Iowa to face Virginia Tech in NCAA First Round

March 16, 2004

Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

ESPN Coverage Map

THE SETTING
The University of Iowa women’s basketball team (16-12) will meet Virginia Tech (22-7) in the East Region First Round of the 2004 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship, Sunday, March 21, in Blacksburg, VA. Tip-off is slated for 11 a.m. (CST) in Cassell Coliseum (10,052) with the Hokies serving as one of the 16 first and second round host sites. A crowd of 5-6,000 is expected.

The Hawkeyes are the ninth seed, while Virginia Tech is the eighth seed. The Iowa vs. Virginia Tech winner will play the winner between top-seeded Penn State (25-5) vs. 16th-seeded Hampton (17-12) on Tuesday, March 23.

NCAA TOURNAMENT TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets for the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament in Blacksburg, VA, are $25.50 for adults and $10.50 for youths each day. Hawkeye fans can order online at www.hokiesports.com or by phone at (800) 828-3244 or (540) 231-6731.

ON THE TUBE
The Hawkeyes’ first round game will be aired on ESPN2 to a regional cable audience. Should Iowa advance, the second round contest will be televised on either ESPN or ESPN2, with the game time to be announced. Jerry Punch and Elise Woodward will call the action.

Hawkeye fans not living in the ESPN regional viewing area can catch the Iowa game and every NCAA Tournament contest on DIRECTV’s FullCourt pay-per-view package.

ON THE AIR
All Iowa NCAA Tournament games will be broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network. Listen to the 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 845 games since beginning basketball in 1974. Overall, Iowa’s record is 514-331 (.608). That includes a 276-144 (.657) mark in Big Ten games and a 227-54 (.808) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

TRIPLE THREAT
Iowa has three players that have scored 400 points this season. Jamie Cavey (473) leads the Hawkeyes, followed by Kristi Faulkner (449) and Jennie Lillis (441). This season marks only the third time in school history that a trio has posted 400 points or more. Michelle Edwards (621), Shanda Berry (449) and Franthea Price (423) accomplished the feat during the 1987-88 season. Berry (497), Price (459), Jolette Law (445) and Robin Christian (409) are the only foursome to accumulate 400 points or more in a season, during the 1988-89 campaign.

NCAA TOURNAMENT EXPERIENCE
Iowa has five players with NCAA Tournament experience. Seniors Jennie Lillis and Becca McCann have been on two Hawkeye NCAA Tournament teams. Senior Kristi Faulkner has also been to two previous NCAA Tournaments, one with Illinois (2000) and one with Iowa (2002). Hawkeye juniors Jamie Cavey and Jenna Armstrong played in the 2002 NCAA Tournament in Storrs, CT.

This marks Iowa Head Coach Lisa Bluder’s seventh trip to the NCAA Tournament. Before mentoring the Hawkeyes, Bluder coaches the Drake Bulldogs to four NCAA Tournaments in her 10 seasons at Drake. Bluder is 3-6 all-time in NCAA Tournament games, 2-2 with Iowa and 1-4 with Drake. Two of Bluder’s victories came in overtime. In 2001, Iowa bounced Oregon (89-82) in Salt lake City. In 1995, Drake defeated Mississippi (87-81) in Washington, D.C.

HAWKEYE POINT GUARDS
There will be five “generations” of Iowa point guards in Blacksburg this weekend. Karen Clayton Lange played for former Iowa head coaches Vivian Stringer and Angie Lee and graduated in 1996. Hampton Assistant Coach Nadine Domond succeeded Clayton Lange and graduated in 1998. Domond ranks third in career 3-pointers made at Iowa (118). Following Domond was Penn State Director of Basketball Operations Cara Consuegra, who graduated in 2001. She led the Hawkeyes to the Big Ten Tournament title her senior year and is Iowa’s career assists leader (576). Current Hawkeye senior Kristi Faulkner transferred to Iowa after playing her freshman year at Illinois and directed the Hawkeye offense after Consuegra. Faulkner ranks second in career 3-pointers made at Iowa (136) and is Iowa’s career free throw percentage leader (.850). Two years later, sophomore Lindsay Richards has taken over as Iowa’s new floor general.

IOWA VS. EAST REGION
Iowa has never faced Virginia Tech or Hampton. The Hawkeyes are 11-15 against Penn State, including an 0-2 mark this season. Penn State is one of only two Big Ten teams (Purdue) to own the series advantage over the Hawkeyes.

IOWA VS. TOURNAMENT FIELD
Iowa is 3-10 against teams invited to the 2004 Division I Basketball Championship. Only one of the Hawkeyes’ wins came out of conference with Iowa defeating Marquette (65-62) on the road in come-from-behind fashion. Iowa spilt its two meetings with Minnesota and Michigan State. The Hawkeyes dropped two games to Penn State and Purdue, while losing once to Houston, Kansas State and Missouri.

IOWA NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY
This marks the 15th NCAA Tournament appearance for the Hawkeyes. Iowa and Purdue are tied for the second most NCAA Tournament appearances by a Big Ten school (Penn State, 20).

Iowa holds a 16-14 tournament record. The Hawkeyes are 7-0 in first round games and 5-9 in second round match-ups.

This marks Iowa’s third NCAA Tournament appearance under four-year Hawkeye Coach Lisa Bluder. The Hawkeyes advanced to the second round in 2001 and 2002. The Hawkeyes advanced to the quarterfinals of the WNIT last year.

The Hawkeyes have advanced to one Final Four in its 30-year history. Iowa lost to Big Ten rival Ohio State (73-72) in overtime in 1993. The Hawkeyes have advanced to the “Sweet 16” five times.

TOURNAMENT NOTES

  • Jennie Lillis is three points from moving past Franthea Price (1986-90) and into fourth place in Iowa career scoring. Kristi Faulkner is nine points from surpassing Lisa Long (1983-87) for 11th.
  • The Hawkeyes’ last game was played on March 5, meaning Iowa will go 16 days between outings.
  • Iowa is the only team in the field of 64 with 16 wins. There are eight teams in the tournament with 17 victories.
  • This marks the first time Iowa has ever played in the NCAA Tournament East Region. Iowa has played in the Midwest Region seven times, the Mideast Region five times and the West Region twice.
  • Former Iowa Assistant Coach Bonnie Henrickson is Virginia Tech’s head coach, while former Hawkeye player Karen Clayton serves as an assistant on Hendrickson’s coaching staff. Hendrickson was on the Iowa coaching staff from 1995-97. Clayton was a four-year letterwinner for the Hawkeyes (1992-96).
  • Iowa’s game against Virginia Tech marks the second consecutive time the Hawkeyes’ first round contest is against a Virginia school. Iowa defeated Virginia (69-62) in the 2002 Mideast Region First Round game in Storrs, CT.
  • Iowa and Virginia Tech played one common opponent this year: Iowa State. The Hokies defeated the Cyclones (67-57) in the first round of the Virgin Islands Paradise Jam, while the Hawkeyes fell to Iowa State (101-94) in double overtime in Ames, IA.
  • Iowa is 8-5 in road games and 1-1 in neutral site contests. Virginia Tech boasts a 12-2 record in home games.
  • Former Iowa standout Cara Consuegra (1997-01). who holds the Hawkeyes’ career assists mark (576), is in her third season as Director of Basketball Operations with Penn State. Iowa seniors Jennie Lillis and Becca McCann played with Consuegra her senior year. Kristi Faulkner practiced with the team, but did not play in any games due to transfer rules.
  • Iowa is 12-4 against current members of the Big East Conference. The Hawkeyes are 2-0 against West Virginia, Virginia, Miami and Syracuse. Iowa is 1-0 against Pittsburgh and 3-3 against Connecticut. The Hawkeyes have only played one other Big East team in an NCAA Tournament contest (Connecticut, 0-2).
  • The Hawkeyes are 1-2 in NCAA Tournament overtime contests. Iowa lost to SMS (61-60) in a 1992 Second Round game and Ohio State (73-72) in the 1993 Final Four Semifinals. The Hawkeyes bounced Oregon (89-82) in the 2001 First Round.
  • The last time Iowa played the ESPN family of networks was Jan. 5, 2003 in a loss at Kansas State.
  • Iowa is 0-2 in games played on March 21, falling to Louisiana Tech (1987) and Vanderbilt (1996). The Hawkeyes are 0-1 in contests played on March 23, losing to Stanford (1989). All three games were NCAA Tournament contests.

RETURN TRIP TO VIRGINIA
Sunday will be Iowa’s second game in the state of Virginia. Iowa was forced to play its 1993 second round NCAA Tournament game at Old Dominion (Norfolk) due to a Guns N’ Roses concert in Iowa’s Carver-Hawkeye Arena that weekend. Iowa advanced to the Final Four that year.

MCDONALD’S ALL-AMERICA TRIO REUNITE
Iowa sophomores Lindsay Richards and Johanna Solverson and Virginia Tech sophomore Dawn Chriss played on the same McDonald’s All-American squad in the summer of 2002 in Madison Square Garden in New York. Solverson scored seven points, Richards tallied two points and two assists, while Chriss contributed six points.

LILLIS EARNS ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP
Senior Jennie Lillis was named a WBCA Scholarship Award winner this week. Lillis and Harvard’s Hana Peljto were the two recipients of the award. The duo will be formally presented their awards during the State Farm Wade Trophy and State Farm/WBCA Players of the Year Luncheon, presented by Jostens at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. The awards luncheon is a part of the 2004 WBCA National Convention held in New Orleans, LA, held in conjunction with the NCAA Division I Women’s Final Four.

The native of Urbandale, IA, becomes the sixth Iowa player to earn the WBCA scholarship; she joins Jolynn Schneider (1988), Tiffany Gooden (1998), Shannon Perry (1998), Cara Consuegra (2001) and Lindsey Meder (2002).

IOWA RANKS HIGH NATIONALLY
Iowa ranks 10th nationally in free throw percentage (.766), 21st in assists (16.8) and 25th in scoring offense (73.3). Kristi Faulkner ranks 22th nationally in free throw percentage (.860) and Jamie Cavey is 20th in field goal percentage (.566).

SCOUTING VIRGINIA TECH
Virginia Tech finished tied for sixth in the difficult Big East Conference, which placed a conference-high eight teams in the NCAA Tournament. The Hokies finished the season 22-7 overall and 10-6 in league play. Virginia Tech has won five of its last six games entering Sunday’s game vs. Iowa.

The Hokies are led by Ieva Kublina, who ranks first on the team in scoring (13.3) and blocked shots (68) and second in rebounding (6.6). The senior ranks 26th nationally in blocked shots. Kublina was a Big East second team selection.

Sophomore Carrie Mason ranks second on the team in scoring (11.1), first in steals (53) and second in assists (75). Sophomore Kerri Gardin ranks first on the Hokies in assists (82) and third in rebounding (5.3).

Virginia Tech is a tall team with seven players 6-1 or higher, including post players Kublina (6-4) and Nare Diawara (6-6).

The Hokies lost their last game in the Big East Tournament quarterfinals to last year’s NCAA Champion, Connecticut. Virginia Tech yielded only 48 points, which is Connecticut’s season low.

Virginia Tech ranks 11th nationally in scoring defense (55.2) and 19th in blocked shots (5.0). The Hokies are coached by Bonnie Henrickson, who is in her seventh year at Virginia Tech (157-61, .720).

HOME, AWAY COMPARISONS
In 13 home games, Iowa out-scored its opponent by a 956-917 margin, shooting 44.5 percent from the field and holding opponents to a 42.7 shooting percentage. Iowa also posted 236 assists to its opponents’ 166. Hawkeye opponents shot a sluggish 66.3 percent from the free throw line in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

In 15 games away from Iowa City, opponents out-scored the Hawkeyes 1,124-1,097. Opponents have recorded 152 steals to Iowa’s 109 (-2.9 margin) on the road. Also, opponents have recorded 67 blocks to Iowa’s 30 away from Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

WINS, LOSSES COMPARISONS
In Iowa’s 16 wins, the Hawkeyes boasted a +12.6 scoring margin. Iowa averaged 77.8 ppg in its victories. The Hawkeyes also shot the ball well from the field (.468) and the charity stripe (.789). Both Iowa and its opponents collected 140 thefts in Hawkeye victories.

Clearly, Iowa struggled to find the basket in its 12 defeats. The Hawkeyes converted only 39.8 percent of its attempts. Iowa also turns the ball over 3.4 times more in losses than wins. The Hawkeyes score 10.5 ppg less in their losses than in their victories.

IOWA VS. RANKED TEAMS
Iowa has played eight games against ranked opponents. The Hawkeyes are 2-7 against ranked opponents this year. The Hawkeyes defeated No. 18 Michigan State (78-67) and No. 11 Minnesota (81-61) and lost to No. 24 Michigan State (81-54), No. 4 Purdue (84-55), No. 7 Penn State (70-58), No. 5 Purdue (90-79), No. 6 Minnesota (75-61), No. 8 Penn State (92-64) and No. 11 Kansas State (82-60).

Iowa recorded at least one home win over a ranked opponent in each of the last four years under Coach Bluder. These are Iowa’s most recent wins vs. nationally ranked opponents:

At Home: 81-61 over 11th-ranked Minnesota, 2/19/04
On the Road: 78-67 over 18th-ranked Michigan State, 2/1/04
Neutral Court: 80-77 over 13th-ranked Minnesota, 3/7/03

SCOUTING HAMPTON
Hampton (17-12) earned the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Hampton harassed top-seeded Delaware State into 26 turnovers en route to a 65-50 triumph in the conference tournament championship game.

Nicole Brathwaite, an all-MEAC first team selection, ranks first on the Lady Pirates in scoring (15.6) and field goal percentage (.557) and second in rebounding (8.2). League rookie of the year Sharema Dean ranks second on the team in scoring (13.0) and first in steals.

Turnovers are Hampton’s achilles’ heel. The Lady Pirates average 24.6 turnovers per game to just 11.2 assists.

SCOUTING PENN STATE
Fellow Big Ten Conference opponent Penn State (25-5) joins the Hawkeyes in the first and second rounds in Blacksburg, VA. The Lady Lions won the league regular season title and were the runners-up in the conference tournament. Penn State enters this weekend’s action with a record of 25-5. The Lady Lions played the second toughest schedule in the nation next to Tennessee.

Penn State is led by senior all-American Kelly Mazzante. On Jan. 22, she became the all-time leading scorer in Big Ten history for men and women. With 2,861 points, she just broke into the NCAA’s top-10 scoring list. The Big Ten’s only four-time first team all-Big Ten selection, Mazzante averages 20.8 ppg.

Mazzante is not alone. Penn State’s roster is filled with talent. Junior Tanisha Wright and senior Jess Strom have been solid contributors all year. Wright was a first team all-Big Ten selection, while Strom was a third team pick. Reicina Russell was named to the all-Big Ten Freshman team.

Penn State is coached by Rene Portland, who was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year for the second straight year and fourth overall. Portland is about to complete her 28th year as a head coach (646-221, .745) and 24th with the Lady Lions (559-192, .744).

ROAD WARRIORS
The Hawkeyes are 8-5 in road games this year, including capturing five of the last six road conference games (Northwestern, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois). Last year, Iowa finished the season 3-8 in road contests.

The last time the Hawkeyes won five Big Ten road games was during the 2001-02 season (Iowa was 5-3). The last time Iowa won eight overall road games was when the Hawkeyes posted nine during the 1993-94 season.

LAST TIME OUT
Iowa stumbled in its last outing against No. 24 Michigan State. The Spartans bounced the Hawkeyes from the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament with an 81-54 triumph.

Iowa started the game strong, sinking its first four field goal attempts, including two 3-pointers. The game was close for the first 13 minutes, until Michigan State ended the half on a 16-9 run to take a 36-28 advantage into the locker room.

As cold as the Hawkeyes were from the floor in the second half, Michigan State was hot. Iowa converted only 4-25 (.160) in the second half, while the Spartans converted a blistering 17-29 (.586). For the game, Iowa shot a season-low 26.7 percent (12-45).

Sophomore Tiffany Reedy came off the bench to lead the Hawkeyes in scoring with 13 points (3-8 FG, 4-4 FT). It marked the first time this season that a reserve led Iowa in scoring. Junior Jamie Cavey added 11 points and five rebounds. Seniors Jennie Lillis (eight points) and Kristi Faulkner (seven points) failed to reach double figures, marking the first time in 59 games the duo failed to score in double figures in the same game (Lillis scored eight and Faulkner tallied six points in a win over Charlotte on Nov., 24, 2002).

Iowa was dominated on the boards. Michigan State out-rebounded the Hawkeyes by 16 (42-26) and out-scored the Hawkeyes 23-5 in second chance points. Michigan State also out-scored Iowa (36-8) in the paint. Michigan State sophomore Lindsay Bowen scored a game-high 27 points (10-18 FG, 2-2 FT).

The 54 points Iowa scored was a season-low.

RPI RANKINGS
Iowa ranks 37th in the RPI rankings and 18th in strength of schedule. Virginia Tech ranks 28th in RPI and 77th in strength of schedule.

Iowa is the highest rated team in the RPI rankings with 16 wins. Arkansas ranks 38th with 16 victories.

The Hawkeyes played six games against teams ranked in the RPI top 10 (Penn State, No. 3; Purdue, No. 4; Houston, No. 7; Kansas State, No. 9).

The Hawkeyes are a perfect 11-0 against teams with an RPI over 100, 1-7 against teams in the top 25 and 4-5 against teams ranked 26-100. As a conference the Big Ten ranks first ahead of the Big XII and the Pac-10. The rankings are released daily at www.wbca.org.

Penn State ranks No. 3 in the RPI rankings, followed by Purdue (5), Michigan State (20), Minnesota (31) and Ohio State (32).

The Big Ten Conference has four teams ranked in the top 20 in strength of schedule. Penn State ranks second, followed by Illinois (7), Purdue (10) and Iowa (18).

HAWKEYES LIMITING THEIR MISTAKES
Iowa, who had trouble turning the ball over early in the season, has done a better job of possessing the ball five of its last seven games. The Hawkeyes turned the ball over 14 times in games against Wisconsin, Indiana, Minnesota and Penn State and only 12 times at Illinois.

THREE’S A CHARM
Iowa is the only team to have three student-athletes ranked in the top 10 in conference scoring. Jamie Cavey ranks sixth in scoring, followed by Kristi Faulkner (seventh) and Jennie Lillis (eighth).

The Hawkeyes are also the only league school to have three players ranked in the top 13 in assists. Lillis ranks 10th, followed by Lindsay Richards (12th) and Johanna Solverson (13th).

LILLIS NAMED ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT
Jennie Lillis has been named to the 2004 Academic all-District second team. The senior has a 3.51 GPA and will graduate in May with a degree in communication studies.

FAULKNER ON PACE TO BREAK SCHOOL RECORD
Senior Kristi Faulkner has converted .850 (266-313) 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.

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 vs. No. 5 Purdue. The senior has made 417 career free throws. Lillis is also the school record holder in career free throws attempted with 552. Amy Herrig (1995-99) was the previous record holder in both categories.

Jennie Lillis has attempted at least one free throw in 115-of-121 career games. She has made 102-124 (.823) of her attempts this season, including 59 of her last 70 attempts (84.3 percent). Lillis ranks fifth in Big Ten free throw percentage.

IOWA WILL BREAK FREE THROW RECORD
Iowa has converted 76.6 percent (418-546) of its free throws this year. The Hawkeyes are on pace to break the school record of 74.4 percent (338-455) set during the 1980-81 season. Iowa nearly broke the record last year, making 74.3 percent (512-689) of its attempts.

Iowa’s 76.6 percent from the charity stripe ranks second in the Big Ten next to Penn State. The Hawkeyes are shooting 78.9 percent (228-289) from the free throw line in conference games, which ranks first in the league.

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, .818; Faulkner, .860; Lillis, .823). Jamie Cavey is shooting 75.2 percent but has made 82.6 percent (57-69) from the free throw line the last 15 games.

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.

RAINING THREES
The Hawkeyes tied a season high with ten 3-pointers at Wisconsin on Feb. 12. Iowa drained nine at Illinois on Feb. 29. Iowa has made five or more triples in 16 of its last 19 contests. The Hawkeyes rank first in the league in 3-pointers made (6.04).

Iowa converted 50 percent of its 3-point attempts vs. Purdue (7-14) and at Wisconsin (10-20).

The Hawkeyes shot a season-low 11.1 percent (2-18) from beyond the arc in their loss to Penn State on Feb. 22. The two treys made tied a season-low.

Iowa has made at least one 3-pointer in 176 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.

AMAZING COMEBACKS
Looking back on the season, you can point to two road games that helped propel the Hawkeyes to an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament.

Iowa trailed at Marquette 59-49 with 3:58 left in Milwaukee. The Hawkeyes finished with a flurry, out-scoring the Golden Eagles 16-3 to end the game and give the Hawkeyes the win. Just over two months later, Iowa recorded one of its most amazing comebacks in history. You had to see it to believe it! The Hawkeyes overcame an eight-point deficit with 39 seconds left in regulation to defeat Wisconsin, 87-82, in an overtime thriller in Madison, WI, on Feb. 12.

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 contest into the extra session.

IOWA TIP-INS

  • Iowa did not lose three straight games this season.
  • The Hawkeyes suffered their two largest margin of defeats in two of their last three games. The Hawkeyes lost by 29 at No. 4 Purdue (84-55) and by 27 to Michigan State (81-54).
  • Iowa is 10-0 this year when having a higher field goal percentage than its opponents, 13-0 when holding its opponents to 69 points or less and 12-1 when leading at halftime.
  • The Hawkeyes’ 37 field goals made vs. Illinois (1/2/04), 80 field goal attempts at Iowa State (12/3/03) and thirty 3-point field goal attempts at Michigan State (2/1/04) are the most in the Big Ten this season. Iowa’s 55 rebounds at Missouri (12/30/03) and 17 steals vs. Drake (12/21/03) rank as the second most in the conference this year.
  • Iowa’s 3-point field goal percentage of .361 ranks second in school history (min. 225 att.).
  • The Hawkeyes’ scoring average of 73.3 currently ranks sixth in Iowa history. Iowa’s 1987-88 squad averaged 77.6 ppg to set the school record.
  • Iowa’s defense yields 72.9 ppg, which ranks as the second highest opponent scoring output in Iowa history. Hawkeye opponents scored 77.8 ppg during the 1980-81 season.
  • 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.
  • Iowa’s senior class of Kristi Faulkner, Jennie Lillis and Becca McCann won at least one game in every Big Ten arena except Purdue.
  • Penn State’s Reicina Russell grabbed a game and career-high 17 rebounds in its win over Iowa on Feb. 22. The 17 rebounds are the most by an Iowa opponent since IUPUI’s Tiffany Kyser pulled down 15 boards on Nov. 23, 2002.
  • Johanna Solverson led Iowa in rebounding nine times this year.
  • 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.
  • 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 (59-5) when leading at the break under Coach Bluder the last four years.
  • Reserve Crystal Smith collected 10 steals against Minnesota this year — five in each contest.
  • 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 have been out-rebounded their last four games; Minnesota (31-29), Penn State (46-39), Purdue (41-24) and Michigan State (42-26).
  • 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 10 of the last 12 games and has attempted at least one 3-pointer in 17 of Iowa’ last 18 contests.
  • Jennie Lillis played 40 minutes or more, four times this year.
  • Iowa won at least one game against every Big Ten school this year except Penn State, Purdue and Ohio State.
  • Iowa scored 180 points (90 ppg) in two games vs. Illinois.

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.

CLOSE GAMES
Iowa 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.

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 17 times this season, topping its total all of last year (9).

FAULKNER: IOWA’S 3-POINT THREAT
Senior Kristi Faulkner ranks second on the squad in scoring (16.0), first in 3-pointers made (55), attempted (125) and percentage (.440) and fourth in rebounding (3.6). She has made at least one triple in 26-of-28 games this year. Faulkner has scored in double figures in 23-of-28 games, including posting 20 points or more eight times.

Faulkner tallied a game-high 25 points (10-17 FG, 2-2 FT) against her former team in Iowa’s 89-64 triumph at Illinois.

She scored a game-high 22 points (8-19 FG, , 4-4 FT) in Iowa’s 20-point home win over No. 11 Minnesota. It marked the first time she led the Hawkeyes in scoring since posting 27 points vs. Indiana on Jan. 15.

Faulkner scored 15 of her career-high 29 points in the final 1:50 of regulation at Wisconsin on Feb. 12. She also registered 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 136 career 3-pointers, which ranks second in career triples at Iowa. She has posted 1,222 career points at Iowa, which ranks 12th. Faulkner is nine points from moving past Lisa Long (1983-87) and into 11th place.

Faulkner was a third team all-Big Ten honoree the last two years.

LILLIS AMONG ELITE GROUP
Jennie Lillis is among an elite group of Hawkeyes. Lillis is only the second Iowa player to amass 1,700 points and 800 rebounds (Cindy Haugejorde). In addition, she is 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 eighth 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 finish her career fourth in scoring, fifth in rebounding, third in blocks, sixth in steals and eighth in assists at Iowa. She only needs three points to move into fourth place in scoring.

Lillis is a leader on and off the court. She has started all but one game in her career. The three-time all-Big Ten performer, also spends some of her free time at the University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics.

The senior ranks eighth in the league in scoring (15.8), 13th in rebounding (6.1), fifth in free throw percentage (.823), 10th in assists (3.21) and ninth in steals (1.89).

Lillis has sank a season-high twenty-nine 3-pointers, besting last year’s total (5). She has made 35 career triples. She has made at least one 3-pointer in 12 of the last 14 contests. Lillis has attempted at least one triple in 20 of Iowa’s last 21 contests. She attempted a career-high seven 3-pointers at Michigan State on Feb. 1.

The three-time captain posted her first double-double of the season and 16th of her career vs. Saint Joseph’s (19 points, 10 rebounds).

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 this season.

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. 4 in conference and No. 6 in overall play with 16.9 and 17.1 points per game, respectively. She led Iowa in scoring on 14 occasions this season, and chalked up at least 20 points in nine outings.

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 on Feb. 15, 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.

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 103-137 (.752) from the charity stripe this year. Last year, she made 38-72 (.528) of her attempts.

Cavey has converted 82.1 percent (55-67) from the free throw line the last 14 games.

BIG TEN RANKINGS — ALL GAMES
Iowa ranks first in Big Ten Conference scoring (73.3) and 3-point field goals made (6.4), second in assists (16.79) and free throw percentage (.766), third in 3-point field goal percentage (.361) and fifth in field goal percentage (.438).

Jamie Cavey ranks sixth in scoring (16.9) and fourth in field goal percentage (.566). Kristi Faulkner ranks seventh in scoring (16.0), first in 3-point percentage (.440), second in free throw percentage (.860) and sixth in 3-pointers made (1.96). Jennie Lillis ranks eighth in scoring (15.8), 13th in rebounding (6.1), ninth in steals (1.89), sixth in free throw percentage (.823) and 10th in assists (3.21).

SMITH HAVING BREAKOUT YEAR
Sophomore Crystal Smith has been Coach Bluder’s first guard off the bench this year, averaging 16.3 minutes per game. It can be argued that Smith is Iowa’s top defender, who ranks second (46) behind starter Jennie Lillis (53) for the team lead in steals. Smith ranked eighth in conference steals (1.94), 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 matched her career high in steals in Iowa’s last game against Minnesota in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The sophomore collected three of her game-high five thefts in the first half.

She matched career highs in points (10), rebounds (6) and assists (4) in Iowa’s loss to No. 5 Purdue on Feb. 10.

She 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 14 times and was nominated for Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.