Hawkeyes Travel to Michigan State

Jan. 7, 2005

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THE SETTING
No. 17/18 Iowa (13-1, 2-1) travels to East Lansing, Michigan, to face No. 6/6 Michigan State Sunday. Tip-off is slated for 1:05 p.m. (CST) in the Breslin Center (14,759).

ON THE AIR AND THE 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. Brent Balbinot and Karen Schulte call the action.

BLUDER BECOMES IOWA’S SECOND ALL-TIME WINNINGEST COACH
Iowa’s victory over Illinois raised Iowa Head Coach Lisa Bluder’s win total to 86-50 (.632) with the Hawkeyes. Bluder is now Iowa’s second all-time winningest coach and trails only C. Vivan Stringer (269-84, .762).

IN THE RANKINGS
Iowa remained ranked 18th in the Associated Press and moved up to spots to 17th in the ESPN/USA Today poll. Four other Big Ten teams join the Hawkeyes in the rankings: Michigan State (6/6), Ohio State (9/9), Minnesota (11/11) and Purdue (24/22). The Big Ten boasts the most teams in the top 25. The SEC, Big XII and Big East each have four schools ranked.

In addition, Iowa and Michigan State are the only Big Ten Conference teams to have both hoops teams ranked. The Spartans’ men’s team is ranked 20, while the women are rated 6. The Hawkeye men are ranked No. 14, while the women are ranked No. 17.

FAST START
Iowa is enjoying its best start in 17 years. The Hawkeyes’ 13-1 is their second-best start in school history. Only the 1987-88 Iowa team, which won its first 22 games, started better than these Hawkeyes. In addition, Iowa started the season 13-0 and was the last Division I team to be beaten.

In addition, Iowa’s 13-0 start matched Coach Bluder’s best start at a Division I school. The native of Marion, Iowa, guided the Drake Bulldogs to a 13-0 start in 1994 and eventually advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 860 games since beginning basketball in 1974. Overall, Iowa’s record is 527-333 (.613). That includes a 278-145 (.657) mark in Big Ten games and a 234-55 (.810) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

RPI RANKINGS
Iowa’s fast start has garnered the Hawkeyes a Big Ten-best No. 4 RPI ranking. Iowa is also ranked No. 14 in strength of schedule. Michigan State ranks No. 7 in the RPI and No. 18 in strength of schedule.

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

ON THIS DATE
Iowa is 5-4 in games played on January 9, including losing its last two contests.

NUMBER OF THE WEEK – – 2
Iowa and Texas are the only Division I schools to have its football and men and women’s basketball teams ranked in the top 25 in the two major polls.

SCORING BY HALVES
Iowa has out-scored its opponents 498-401 in the first half, 503-466 in the second half and 14-5 in overtime. The Hawkeyes have led at halftime in 11-of-14 contests. Iowa has out-scored its opponent in the second half in eight-of-14 games.

LAST TIME OUT
Jess Strom and Penn State saw to it that Iowa’s stint as the nation’s only unbeaten team was short.

Strom scored nine of her career-high 29 points in the final 2:18 and Penn State held on after blowing most of a 20-point lead to beat Iowa 77-71 Thursday night.

Iowa had been left as the nation’s lone unbeaten Division I team after top-ranked LSU lost at Rutgers on Wednesday night. But the Hawkeyes couldn’t quite make it all the way back after trailing 59-39 with less than 12 minutes to play.

“A loss is a loss no matter when,” Iowa coach Lisa Bluder said. “It hurts because it’s a loss. Not because we were the last ones in the country, but just because we lost.”

Tanisha Wright and Jennifer Harris each scored 18 points for Penn State, which has played a brutal schedule and pulled off its third major upset. The Lady Lions also knocked off then-No. 2 North Carolina and No. 9 Ohio State, both at home.

Iowa got 18 points from Johanna Solverson and a huge lift from reserves Jenee Graham and Morgan Kasperek, with each finishing with a career-high 11 points.

With Graham and Kasperek providing the spark, Iowa out-scored Penn State 10-3 to cut the lead to 62-49. Solverson’s 3-pointer capped a 13-0 run that drew the Hawkeyes to 64-62 with 3:50 to play and they trailed 66-64 after Kasperek’s layup with 2:47 remaining.

But Iowa couldn’t get the defensive stop it needed to tie or take the lead and Strom took over down the stretch, scoring on a driving layup and making seven of eight free throws to keep Penn State on top.

Penn State kept Iowa’s leading scorer, the ultra-quick Crystal Smith, bottled up most of the game. Smith was scoreless in the first half and finished with nine points, half her average. Iowa center Jamie Cavey, averaging 15.7 points, scored only six on 3-for-10 shooting. Early on, Iowa showed every sign of staying unbeaten. Solverson scored the game’s first eight points and the Hawkeyes were rolling. But they slowed shortly thereafter and then stalled completely.

An 11-2 run got Penn State back in it and with Iowa making only one basket in the final eight minutes of the first half, the Lady Lions finished the half with a 9-2 run to lead 32-24.

Penn State finished with a season-high 10 3-pointers in 21 attempts.

SCOUTING MICHIGAN STATE
The sixth-ranked Michigan State Spartans Sunday will look to rebound from only its second loss of the season when the ninth-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes dropped the Spartans 68-54 in Columbus Thursday. With the game tied at 28 at halftime, the Buckeyes out-scored the Spartans 40-26 in the second stanza. Ohio State shot a blistering 57.1 percent (16-28) in the second half, while Michigan State shot only 28.6 percent (10-35). Liz Shimek paced the Spartans, posting game highs in points (17) and rebounds (10). Kristin Haynie added 11 points and 10 rebounds in defeat.

The Spartans boast four players averaging in double figures in scoring. Kelli Roehrig ranks first (15.4), followed by Shimek (15.2), Lindsay Bowen (15.0) and Haynie (11.3). Shimek ranks second in the Big Ten in rebounding (9.6).

Highlights from Michigan State’s non-conference schedule include road victories at Notre Dame (82-73) and Connecticut (67-51) and a home win over Boston College (82-78).

The Spartans are coached by Joanne P. McCallie, who is in her 13th year as a college head coach and her fifth with Michigan State. McCallie’s overall record stands at 247-127 (.660) and 80-54 (.597) with the Spartans.

IOWA, MICHIGAN STATE GAME NOTES

• Iowa and Michigan State do not share any non-conference opponents.
• Iowa’s Krista VandeVenter and Michigan State’s Kelli Roehrig tie for third in offensive rebounds in the Big Ten overall rankings (3.36).
• Iowa’s Crystal Smith (at Drake) and Michigan State’s Lindsay Bowen (vs. TCU) each scored 33 points in a game, the most by any Big Ten student-athlete in a single game this season.
• Both Michigan State and Iowa have two players ranked in the top 15 in scoring in the Big Ten. Iowa’s Crystal Smith ranks fifth (17.4) and Jamie Cavey 13th (15.0), while Kelli Roehrig ranks 11th (15.4) and Lindsay Bowen 13th (15.0) for Michigan State.
• Michigan State ranks in the top five in 11 Big Ten statistical categories in overall games, while Iowa ranks in the top five in seven statistical categories. The Spartans rank first in steals (10.64), rebounding (44.6), offensive rebounds (17.86) and second in rebounding margin (+10.0), turnover margin (+3.07), assist/turnover ratio (1.02) and scoring offense (73.3). The Hawkeyes rank third in scoring offense (72.5), field goal percentage (.483), rebounding margin (+6.4) and offensive rebounds (13.71).
• Michigan State’s Kristen Haynie ranks first in the Big Ten in steals (3.67) and assist/turnover ratio (2.26).
• Both Michigan State Head Coach Joanne P. McCallie and Iowa Football Head Coach Kirk Ferentz began their respective head coaching careers at the University of Maine. McCallie mentored the Black Bears for eight seasons (1992-2000), while Ferentz was at Maine for three years.
• Iowa Head Coach Lisa Bluder and Michigan State Head Coach Joanne P. McCallie entered the Big Ten together in 2000.

ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Iowa holds a 28-15 advantage in the Michigan State series, including a 13-7 edge in games played in East Lansing. The Hawkeyes have won the last three contests played in the Breslin Center, including last season’s only regular season meeting (78-67). The Hawkeyes scored the last 11 points en route to the upset victory. Michigan State cruised to an 81-54 triumph over the Hawkeyes in the quarterfinals of the 2004 Big Ten Tournament last March.

Iowa has won five of the last seven overall meetings against the Spartans.

There has been only one overtime game in the 43-game series history. Michigan State defeated the Hawkeyes (71-70) in double overtime on Jan. 15, 1995. The game was Iowa’s first-ever contest to extend to two overtimes.

LAST MEETING
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.

HEAD OF THE CLASS
Jamie Cavey leads Big Ten seniors in field goal percentage (.596). Crystal Smith leads conference juniors in scoring (17.4) and field goal percentage (.541), while Johanna Solverson leads in steals (2.57). Krista VandeVenter leads league freshman in rebounding (8.0).

COMPARING GAME STATS

FG%  3-PT%   FT% REB AST TO  PTSIowa    .483    .304    .699    39.9    220 242 72.5Opp.    .377    .333    .728    33.5    165 224 62.3

FRESHMAN AMONG ELITE GROUP
Krista VandeVenter leads the Hawkeyes in rebounding (8.0) through 14 games. The last time a true-freshman led Iowa in rebounding was Tangela Smith (1994-95). In fact, only four other Hawkeyes have led the team in rebounding as freshman (Tangela Smith, 1994-95; Lynn Kennedy, 1983-84; Cindy Haugejorde, 1976-77; Jenni Mayer, 1975-76).

SHARING THE WEALTH
Iowa’s triangle offense generates many assists. The Hawkeyes have four players who average two assists or more. Small forward Johanna Solverson (3.4) leads the team, followed by shooting guard Crystal Smith (2.6), center Jamie Cavey (2.5) and power forward Krista VandeVenter (2.1).

HOME, AWAY COMPARISONS
In eight home games, Iowa has out-scored its opponent 594-4503 (+11.4 margin), shooting 49.0 percent from the field and holding opponents to a 39.6 shooting percentage. Iowa also posted 137 assists to its opponents’ 96.

In six games away from Iowa City, Iowa has out-scored its opponents 421-369 (+8.7 margin). Opponents have recorded 64 steals to Iowa’s 52 (-2.0 margin) on the road. Also, the Hawkeyes have recorded 27 blocks to their opponents 18 away from Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Here are the home and away comparisons:

    FG%  3-PT%   FT% REB AST TO  PTSHome    .490    .372    .750    38.1    137 130 74.2Away    .475    .222    .622    42.3    83  112 70.2

CAVEY CLIMBS CAREER CHARTS
Senior Jamie Cavey has amassed 210 points through 14 games this season. The senior has totaled 932 career points, which ranks 22nd at Iowa. Cavey is only five points from passing Randi Peterson (1997-00) for 21st.

The Mechanicsville, IA, native has also collected 65 career blocks, which ranks ninth on Iowa’s career chart. Cavey is only two rejections from passing Amy Herrig (1995-99) for eighth on the career chart.

HAWKEYES APPROACHING MILESTONES

• Morgan Kasperek is one point from reaching career point No. 100.
• Tiffany Reedy is three points from reaching career points No. 300.
• Johanna Solverson is five assists from career assist No. 200.

IOWA BENCH COMING THROUGH
Iowa’s bench play has been one of the keys to its 13-1 start. Iowa’s bench has outscored and out-rebounded its opponents 257-162 and 159-104, respectively. The Hawkeyes average 18.4 ppg and 11.4 rpg from their bench players. Iowa has outscored 10-of-14 opponents in bench points.

GRAHAM COMING ON STRONG
One of Iowa’s top producers off the bench has been Jenee Graham. The freshman has pulled down two or more rebounds in all 12 games she has played. Graham ranks fifth on the team in rebounding (3.1 rpg).

Graham had the best game of her career vs. Penn State Thursday. The native of Bolingbrook, IL, posted career bests in points (11), field goals made (4) and attempted (6), rebounds (7), assists (2), free throws made (3) and attempted (6) and minutes played (20). She scored two points and grabbed three rebounds in Iowa’s road win at Illinois last Sunday.

INSIDE, NOT OUTSIDE
Iowa attempted a season-low two 3-pointers in its victory over in-state rival Northern Iowa on Dec. 5. The Hawkeyes made one of the two to extend its streak of consecutive games with at least one triple.

The last time Iowa attempted two 3-pointers or less in a game was in a 77-57 win vs. Weber State on Nov. 20, 1998 in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes were 1-1 from beyond the arc.

Iowa stayed with its inside game at Creighton and UW-Milwaukee. The Hawkeyes attempted only five triples at Creighton, making one of the five attempts. Iowa out-scored UW-Milwaukee 44-6 in the paint on Dec. 28. The Hawkeyes converted only two triples against the Panthers.

OUTSIDE AND INSIDE
After attempting a season-low two 3-pointers in Iowa’s win over Northern Iowa on Dec. 5, the Hawkeyes attempted a season-high 24 triples vs. Marquette on Dec. 8. Iowa made a season-high nine 3-pointers in the victory, with seven of the nine coming in the first half. The Hawkeyes also had success in the paint, scoring 30 points.

IOWA’S RECORD IN GAMES DECIDED BY… The Hawkeyes are 5-0 in games decided by 6-10 points. Here is a glance at Iowa’s record in games decided by…

    OT   1-5 6-10    11-15   16-20   21+ Total    1-0 1-0 5-1 3-0 1-0 2-0 13-1

HAWKEYES RANK HIGH NATIONALLY
As od games played through Jan. 2, Iowa ranks thid nationally in fouls per game (13.1), fifth in field goal percentage (48.4) and 30th in scoring offense (72.6). Individually, Crystal Smith ranks 40th in scoring (18.1) and 43rd in field goal percentage (54.7). Jamie Cavey ranks ninth in field goal percentage (61.8) and 37th in blocks (2.2).

SUCCESS AT THE FOUL LINE
Iowa has had four players shoot 100 percent from the free throw line in games (min. 6 att.). Crystal Smith converted 7-7 vs. Missouri, Jamie Cavey drained all nine attempts against Iowa State. Stacy Schlapkohl was a perfect 6-6 vs. Northern Iowa, while made all six attempts vs. Western Illinois.

As a team, the Hawkeyes posted season highs in free throws made (25), attempted (29) and percentage (.862) vs. Western Illinois. Johanna Solverson converted a career-high 11-13 (.846) against the Westerwinds. Prior to that game, Solverson’s career bests in a single game were four free throws made and attempted.

ATTENDANCE RANKINGS
Iowa’s home attendance average (3,773) ranks 23rd nationally in the latest attendance rankings released Jan. 3. The Hawkeyes are the sixth-highest ranked Big Ten team behind No. 5 Minnesota (7,797), No. 6 P urdue (7509), No. 8 Penn State (7,250), No. 11 Wisconsin (5,882) and No. 17 Michigan State (4,811).

RAINING THREES
Iowa has made at least one 3-pointer in 191 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.

NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS
Iowa defeated Oklahoma when it was ranked 21st and also have victories over Florida and Marquette, all of whom made the tournament last season. The Hawkeyes have also handed Iowa State its only setback.

IOWA FAST BREAKS

• Iowa has controlled the opening tip in 12-of-14 games.
• Iowa’s single-game season high in attendance is 4,912 (Indiana).
• The Hawkeyes have out-scored their opponents 474-278 in the paint.
• Jamie Cavey fouled out vs. Marquette, becoming the first Hawkeye to foul out of a game this season. Cavey fouled out a team-high eight times last season.
• Jamie Cavey has scored double figures in 13-of-14 games this year and 39 of the last 40 contests dating back to last season.
• Iowa has led at the half in 11-of-14 games.
• Iowa has held four teams to 51 points or less (Indiana — 51; UW-Milwaukee –51; Southern Illinois — 50; Northern Iowa — 50; Oklahoma — 47).
• All 14 of Iowa’s opponents have shot less than 50 percent from the field.
• Iowa has had more assists than its opponents in 13-of-14 games and have shot more free throws in all 14 contests.
• Iowa was 3-0 against teams from the Big XII (Iowa State, Missouri, Oklahoma) and 4-0 vs. Missouri Valley Conference teams (Drake, Southern Illinois, Creighton, Northern Iowa).
• Only one of Iowa’s starters is a senior (Jamie Cavey).
• The victory over No. 21 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.
• 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.
• Iowa is 3-5 in overtime games under Coach Bluder.
• Iowa’s 54-47 victory over then-No. 21 Oklahoma in the championship game of the Junkanoo Jam marked the first time the Hawkeyes won a game scoring 54 points or less since a 50-47 triumph over Michigan State on Feb. 22, 2001, in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
• Iowa’s 15-point second half rally at Creighton is the second-largest comeback under Coach Bluder. The Hawkeyes rallied from 18 down in the second half to bounce Indiana (81-76) from the 2001 Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

VANDEVENTER CLEANS THE GLASS
Krista VandeVenter has been Iowa’s leading rebounder in nine of its 14 games, including the first five contests of the season. VandeVenter pulled down six rebounds vs. Florida, 11 against Oklahoma and a career-high 14 at Creighton. The freshman averages 8.0 boards per game. 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.

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 10 points vs. Iowa State and a career-best 19 on 8-11 FG and 3-5 from the charity stripe at Creighton. VandeVenter averages 7.4 ppg. The post player also ranks fourth in assists (29). She has also recorded two steals in five games.

THUNDER AND LIGHTNING
Guard Crystal Smith has been one of league’s top offensive and defensive player through nine games. The junior was named MVP of the KCRG-TV9 Hawkeye Challenge and Junkanoo Jam. Smith ranks first on the team and fifth in Big Ten in scoring (17.4), first on the team and eighth in conference free throw percentage (.833) and first on the team and fourth in league steals (2.57). The native of Haughton, LA, has netted 20 points or more four times, which ranks second in the Big Ten. She netted a career-high 33 points at Drake on Dec. 18. Smith’s performances has turned some heads around the nation.

“Crystal is just an outstanding player,” said Iowa State Head Coach Bill Fennelly. “She’s an impact player on both ends of the floor. I hope we don’t have to play a guard as good as her the rest of the season.”

“I’ve been around the game a long time and Crystal is as good a player I’ve ever seen,” said Northern Iowa Head Coach Tony DiCecco. “She has a lot of tools. She’s extremely difficult to defend because at a split second she’s at full speed. She’s lightning quick and I tip my hat to her.”

“She’s so lighting fast. She has to be the most improved player in the Big Ten,” said Penn State Head Coach Rene Portland.

Center Jamie Cavey has been a force down in the post. The senior tri-captain, ranks second on the team and 11th in the Big Ten in scoring (15.7) and first on the team and third in the conference in field goal percentage (.618).

Cavey has scored double figures in 13-of-14 contests. Furthermore, she has scored double digits in 54 of her last 56 games, dating back to the 2002-03 season. She was named to the KCRG-TV9 Hawkeye Challenge and Junkanoo Jam all-Tournament teams.

HAWKEYES CAPTURE MYTHICAL STATE TITLE
Iowa captured its second mythical state title in three years. The Hawkeyes first defeated Iowa State (89-80) on Dec. 1, followed by victories over and Northern Iowa (77-50) on Dec. 8 and Drake (80-69) on Dec. 18.

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).

FRESHMEN START FOR HAWKEYES
Point guard Abby Emmert and power forward Krista VandeVenter started Iowa’s first 13 games.

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.

SENIOR STARTS (ARM)STRONG
Senior Jenna Armstrong has had a good start to the 2004-05 season. Armstrong averages 18.1 minuntes per game and ranks fifth on the team in scoing (5.3). She has already eclipsed her scoring total from last year. Last season, Armstrong scored 36 points in 24 games, while she has already amassed 74 this year. Armstrong has scored double figures three times this season and six in her career.

The native of Stockton, MO, ranks third on the squad in 3-pointers made (13). She also pulled down a career-high six rebounds in Iowa’s win over Marquette.

BIG TEN RANKINGS
As a team, the Hawkeyes rank third in Big Ten field goal percentage (.483), offensive rebounds (13.71) and scoring offense (72.5) and fourth in assists (15.71).

Individually, Crystal Smith ranks fifth in league scoring (17.4), sixth in field goal percentage (.541), eighth in free throw percentage (.833) and fourth in steals (2.57). Jamie Cavey ranks 13th in scoring (15.0), 12th in rebounding (6.6) and fourth in field goal percentage (.596) and blocked shots (2.07). Krista VandeVenter ranks fifth in rebounding (8.0) and second in offensive rebounds (3.36). Johanna Solverson ranks fourth in steals (2.57) and 20th in scoring (12.9).

CAVEY REACHES THE CHARITY STRIPE
Senior Jamie Cavey has attempted at least one free throw in 54 of her last 56 games, dating back to the 2002-03 season. She failed to reach the free throw line vs. Indiana (1/15/04) and vs. Marquette (12/8/04).

IOWA’S BIG TEN SCHEDULE
Iowa’s Big Ten portion of its schedule includes home-and-away contests against Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern and Ohio State.

The Hawkeyes have single games with Penn State, Minnesota, Purdue and Wisconsin. Iowa will travel to Minneapolis and West Lafayette, while the Lady Lions and Badgers will visit Iowa City.

Crystal Smith NAMED CO-BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Crystal Smith was named co-Big Ten Player of the Week along with Minnesota senior Janel McCarville on Dec. 20. The honor, the first of Smith’s career, marked the first time a Hawkeye has earned the accolade this season.

Smith sparked the Hawkeyes to their ninth consecutive victory to start the season as Iowa defeated Drake (80-69) in Des Moines.

In the 11-point win over the Bulldogs, Smith netted a game and career-high 33 points on 12-16 shooting from the field, including 2-4 from 3-point range and 7-8 from the foul line. The 12 field goals made is also a career best, which ranks second among Big Ten players this season. The native of Haughton, LA, also pulled down six rebounds and dished out one assist. Her 33-point effort tied Lindsey Bowen of Michigan State for the highest point total by a Big Ten student-athlete this season.

Iowa’s junior shooting guard is in the midst of a career season. Smith averaged 3.9 points per game last year and so far this season ranks second in Big Ten scoring (18.7 ppg). The 5-6 senior, also ranks eighth in Big Ten field goal (.558) and free throw (.857) percentage. She has led Iowa in scoring four times and has posted 20 points or more four times this 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

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.

HAWKEYES WIN TOURNAMENTS
Iowa won two holiday tournaments this season. The Hawkeyes opened the season with wins over Southern Illinois (66-50) and Missouri (75-54) to claim its 16th KCRG-TV9 Hawkeye Challenge championship.

One week later, the Hawkeyes defeated Florida (65-62) and then-No. 21 Oklahoma (54-47) to capture the Junkanoo Jam in the Bahamas.

Crystal Smith was named MVP of both tournaments. Smith averaged 12.0 ppg and was the defensive star of the Junkanoo Jam. The junior averaged 17.5 ppg and 3.5 spg in the KCRG-TV9 Hawkeye Challenge. 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.

Jamie Cavey joined Smith on both all-tournament teams. Cavey averaged 15.5 ppg and 5.0 rpg in the Junkanoo Jam and 12.5 ppg in the KCRG-TV9 Hawkeye Challenge. Johanna Solverson joined Smith and Cavey on the KCRG-TV9 Hawkeye Challenge all-tournament team. Solverson averaged 12.5 ppg in the two games and 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 is a career high, as is her game-high six steals against the Salukis.

SOLVERSON TIES ARENA RECORD
Johanna Solverson’s perfect 4-4 shooting from 3-point range vs. Southern Illinois 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).

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.

RICHARDS STARTS 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.

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. 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.

AFTER THIS
Iowa remains of the road when the Hawkeyes travel to No. 9 Ohio State (Jan. 13). The two-game road trip will be the last for two-game roadie for Iowa this season. The Hawkeyes return home to host Northwestern (Jan. 16).