call the action.
IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 840 games since beginning basketball in 1974. Overall, Iowa’s record is 512-328 (.610). That includes a 274-142 (.659) mark in Big Ten games and a 226-53 (.810) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
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.
Single-session tickets range from $10-$14 and can be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets, including the Conseco Fieldhouse box office and www.ticketmaster.com.
DIFFICULT SCHEDULE
Iowa has a difficult schedule down the stretch. The Hawkeyes’ next three games are against ranked opponents. The Hawkeyes host No. 7 Penn State (Feb. 22) and No. 10 Minnesota (Feb. 19) and then travel to Purdue (Feb. 26).
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 (seventh) and Kristi Faulkner (ninth).
Iowa is also the only conference team to have three players ranked in the top 15 in assists. Johanna Solverson ranks 11th in assists, followed by Lillis (12th) Lindsay Richards (13th).
IOWA VS. RANKED TEAMS
Thursday’s game will be Iowa’s fifth game against a ranked opponent. Iowa is 1-4 against ranked opponents this year. The Hawkeyes defeated Michigan State (78-67) and lost to Purdue (90-79), 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
HAWKEYES WIN FOURTH STRAIGHT ROAD GAME
After a sluggish start, the Iowa Hawkeyes rallied to pickup its fourth consecutive road win with a 78-69 triumph over Indiana Sunday afternoon in Bloomington, IN.
Iowa trailed 16-2 early, but finished the half on a 33-7 run to claim a 35-33 advantage heading into the locker room. The Hawkeyes forced 16 first half Hoosier turnovers to help overcome the early 14-point deficit.
The second half was a see-saw affair until a Jennie Lillis jumper with 6:38 gave Iowa a 62-60 lead, which the Hawkeyes would not relinquish. Iowa converted 7-8 from the free throw line down the stretch to help preserve the victory.
Jamie Cavey headlined the Hawkeyes, scoring a game-high 25 points (8-15, 9-9 FT), a team-high eight rebounds and a career-high six assists. Cavey’s perfect 9-9 shooting from the free throw line was also a career best for free throws made and percentage.
Lillis contributed 20 points (8-14 FG, 3-4 FT), six rebounds and two steals, while Kristi Faulkner tallied 16 points (4-11 FG, 8-9 FT) and four rebounds. Crystal Smith came off the bench, played a career-high 24 minutes and collected a team-high four steals, two of which were amazing hustle plays. Lindsay Richards added nine points and tied a career-high with four rebounds.
Iowa won its 14th game of the season despite posting season lows in 3-pointers made (2) and percentage (.143). The Hawkeyes are the Big Ten’s top 3-point shooting team.
Indiana was led by Jenny DeMuth and Cyndi Valentin, who each scored 20. Angela Hawkins grabbed a game-high nine caroms.
ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Iowa leads the all-time series against Minnesota 35-17, including a commanding 19-6 advantage in games played in Iowa City. Minnesota has won four of the last five meetings, including the last two meetings in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes’ only victory during that stretch was an 80-77 upset win in the quarterfinals of the 2003 Big Ten Tournament. The Golden Gophers defeated the Hawkeyes (77-60) last year in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Iowa won 20 consecutive games over Minnesota between 1984-1994 and 31-of-33 contests between 1984-2001.
SCOUTING MINNESOTA
After losing three straight games in late-January, the 11th-ranked Golden Gophers have won three of their last four contests.Not only did Minnesota lose to Ohio State by 18 points (75-57) last Thursday in Columbus, but it lost its all-American guard Lindsay Whalen for 4-6 weeks with broken bones in her shooting wrist.
The Golden Gophers rebounded after its loss at Ohio State with a nine-point triumph (63-54) at Illinois on Sunday. Freshman Kelly Roysland started her first collegiate game in place of Whalen and scored 14 points and grabbed four rebounds. Shannon Bolden tallied a team-high 18 points, while Janel McCarville pulled down a team-high 11 rebounds. Only seven players played in the win.
With Whalen gone, McCarville is Minnesota’s leading scorer (15.0) and rebounder (10.2). The junior ranks first in conference rebounding and 12th in scoring. Kadidja Andersson ranks second on the team in scoring (8.9) and rebounding (4.1), while Shannon Schonrock ranks third in scoring (8.6) and first in assists (76).
Pam Borton is in her fifth year as head coach and second with Minnesota. Borton is 113-56 (.669) overall and boasts a 44-10 (.815) mark with the Golden Gophers.
IOWA, MINNESOTA NOTES
Guard April Calhoun played two seasons with the Hawkeyes (2001-03) before transferring to Minnesota. The junior is sitting out this season due to transfer rules.Jennie Lillis averages 14.3 ppg and 8.8 rpg in six career games against Minnesota. Kristi Faulkner averages 13.8 ppg and 1.8 rpg in five career games played against Minnesota while wearing the Black and Gold (played freshman year at Illinois).Jamie Cavey’s performance vs. Minnesota in the quarterfinals of the 2003 Big Ten Tournament announced her presence as one of the conference’s elite post players. Cavey scored 10 points off the bench in the pivotal final 6:48 to help Iowa rally to stun Minnesota (80-77). Cavey was 3-3 from the field and 4-5 from the free throw line.Minnesota ranks in the top five in the Big Ten in 13 statistical categories, including ranking first in four categories (scoring margin, rebounding margin, defensive rebounds and rebounding defense). Iowa ranks in the top five in the league in 10 statistical categories, including ranking first in three categories (scoring offense, 3-pointer field goals made and 3-point field goal percentage).Iowa is 4-2 in games played on Feb. 19.
LAST MEETING
Iowa dropped a 75-61 decision to then-No. 6 Minnesota in front of 13,817 fans in Williams Arena. The loss was Iowa’s second straight to a top ten opponent.
The Hawkeyes hung with the sixth-ranked team for most of the game, despite posting a season-high 29 turnovers.
Iowa trailed by only four points (33-29) at the half. The Hawkeyes out-rebounded the Golden Gophers (17-9) and out-scored Minnesota (7-0) in second chance opportunities in the first stanza. However, Minnesota banged the ball down low in the final 20 minutes, scoring 26 of its 42 second half points in the paint to help pull away from the Hawkeyes down the stretch.
Minnesota’s Lindsay Whalen scored a game-high 30 points. Iowa allowed a player from the opposing team score 30 points in back-to-back contests (PSU — Kelly Mazzante).
Iowa had eight players score at least two points. Jamie Cavey tallied a team-high 16 points, while Kristi Faulkner contributed 14 points and six assists. Faulkner was 3-4 from 3-point range. Jennie Lillis added 10 points and a team-high six rebounds in the defeat. Crystal Smith provided a spark off the bench for the Hawkeyes. The sophomore scored seven points and collected a career-high five steals.
Iowa converted 6-10 (.600) from beyond the arc, while holding Minnesota to an opponent season-low 2-8 (.250) from 3-point range.
RPI RANKINGS
Iowa ranks 43rd in the latest RPI rankings and 46th in strength of schedule. Minnesota ranks 10th in the RPI and 53rd in strength of schedule. Iowa is a perfect 9-0 against teams with an RPI over 100, 1-5 against teams in the top 25 and 4-4 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. 4 in the RPI rankings, followed by Purdue (5), Minnesota (10), Michigan State (22) and Ohio State (37).
HOME, AWAY COMPARISONS
In 11 home games, Iowa has out-scored its opponent by a 817-786 margin, shooting 45.2 percent from the field and holding opponents to a 42.4 shooting percentage. Iowa has also posted 206 assists to its opponents’ 144.
In 12 games away from Iowa City, the Hawkeyes have out-scored its opponent by a slim 899-895 margin. Iowa averages 1.4 more rebounds on the road. Hawkeye opponents have recorded 127 steals to Iowa’s 82 on the road.
WINS, LOSSES COMPARISONS
In Iowa’s 14 wins, Iowa boasts a +11.1 scoring margin. The Hawkeyes also shoot the ball well from the field (.467) and the charity stripe (.780).
The Hawkeyes have a better 3-point shooting percentage in their nine losses than in their 14 wins. Iowa has converted 40.1 percent of its 3-pointers in losses, while it makes 36.3 percent of its treys in victories. The Hawkeyes also turn the ball over 3.9 times more in their losses than wins.
COMEBACK KIDS
Iowa won its third (Wisconsin) and fourth (Indiana) straight road games in thrilling come-from-behind fashion.
You had to see Iowa’s overtime win at Wisconsin to believe it. The Hawkeyes overcame an eight-point deficit with 39 seconds left in regulation to defeat Wisconsin (87-82) in the Kohl Center.
Iowa trailed the Badgers by as many as 13 points with 6:49 left and six points with 20 seconds remaining in regulation. Undaunted, the Hawkeyes mounted one of the most exciting comebacks in school history. Iowa out-scored Wisconsin 21-8 the final 6:36 of regulation.
Kristi Faulkner scored an astonishing 15 points (four 3-pointers, one lay-up and one free throw) in the final 1:50 of regulation to help send the game into the extra session.
A Faulkner lay-up with 29 seconds left cut the Badgers lead to six (72-66). Following a Wisconsin (8-14, 2-10) turnover, Faulkner drained a 3-pointer from the wing with 17 seconds left to trim the lead to three (72-69). Jennie Lillis stole Wisconsin’s inbound pass and dished the ball to an open Faulkner in the corner, who sank the game-tying triple with seven seconds left. Wisconsin had an opportunity to win the game in regulation, but a lean-in jumper by Stephanie Rich came up short.
Faulkner and Lillis combined for 38 of Iowa’s 39 second half points, with Jamie Cavey scoring the other point on a free throw.
Lindsay Richards, who was held scoreless in regulation, made two huge 3-pointers in overtime to help the Hawkeyes maintain their hot shooting.
Iowa’s offense started slow at Indiana, scoring only four points in the first 7:30 of the game. The Hawkeyes rallied out-scoring the Hoosiers 31-15 the last 12:30 of the half. Iowa gained control of the contest with five minutes remaining and went on to win by nine points (78-69).
LILLIS BREAKS CAREER FREE THROW MARK
Jennie Lillis became Iowa’s all-time free throws made leader when she converted 4-6 from the free throw line Tuesday vs. No. 5 Purdue. She was a perfect 4-4 at Wisconsin Thursday. The senior has made 399 career free throws. Lillis is also the school record holder in career free throws attempted with 530. Amy Herrig (1995-99) was the previous record holder in both categories before Lillis broke her marks.
CLOSE GAMES
Iowa has played seven games decided by seven points or less, winning five of the seven. The Hawkeyes had six games decided by seven points or less last year.
HAWKEYES POST CAREER HIGHS
Seniors Jennie Lillis and Kristi Faulkner posted career highs in its thrilling overtime win at Wisconsin on Feb. 12.
Lillis collected career highs in field goals made (12) and attempted (21). She recorded a game and season-high 31 points — one point shy of a career high set at Penn State her sophomore season.
Faulkner recorded career highs in points (29), field goals made (11) and attempted (21), 3-pointers made (5) and minutes played (43).
Sophomore Crystal Smith matched career highs in points (10), rebounds (6) and assists (4) in the Hawkeyes’ home loss to No. 5 Purdue Tuesday night in Iowa City.
Junior Jamie Cavey dished out a career-high six assists in Iowa’s victory at Indiana last Sunday.
EXTRA WORK
Iowa is 3-5 in overtime games under Coach Bluder, including a 1-2 mark this season. The Hawkeyes’ 87-82 overtime win at Wisconsin on Feb. 12, was their first road overtime victory since a 65-58 victory at Kansas on Dec. 3, 1995 (Iowa defeated Oregon, 89-82, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on March 17, 2001 on a neutral floor in Salt Lake City, UT).
Iowa’s three overtime games this year tie a school record for most overtime contests in a season. Like this season, the Hawkeyes were 1-2 in overtime games during the 1997-98 season.
HAWKEYES SINK FREEBIES
Iowa converted 91.7 percent (11-12) of its free throws vs. Ohio State on Feb. 5, which is a season best, and 90 percent (18-20) at Michigan State on Feb. 1.
Three of Iowa’s starters are shooting at an 80 percent or better clip (Solverson, .957; Faulkner, .844; Lillis, .827). Jamie Cavey is shooting 74.4 percent but has made 83.7 percent (41-49) from the free throw line the last 10 games, including a perfect 9-9 from the charity stripe at Indiana.
IOWA CRANKS UP THE OFFENSE
Iowa 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 (74.6). In fact, Iowa averaged 80.0 ppg its last six games.
IOWA TIP-INS
With results of last weekend’s action around the league, Iowa is assured no less than a sixth place finish in the Big Ten Conference. However, Iowa has much bigger aspirations; a victory Thursday will tie the Hawkeyes for third place.Lillis (31), Faulkner (29) and Cavey (17) scored all but 10 of Iowa’s 87 points at Wisconsin – 93 percent of its offense. Becca McCann and Jenna Armstrong each scored two points each off the bench, while Lindsay Richards drained two clutch 3-pointers in overtime. In addition, Lillis and Faulkner combined for 38 or Iowa’s 39 second half points and 45 of its last 46 points in regulation – a span of 21:36.Lindsay Richards, who was 0-2 from the field in regulation, including 0-1 from beyond the arc at Wisconsin, came up huge in overtime. The sophomore was a perfect 2-2 from 3-point range helping left the Hawkeyes to their 13th win of the season.Iowa is 8-0 this year when having a higher field goal percentage than its opponents, 11-0 when holding its opponents to 69 points or less and 10-1 when leading at halftime.Iowa’s loss to Ohio State on Feb. 5 was its first (10-1) when leading at halftime. In addition, the loss was only Iowa’s fifth (58-5) when leading at the break under Coach Bluder the last four years.Kristi Faulkner’s consecutive free throws made streak ended at 21 when she missed her first attempt at Wisconsin on Feb. 12.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.The Hawkeyes out-rebounded their last five of their last six opponents (Indiana, 31-30; Purdue, 39-38; Ohio State, 35-26; Michigan State, 43-35; Northwestern, 36-29). Wisconsin out-rebounded Iowa (41-35) in the Hawkeyes’ overtime triumph.
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 nine games and has attempted at least one 3-pointer in 14 of Iowa’ last 15 contests.
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.
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 on Feb. 5. 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.
ONE AND THE BONUS
Jennie Lillis has attempted at least one free throw in 110-of-116 career games. She is the school record holder for career free throws made (399) and attempted (530).
The native of Urbandale, IA, has converted 399-530 (.753) career free throws. She has made 84-102 (.824) of her attempts this season, including 30 of her last 34 attempts (88.2 percent). Lillis ranks fifth in free throw percentage in conference only games (.840).
CAVEY ON FIRE!!!
Jamie Cavey, who was named the Big Ten Player of the Week on Feb. 2, 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. 6 in overall play with 18.8 and 17.7 points per game, respectively. She has led Iowa in scoring on 13 occasions this season, and has chalked up at least 20 points in nine outings, including four of the last six contests.
Cavey posted career highs in points (33), field goals made (14) and attempted (25) vs. Ohio State on Feb. 5. The 14 field goals made are the most in a game by a player in the Big Ten this year. 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.
The native or Mechanicsville, IA, headlined the Hawkeyes in their win at Indiana Sunday, scoring a game-high 25 points (8-14 FG, 9-9 FT), collecting a team-high eight rebounds and dishing out a career-high six assists.
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 11-15 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. Cavey tallied a team-best 21 points in that win while shooting 57.1 percent (19-29) from the field and 83.3 percent (5-6) from the free-throw line.
RAINING THREES
The Hawkeyes tied a season high with ten 3-pointers at Wisconsin on Feb. 12. Iowa has made 38 3-pointers in its last five games (7.6). Iowa has made five or more triples in 13 of its last 15 games. The Hawkeyes rank first in the league in 3-pointers made (6.0).
Iowa has converted 50 percent of its 3-point attempts in two of its last four games. The Hawkeyes were 7-14 vs. Purdue and 10-20 at Wisconsin.
Iowa has made at least one 3-pointer in 171 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.
LILLIS AMONG ELITE GROUP
Jennie Lillis is among an elite group of Hawkeyes. Lillis is one of only three Iowa players to amass 1,600 points and 750 rebounds (Cindy Haugejorde and Toni Foster) and one of only three Hawkeyes to score 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, recently became 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 ranks fifth in scoring and rebounding, sixth in steals, third in blocks and tied for ninth in assists. She is one of only three Big Ten athletes to accomplish the feat (Minnesota’s Laura Coenen, 1981-85 and Illinois’ Tauja Catchings, 1996-00). Lillis will likely finish her career ranked fourth in scoring, fifth in rebounding, third in blocks, sixth in steals and eighth in assists. She needs 63 points to move into fourth place in scoring and two assists from moving into eighth in assists.
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.
The senior ranks seventh in the league in scoring (15.9), 13th in rebounding (6.2), seventh in free throw percentage (.824), 12th in assists (3.17) and eighth in steals (1.91).
Lillis has drained a season-high twenty-three 3-pointers, besting last year’s total (5). Lillis has made 29 career triples. She has made at least one 3-pointer in nine straight games and 12 of Iowa’s last 14 games. Lillis has attempted at least one triple in 15 of Iowa’s last 16 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).
FAULKNER ON PACE TO BREAK SCHOOL RECORD
Senior Kristi Faulkner has converted .846 (253-299) of her free throw attempts during her three years with the Hawkeyes. She will break Lindsey Meder’s school free throw percentage record of .799 (287-359) set 1998-2002.
FAULKNER: IOWA’S 3-POINT THREAT
Senior Kristi Faulkner ranks third on the squad in scoring (15.9), first in 3-pointers made (45), attempted (101) and percentage (.446) and fourth in rebounding (3.9). She has made at least one triple in 21-of-23 games this year. Faulkner has scored in double figures in 19-of-23 games, including posting 20 points or more six times.
Faulkner scored 15 of her career-high 29 points in the final 1:50 of regulation at Wisconsin Thursday. She also posted career highs in field goals made (11) and attempted, 3-pointers made (5) and minutes played (43).
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 126 career 3-pointers, which ranks second in career triples at Iowa. She has posted 1,139 career points at Iowa, which ranks 14th. Faulkner is nine points from moving past Cara Consuegra (1997-01) and into 13th 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 87-117 (.744) from the charity stripe this year. Last year, she made 38-72 (.528) of her attempts.
Cavey has converted 83.7 percent (41-49) from the free throw line the last 10 games
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 (3,453). The Hawkeyes are the sixth-highest Big Ten team ranked. Purdue ranks fifth, followed by Penn State (6), Minnesota (8), Wisconsin (13) and Michigan State (17). Rankings are as of Feb. 16.
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.
NCAA TOURNAMENT PROJECTIONS
Projections have already begun for the NCAA Tournament and www.collegerpi.com has the Hawkeyes as a No. 12 seed in the Mideast Region in its second bracket projection. The web site has Iowa playing No. 5 seed Notre Dame in the first round, with the game being played in South Bend, IN.
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 and SEC (8) and Big XII (7) to lead the pack.
The web site will make projections every Tuesday afternoon 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 16 minutes per game. It can be argued that Smith is Iowa’s top defender, who ranks second on the team in steals (39) behind starter Jennie Lillis (44). She ranks seventh in conference steals (2.17), 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.
Recently, she matched career highs in points (10), rebounds (6) and assists (4) in Iowa’s loss to No. 5 Purdue Tuesday night.
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 12 times and has been nominated for Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.
BIG TEN RANKINGS — ALL GAMES
Iowa ranks first in Big Ten Conference scoring (74.6), 3-point field goal percentage (.378) and 3-point field goals made (6.0), second in assists (17.48) and and free throw percentage (.759) and third in field goal percentage (.385).
Jamie Cavey ranks sixth in scoring (17.7) and fourth in field goal percentage (.557). Kristi Faulkner ranks ninth in scoring (15.9), second in 3-point percentage (.446), second in free throw percentage (.849) and fifth in 3-pointers made (1.96). Jennie Lillis ranks seventh in scoring (16.6), 13th in rebounding (6.2), eighth in steals (1.91), seventh in free throw percentage (.824) and 12th in assists (3.17).
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 nine 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 televised Iowa game vs. Purdue and will show its regular season finale at Illinois (Feb. 29). Fox Sports North aired the Hawkeyes’ game at Minnesota (Jan. 11) and will broadcast their game against the Golden Gophers Thursday 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 hosts No. 7 Penn State Sunday on “Senior Day”. The Hawkeyes conclude their regular season with a pair of road games at No. 6 Purdue (Feb. 26) and at Illinois (Feb. 29).