Hawkeyes Host Northern Iowa

Dec. 3, 2004

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THE SETTING
Iowa (5-0) guns for its sixth consecutive victory to start the season when the Hawkeyes host in-state rival Northern Iowa (4-1) Sunday. Tip-off is slated for 2:05 p.m. in Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,500). Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for youths.

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. Brent Balbinot and Karen Schulte call the action.

IN THE RANKINGS
Iowa is receiving votes in both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today polls this week. Four Big Ten teams are ranked: Ohio State (11/10), Purdue (14/13), Michigan State (15/15) and Minnesota (18/18).

IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 851 games since beginning basketball in 1974. Overall, Iowa’s record is 519-332 (.610). That includes a 276-144 (.657) mark in Big Ten games and a 230-54 (.810) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

ON THIS DATE
Iowa is 5-3 in games played on December 5, winning its last five contests.

IOWA INCREASES LEAD IN HY-VEE CY-HAWK SERIES
The Iowa Hawkeyes’ 89-80 triumph over Iowa State Wednesday increased its lead to 5-2 in the inaugural Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk series. Two more events take place this weekend: women’s swimming and diving (Dec. 4) and wrestling (Dec. 5).

HAWKEYES START SEASON 5-0
Iowa has started 5-0 for the first time since the 1995-96 season. The 1995-96 squad began its season 7-0 and eventually would reach the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Furthermore, a Bluder coached team has not started 5-0 since 1994-95. Bluder’s Drake team started the 1994-95 season 13-0 and eventually would advance to the NCAA Second Round.

HAWKEYES PERFECT AGAINST THE BIG XII
Iowa won all three games this season against members of the Big XII Conference. The Hawkeyes topped Missouri (75-54), Oklahoma (54-47) and Iowa State (89-80).

HAWKEYES TOP OKLAHOMA WITH DEFENSE
Iowa upset No. 21/23 Oklahoma 54-47 on Nov. 27 in the championship game of the Junkanoo Jam. The last time the Hawkeyes won a game scoring 54 points or less was a 50-47 triumph over Michigan State on Feb. 22, 2001, in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

CAVEY CLIMBS CAREER SCORING CHART
Senior Jamie Cavey has scored 75 points through four games this season. The senior has totaled 797 career points, which ranks 27th at Iowa. Cavey is 13 points from passing Laurie Aaron (1989-93) for 26th.

RPI RANKINGS
Iowa’s fast start has garnered the Hawkeyes a No. 9 RPI ranking. Iowa is also ranked No. 33 in strength of schedule.

The rankings are updated daily on: www.collegerpi.com/women/05/rpi.html

IOWA WINS FIFTH STRAIGHT GAME TO OPEN SEASON
Iowa won its fifth consecutive game to start the 2004-05 season. The Hawkeyes topped intrastate rival Iowa State 89-80 Wednesday in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Five players scored in double figures for the Hawkeyes for the first time this season. In addition all nine of Iowa’s players that played scored three points or more.

Iowa built a 23-point cushion going on an eight-minute 26-2 run midway through the first half. It was sparked by sharp shooting junior Crystal Smith, who went 5-9 for 11 points in the first half.

The Hawkeyes led by as many as 25 points in the second half before the Cyclones mounted a comeback. Iowa State drained four 3-pointers in the final 5:25, but time ran out on the Cyclones.

Iowa out-scored Iowa State 14-0 in fast break points and 28-19 in bench points.

Senior Jenna Arnstrong scored a career-high 15 points, with all 15 coming from beyond the arc. Smith tallied 17 points and posted career highs in rebounds (8) and assists (8). Senior Jamie Cavey scored a game-high 19 points, bolstered by a perfect 9-9 from the foul line. Freshman Krista VandeVenter recorded a season-high 10 points, collected eight rebounds and blocked two shots.

SCOUTING NORTHERN IOWA
Northern Iowa dropped UW-Milwaukee Thursday (68-50) to raise its record to 4-1. The Panthers have also defeated Northern Illinois (74-60), Murray State (80-56) and Illinois-Chicago (72-58). Northern Iowa lost at Wyoming (65-45).

The Panthers built a 14-point halftime lead over UW-Milwaukee and never looked back. Northern Iowa was led by senior Alex Cook, who posted a double-double. Cook tallied 20 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. Sophomore Cassie Hager added 19 points and collected six rebounds and a game-high five blocks.

Junior center Cassie Hager ranks first on the team in scoring (16.3) and second in rebounding (7.8). Senior forward Alex Cook ranks first in rebounding (10.8) and third in scoring (9.0).

Northern Iowa is coached by Tony DiCecco. He is in his 10th season as a collegiate head coach, all at Northern Iowa.

COMMON OPPONENTS
Iowa and Northern Iowa share four common opponents (UW-Milwaukee, Iowa State, Northwestern and Southern Illinois).

The Hawkeyes have already defeated Southern Illinois (66-50) and Iowa State (89-80) and will travel to UW-Milwaukee on Dec. 28 and play Northwestern twice during conference play. Northern Iowa defeated UW-Milwaukee (68-50) and will play the other three opponents later in the season.

ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Sunday will mark the 10th meeting between Iowa and Northern Iowa. The Hawkeyes lead the all-time series 8-1, including a 4-0 advantage in Iowa City.

Before resuming the series in 2002, Iowa and Northern Iowa did not play each other from 1984-2002. The Hawkeyes won last year’s game 76-67 in Cedar Falls and dropped the Panthers 98-68 in Iowa City in 2002.

Iowa is 36-35 all-time against current members in the Missouri Valley Confernce.

SUCCESS AT THE FOUL LINE
Iowa has had two players shoot 100 percent from the free throw line in games (min. 7 att.). Crystal Smith converted 7-7 vs. Missouri, while Jamie Cavey drained all nine attempts against Iowa State.

As a team, the Hawkeyes converted a season-high 24-29 (.828) vs. Iowa State after making a season-low 9-24 (.375) vs. Oklahoma the previous game.

HOLIDAY TOURNAMENTS UNDER BLUDER
Iowa impoved to 16-2 in holiday tournaments under Coach Bluder. In 2000, Iowa won both games in the Hawkeye Challenge. In 2001, Iowa won both games in the Great Alaska Shootout and its Hawkeye Challenge. In 2002, the Hawkeyes split their two games in the LMU Thanksgiving Classic, but won both games in the Hawkeye Challenge. In 2003, Iowa won both games in the FIU Thanksgiving Classic, but split its two games in the Hawkeye Challenge. And this season, Iowa won its two games in the Hawkeye Challenge and the Junkanoo Jam.

HAWKEYES WIN JUNKANOO JAM
Iowa won its second holiday tournament in as many weeks as the Hawkeyes defeated Florida (65-62) in the first round and then upset No. 21/23 Oklahoma (54-47) in the championship game to capture the Lucaya Division Junkanoo Jam title in Freeport, Bahamas.

Iowa built a 14-point lead with 14:12 left in the game and held on to defeat Florida by three points in the tournament opener. The Gators had an opportunity to tie the game at the buzzer, but Tashia Morehead’s 3-point attempt missed.

The Hawkeyes used great defense and rebounding to upset No. 21/23 Oklahoma in the championship game. Iowa led by as many as 13 points in the first half and went into halftime with an eight point advantage (30-22). Oklahoma trimmed Iowa’s lead to three (41-38) with 8:14 left, but the Hawkeyes made clutch baskets down the stretch to hold off the charging Sooners. Iowa won despite having a higher field goal percentage than free throw percentage. The Hawkeyes shot 41.2 percent (21-51) from the field, while shooting a season-low 37.5 percent (9-24) from the foul line. However, Oklahoma was plagued by poor shooting from the field, converting a dismal 23.9 percent (16-67), including 16.0 percent (4-25) from beyond the arc.

Jamie Cavey averaged 15.5 ppg and 5.0 ppg in the two tournament games. Crystal Smith averaged 12.0 ppg and 5.0 rpg, while Krista VandeVenter averaged 6.5 ppg and 8.5 rpg.

SMITH, CAVEY EARN ALL-TOURNAMENT HONORS
Crystal Smith was named MVP of the Lucaya Bracket of the Junkanoo Jam. The MVP accolade was Smith’s second in as many weeks, as the senior was recognized as MVP of the KCRG-TV9 Hawkeye Challenge. Smith scored 13 points and collected a team-high three steals against Florida. The Haughton, LA, native tallied 11 points, grabbed a then-career-high seven rebounds and was Iowa’s defensive leader in holding Oklahoma all-American candidate Dionnah Jackson to only 12 points.

Jamie Cavey joined Smith on the all-tournament team. Like Smith, Cavey earned her second all-tournament honors in as many weeks. Cavey posted a game-high 12 points and pulled down a season-high six rebounds against the Sooners. The Mechanicsville, IA, native scored a team-high 19 points and collected four rebounds vs. the Gators.

VANDEVENTER CLEANS THE GLASS
Krista VandeVenter has been Iowa’s leading rebounder all five games. Last weekend, VandeVenter pulled down six rebounds vs. Florida and a season-high 11 against Oklahoma. The freshman has averaged 8.2 boards per game so far this season. The last time an Iowa player led the team in rebounding five consecutive games was Jerica Watson in the last five games of the 2001-02 season. Watson also led the team in rebounding nine straight games earlier in the 2001-02 campaign.

The Osseo, MN, native has also done a good job offensively. VandeVenter scored all of her nine points in the second half against the Sooners. She also tallied a season-high 10 points vs. Iowa State. VandeVenter averages 7.4 ppg. The post player also ranks third in assists (14), just two back from team-leader point guard Johanna Solverson (16).

HAWKEYES ADD THIRD JERSEYS
For the first time under Coach Bluder’s tenure, Iowa will have three colored jerseys this season (white, black and gold). The last time Iowa played in gold jerseys was during the 1999-00 season.

SCHLAPKOHL, KASPEREK COME UP HUGE OFF BENCH
Stacy Schlapkohl was a key factor in Iowa’s victory over Florida last Friday in the Bahamas. Schlapkohl scored eight points on a perfect 4-4 shooting from the field. She also collected two rebounds and one steal in 15 minutes of action.

Morgan Kasperek was Iowa’s clutch bench performer vs. No. 21/23 Oklahoma on Nov. 27. Kasperek, who was fighting a flu bug earlier in the week, played 15 minutes and scored six points and corralled four rebounds while Cavey sat on the bench in foul trouble.

BLUDER WINS GAME NUMBER 75 AT IOWA
Iowa’s two victories in the KCRG-TV 9 Hawkeye Challenge raised Coach Lisa Bluder’s win total to 75 at Iowa. The fifth-year coach boasts a 75-49 (.605) record with the Hawkeyes.

IOWA FAST BREAKS

• Iowa has controlled the opening tip in its first five games.
• Iowa Head Coach Lisa Bluder graduated from Northern Iowa in 1983 and was a three-year starter on its basketball team.
• The Hawkeyes wore their new gold jerseys in their season-opening win over Southern Illinois.
• The victory over No. 21/23 Oklahoma marked Iowa’s first win over a ranked opponent on a neutral floor since dropping Minnesota (80-77) on March 3, 2003 in the Big Ten Tournament.
• Johanna Solverson is six points from reaching 500 for her career.
• Jamie Cavey is four rebounds from reaching 300 for her career.
• Jenna Armstrong’s 12 three-point attempts vs. Iowa State is the most attempts by an individual since Lindsey Meder attempted 14 twice during the 2001-02 season.

HAWKEYES WIN KCRG-TV 9 HAWKEYE CHALLENGE
Iowa started its season on a high note, winning the KCRG-TV9 Hawkeye Challenge. Ten of Iowa’s 11 players scored two points or more in both victories. Also, Iowa out-scored Southern Illinois and Missouri a combined 78-26 in the paint.

The Hawkeyes opened the tournament with a 66-50 triumph over Southern Illinois. Scoring only 26 points in the first half, Iowa’s offense came alive in the second stanza scoring 40. Johanna Solverson scored a team-high 16 points. Jamie Cavey added 12 points, while Morgan Kasperek tallied a career-high eight points. Krista VandeVenter grabbed a game-high seven rebounds. Jenna Armstrong dished out a career-high six assists in the victory.

Southern Illinois attempted a Carver-Hawkeye Arena record 29 three-pointers in the loss.

Iowa dominated the championship game, leading start-to-finish in a 75-54 win over Missouri. Crystal Smith registered game highs in points (26) and steals (4). Cavey added 13 points, while Solverson recorded nine points and five rebounds. As a team, the Hawkeyes out-scored the Tigers 19-7 at the foul line.

HAWKEYES NAMED TO ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Juniors Crystal Smith and Johanna Solverson and senior Jamie Cavey were named to the KCRG-TV9 Hawkeye Challenge all-Tournament Team.

Smith was tabbed MVP of the tournament, averaging 17.5 ppg and 3.5 spg. The native of Haughton, LA, scored 26 points in the championship game vs. Missouri, shattering her previous career high (10 points). Furthermore, Smith was a perfect 7-7 from the foul line, setting new career highs in free throws made and attempted.

Both Solverson and Cavey averaged 12.5 ppg. Solverson was a perfect 6-6 shooting from the field, including 4-4 from beyond the arc in Iowa’s first round 66-50 win over Southern Illinois. The four 3-pointers was a career high as was her game-high six steals.

In addition to averaging 12.5 ppg, Cavey averaged 3.0 rpg and 2.5 bpg.

The honor was the first for Smith, while it marked the second Hawkeye Challenge all-tournament accolade for Solverson and Cavey. Cavey was recognized last year, while Solverson her freshman season.

SOLVERSON TIES ARENA RECORD
Johanna Solverson’s perfect 4-4 shooting from 3-point range tied a Carver-Hawkeye Arena record for 3-point field goal percentage. Solverson joins Minnesota’s Jodi Olson (4-4), Miami of Ohio’s Adrienne Spatz (4-4), Iowa’s Steph Schueler (4-4), Iowa’s Stacy Frese (5-5) and Southwest Missouri State’s Jennifer Lingor (5-5) in the record books.

Solverson’s overall 6-6 shooting from the field was perfect, but did not tie an arena record. The record, which is a minimum of eight attempts, is held by Andrea Harmon (8-8) and current teammate Jamie Cavey (9-9).

SENIOR STARTS (ARM)STRONG
Senior Jenna Armstrong has had a good start to the 2004-05 season. Armstrong averages 21.4 minuntes per game and 4.8 points per game. The native of Stockton, MO, leads the team in 3-pointers made (7). She also had pulled down a career-high five rebounds twice this season (Florida and Iowa State).

FRESHMEN START FOR HAWKEYES
Point guard Abby Emmert and power forward Krista VandeVenter started Iowa’s first two games (Southern Illinois and Missouri).

Emmert and VandeVenter became the first Iowa freshmen duo to start since the 1994-95 season where newcomers Tiffany Gooden and Tangela Smith started 17 and 15 games, respectively.

FRESHMEN HAWKEYES
Forwards Krista VandeVenter (Osseo, MN) and Stacy Schlapkohl (Durant, IA) and guards Abby Emmert (Winterset, IA) and Jeneé Graham (Bolingbrook, IL) join the Hawkeye roster this season.

Schlapkohl is the Durant HS record holder in eight statistical categories and received a school-record 17 letters in four sports. VandeVenter was runner-up Miss Minnesota and was the Osseo HS Female Athlete of the Year her senior year. Emmert is a four-time all-conference selection and is the Winterset HS career leader in assists and scoring. Graham was the Bolingbrook HS Gatorade Player of the Year and was a Chicago Tribune all-State honorable mention her senior season.

BIG TEN RANKINGS
As a team, the Hawkeyes rank third in the Big Ten in 3-point field goal percentage (.357) and 3-point field goal percentage defense (.274). Iowa ranks fourth in field goal percentage defense (.342).

Individually, Crystal Smith ranks 10th in the league in scoring (15.2) and fourth in steals (3.0). Jamie Cavey ranks 11th in scoring (15.0) and seventh in field goal percentage (.565). Krista VandeVenter ranks sixth in rebounding (8.2) and third in offensive rebounds (3.6). Johanna Solverson ranks fifth in steals (2.6).

RAINING THREES
Iowa has made at least one 3-pointer in 182 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.

EMMERT MAKES HISTORY
Abby Emmert became only the second Iowa freshman to start at point guard. Prior to this season, Cara Consuegra was Iowa’s only freshman to start at point guard (1997).

HAWKEYES ADD WALK-ON
Head Coach Lisa Bluder announced that Ebone Pope (Ottumwa, IA) has been added to the 2004-05 roster as a walk-on. The 5-9 guard will wear No. 15.

Pope was a two-year starter at Marshalltown Community College. Pope averaged a team-best 11.3 ppg, 6.0 rpg and 2.7 apg last year. She was team captain, earned first team all-conference and first team all-tournament honors last season. She averaged 9.0 ppg and earned all-region honorable mention accolades her freshman year.

She graduated from Ottumwa High School in 2002, where she averaged 14.5 ppg, 3.5 apg and 3.3 rpg. Pope earned second team all-conference laurels her junior and senior years. Her high school team competed in the state tournament her senior season.

Pope joins Kristi Faulkner (2001-04) as the only walk-ons to make a Hawkeye roster under Coach Bluder.

CENTER OF ATTENTION
For the first time under Coach Bluder, Iowa will start its season with a returning starting center.

Since Bluder began coaching the Hawkeyes in 2000 Iowa has had a different center to start the season. Randi Peterson was Iowa’s starter in 2000-01, followed by Beatrice Bullock (2001-02), Tracy Schrupp (2002-03) and Jamie Cavey (2003-04). Peterson, Bullock and Schrupp were all seniors.

Cavey becomes Iowa’s first center to start consecutive seasons since Amy Herrig (1998-99).

RICHARDS TO START SEASON ON THE SIDELINES
Point guard Lindsay Richards underwent successful surgery on July 7 to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee.

The junior is expected to make a full recovery and hopes to return to the Hawkeye lineup in January. The native of Barrington, IL, sustained the injury during practice with the Big Ten All-Stars before the team left for Australia in early-June. This is the second time in as many years she has undergone surgery to repair a damaged ACL in her right knee. Richards’ first ACL injury came in a home game against Denver on December 12, 2002.

Richards started all 29 games for the Hawkeyes last year. She ranked fifth on the team in scoring (5.4 ppg) and free throw percentage (39-51, .765), second in assists (85) and fourth in steals (27). Her 2.93 assists average ranked 11th in the Big Ten. Richards was also an academic all-Big Ten selection last year.

Before injuring her knee as a freshman, she played in eight games as a reserve, averaging 4.5 ppg, 1.6 rpg and dishing out 29 assists. Richards will not receive a medical redshirt for her freshman season.

IOWA VS. RANKED TEAMS
Iowa has recorded at least one victory over a ranked opponent in each of the five 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: 54-47 over 21st-ranked Oklahoma, 11/27/04

HOME GROWN HAWKEYES
Iowa’s roster features five players from the state of Iowa (Jamie Cavey, Abby Emmert, Ebone Pope, Tiffany Reedy and Stacy Schlapkohl). The Hawkeyes also have four players from the state of Illinois (Lindsay Richards, Johanna Solverson, Jeneé Graham and Morgan Kasperek). Iowa’s 12-person roster also features players from Missouri (Jenna Armstrong), Minnesota (Krista VandeVenter) and Louisiana (Crystal Smith).

NUTHIN’ BUT NET
Catch all the University of Iowa women’s basketball games over the Internet at www.hawkeyesports.com. Fans can listen to live or replay previously played games. Just click on the “Multimedia” link near the top of the page. There is a cost for the service.

“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 7:30-8:30 p.m. The first show is set to air November 29. Fans can call toll-free at (800) 332-5401 or locally at (319) 365-0600.

IOWA INFORMATION ON THE WEB
Statistics and play-by-play accounts of all Iowa home games and most road contests 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 then clicking on the Gametracker link.

HY-VEE CY-HAWK SERIES
Iowa leads the inaugural Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk Series 5-2. Iowa has recorded victories in football (17-10) and women’s basketball (89-80). Iowa State won in women’s soccer (6-1).

A point system will track each institution’s performance and will culminate in one institution winning the annual trophy for the Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk Series. Intercollegiate athletic teams from Iowa and Iowa State will square off in head-to-head competition nine different times during the 2004-05 academic year. The competition this year is in men’s basketball, women’s basketball, wrestling, women’s gymnastics, women’s soccer, softball and women’s swimming and diving. Additional points will be available for each school to secure based on successful performance in the classroom by its student-athletes. Listed below is the upcoming competition schedule:
Dec. 4, W. Swimming and Diving — 2 points
Dec. 5, Wrestling — 2 points
Dec. 10, M. Basketball — 2 points
Jan. 28, W. Gymnastics — 2 points
Feb. 19, W. Gymnastics — 2 points
Apr. 19, Softball — 2 points
2 points for an institution if the student-athlete graduation rate for all student-athletes is greater than the national average for all student-athletes.

AFTER THIS
Iowa’s three-game homestand concludes when it hosts Marquette Wednesday (7 p.m.) in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Then, the Hawkeyes will hit the road for games at Creighton (Dec. 9) and Drake (Dec. 18).