Hawkeyes Travel To Ohio State

Jan. 12, 2005

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THE SETTING
No. 21/22 Iowa (13-2, 2-2) completes its two-game road trip when the Hawkeyes travel to Columbus, Ohio, to face No. 5/5 Ohio State (15-2, 2-1). Tip-off is slated for 6:05 p.m. (CST) in Value City Arena (19,200).

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.

Fans can also follow the game’s progress with up-to-the-minute stats and play-by-play by clicking on the “Gametracker” link on the front of www.hawkeyesports.com.

IN THE RANKINGS
Iowa dropped to 21st in the Associated Press and 22nd in the ESPN/USA Today poll this week. Four other Big Ten teams join the Hawkeyes in the rankings: Ohio State (5/5), Michigan State (9/9), Minnesota (11/12) and Purdue (20/20). The Big Ten and Big XII boast the most teams in the top 25 with five each. The Big East and ACC 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 12, while the women are rated ninth. The Hawkeye men are No. 23, while the women are No. 21.

IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 861 games since beginning basketball in 1974. Overall, Iowa’s record is 527-334 (.612). That includes a 278-146 (.656) 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. 7 in strength of schedule. Ohio State ranks No. 10 in the RPI and No. 19 in strength of schedule. The Big Ten ranks first in conference RPI, followed by the ACC and SEC.

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

ON THIS DATE
Iowa is 4-4 in games played on January 13, including winning 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.

LAST TIME OUT
Victoria Lucas-Perry energized Michigan State, and the Spartans’ pressure defense finished off Iowa.

Lucas-Perry scored seven points during a 19-0 run late in the first half that helped the No. 6 Spartans avoid consecutive Big Ten losses with a 68-56 win over Iowa on Sunday.

The Spartans trailed 15-12 before Lucas-Perry got them going on both ends. Michigan State forced 20 turnovers and Lucas-Perry had four of the Spartans’ 15 steals. She finished with 13 points.

Lindsay Bowen had 17 points and Liz Shimek added 16 points and 10 rebounds.

Before 8,512 fans, the fourth-largest home crowd in the program’s history, the Spartans out-shot and out-scrapped the Hawkeyes for most of the final 32 minutes.

The Hawkeyes were led by Jamie Cavey, who briefly left the game after suffering a bloody nose. Cavey finished with a season-high 21 points before fouling out with 4:02 left. The senior also posted team highs in blocks (6) and rebounds (8). Crystal Smith added 11 points and three rebounds.

The win was Michigan State’s fourth in five matchups with ranked opponents and prevented an 0-2 week, following a 68-54 loss at No. 9 Ohio State last Thursday.

The Hawkeyes, who entered the game with their best start in 17 years, have lost two straight.

Iowa shot a season-low 39.6 percent (21-53) from the field and also converted only 50 percent (10-20) from the foul line in the loss.

The loss was the Hawkeyes’ first at the Breslin Center under Coach Bluder (3-1).

SCOUTING OHIO STATE
Ohio State (15-2, 3-1) cruised to a 28-point win at Michigan (84-56) Tuesday. The Buckeyes, who are ranked a Big Ten-best fifth, shot a blistering 56.7 percent (34-60) from the field, bolstered by 50 percent (12-24) from beyond the arc. Caity Matter scored a game-high 28 points, 24 of which came from 3-point range (8-11).

The Buckeyes were the runners-up of the pre-season WNIT, falling at Notre Dame (66-62). Ohio State won its first three games of the tournament by an average of 42.7 points.

Ohio State is 10-0 in home game this season, including wins over nationally-ranked Purdue (63-50) and Michigan State (68-54).

The Buckeyes won their last contest (66-51) over non-conference Liberty Sunday in Value City Arena. Matter scored a game-high 17 points, while Brandie Hoskins contributed 13 points. Nine Buckeyes scored two points or more in the victory. Ohio State shot a season-low 38.5 percent (20-52). Liberty out-scored the Buckeyes in the paint (28-18) to become the first opponent to out-score Ohio State in the paint this season. The Buckeyes out-scored Liberty 21-5 at the foul line.

Ohio State is coached by Jim Foster, who is in his 27th year as a college head coach and third with the Buckeyes. Foster’s overall record stands at 561-247 (.694) and 57-22 (.722) mentoring Ohio State.

IOWA, OHIO STATE GAME NOTES

• Iowa and Ohio State do not share any non-conference opponents.
• Iowa averaged 60.0 ppg, while Ohio State averaged 76.3 ppg in the last four games at Value City Arena.
• The Buckeyes snapped a 15-game losing skid to Iowa in Carver-Hawkeye Arena with last year’s 93-82 victory over the Hawkeyes.
• Ohio State have more than doubled Iowa in 3-pointers made. The Buckeyes have drained 110 on 255 attempts (.431), while the Hawkeyes have made only 52 on 167 attempts (.311).
• Ohio State’s Jessica Davenport blocked a Big Ten season-best eight shots vs. Dayton on Dec. 4. Iowa’s Jamie Cavey swatted seven Drake shots on Dec. 18, which ranks second.
• Ohio State ranks first in the Big Ten in overall scoring offense (76.9), scoring defense (51.2), scoring margin (+25.7), field goal percentage (.523), 3-point field goal percentage (.431), assists (18.82), turnover margin (+3.9) and assist/turnover ration (1.4).
• Thursday’s game will feature two of the conference’s top rebounders. Ohio State’s Jessica Davenport ranks fourth (8.0), while Iowa’s Krista VandeVenter ranks fifth (7.8).
• Thursday’s game will also feature four of the league’s top field goal percentage shooters. Ohio State’s Brandi Hoskins ranks third (.608) and Jessica Davenport ranks fifth (.585). Iowa’s Jamie Cavey ranks fourth (.597) and Crystal Smith ranks sixth (.533).
• Ohio State and Iowa have played two memorable games. The Buckeyes defeated Iowa (56-47) on Feb. 3, 1985 in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, which was the highest attended women’s basketball game at the time (22,157). Also, Ohio State defeated Iowa (73-72) in overtime in the semifinals of the 1993 Final Four in Atlanta.

ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Iowa holds a 24-17 advantage in the series against Ohio State. The Buckeyes own a 12-7 edge in contests played in Columbus, including winning the last four in Value City Arena. The Hawkeyes have never won in Value City Arena. The Hawkeyes’ last victory in Columbus came on Feb. 20, 1998 (74-71) in St. John Arena.

Ohio State has won the last two overall meetings. The Buckeyes won the only meeting last year (83-82) in Iowa City and the last contest during the 2002-03 season in Columbus (74-59).

LAST MEETING
Ohio State used an 11-0 run to start the second half to propel the Buckeyes to a 93-82 victory over the Hawkeyes in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The win was Ohio State’s first win in Carver-Hawkeye Arena since 1986 — Iowa had won 15 straight over the Buckeyes at home. The loss also snapped the Hawkeyes’ season-best five-game winning streak.

Iowa led by four at halftime (40-36), but Ohio State surged ahead of the Hawkeyes scoring on its first nine possessions and 11 of its first 12 of the half to pull away. Iowa was able to trim Ohio State’s lead to three (74-71) with six minutes left, but would get no closer.

Iowa’s Jamie Cavey led the Hawkeyes with a career-high 33 points (14-25 FG, 5-6 FT). Johanna Solverson posted her first career double-double, grabbing 12 rebounds and scoring a season-high 17 points (6-13 FG, 2-2 FT).

Ohio State had six players score in double figures, led by guard Caity Matter’s 24 points (9-21 FG, 2-2 FT). Kim Wilburn added 16 points (6-10 FG, 4-5 FT) in the winning effort.

The Buckeyes hurt the Hawkeyes in transition, out-scoring Iowa 18-8 in fast break points. Ohio State’s bench out-scored Iowa by 15 points (18-3).

The loss to the Buckeyes was Iowa’s first of the season when leading at half (9-1). Ohio State’s 93 points were the most points Iowa yielded in a game played in 2003-04. Furthermore, Iowa allowed 57 second half points, which are the most points it has ever allowed 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 school rceord set by Stanford (58) during the 1988-89 season.

HEAD OF THE CLASS
Jamie Cavey leads Big Ten seniors in field goal percentage (.597). Crystal Smith leads conference juniors in scoring (17.0) and field goal percentage (.533), while Johanna Solverson leads in steals (2.6). Krista VandeVenter leads league freshman in rebounding (7.8).

COMPARING GAME STATS
FG%  3-PT%   FT% REB AST TO  PTSIowa    .478    .311    .686    39.7    235 262 71.4Opp.    .381    .340    .718    33.9    182 236 62.7

SCORING BY HALVES
Iowa has out-scored its opponents 518-434 in the first half, 539-501 in the second half and 14-5 in overtime. The Hawkeyes have led at halftime in 11-of-15 contests. Iowa has out-scored its opponent in the second half in nine-of-15 games.

FRESHMAN AMONG ELITE GROUP
Krista VandeVenter leads the Hawkeyes in rebounding (7.8) through 15 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 (3.5) leads the team, followed by shooting guard Crystal Smith (2.5), center Jamie Cavey (2.4) and power forward Krista VandeVenter (2.0).

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 seven games away from Iowa City, Iowa has out-scored its opponents 477-437 (+5.7 margin). Opponents have recorded 79 steals to Iowa’s 59 (-2.9 margin) on the road. Also, the Hawkeyes have recorded 33 blocks to their opponents 23 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    .464    .247    .603    41.4    98  132 68.1

STARTING OFF FAST
Jamie Cavey scored Iowa’s first seven points in 2:47 at Michigan State on Jan. 9, while Johanna Solverson tallied the Hawkeyes’ first eight points in 1:54 vs. Penn State on Jan. 6.

CAVEY CLIMBS CAREER CHARTS
Senior Jamie Cavey has amassed 231 points through 15 games this season. The senior has totaled 953 career points, which ranks 21st at Iowa. Cavey is 72 points from passing Tiffany Gooden (1994-98) for 20th.

The Mechanicsville, IA, native has also collected 71 career blocks, which ranks eighth on Iowa’s career chart. Thirty-five of her 71 blocks have come this season. Jennie Lillis was the last Hawkeye player to collect 35 blocks or more in a season when she rejected 40 shots during the 2002-03 season. Cavey is only eight rejections from passing Lisa Long (1983-87) for seventh on the career chart. Furthermore, the senior is only 16 blocks from moving into fourth place.

Cavey also cracked the top 20 in career rebounding at Michigan State. She has totaled 374 rebounds, which ranks 20th. Cavey is 10 rebounds from passing Felicia Hall (1987-91) for 19th.

HAWKEYES REACH MILESTONES

• Morgan Kasperek scored career point No. 100 at Michigan State
• Johanna Solverson collected career assist No. 200 at Michigan State
• Crystal Smith collected career steal No. 100 at Michigan State

IOWA BENCH COMING THROUGH
Iowa’s bench play has been one of the keys to its 13-2 start. Iowa’s bench has outscored and out-rebounded its opponents 270-166 and 168-109, respectively. The Hawkeyes average 18.0 ppg and 11.2 rpg from their bench players. Iowa has outscored 11-of-15 opponents in bench points.

GRAHAM COMING ON STRONG
Jeneé Graham started her first collegiate game at Michigan State last Sunday. Graham played a career-high 24 minutes, scored one point and collected three rebounds and one steal. She is listed as a starter Thursday.

She was one of Iowa’s top producers off the bench the first 14 games. The freshman has pulled down two or more rebounds in all 13 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 on Jan. 6. 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). She scored two points and grabbed three rebounds in Iowa’s road win at Illinois on Jan. 2.

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.

RAINING THREES
Iowa has made at least one 3-pointer in 192 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.

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 3-1 1-0 2-0 13-2

HAWKEYES RANK HIGH NATIONALLY
As of 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 (3,768) ranks 25th nationally in the latest attendance rankings released Jan. 10. The Hawkeyes are the sixth-highest ranked Big Ten team behind No. 5 P urdue (8,240), No. 6 Minnesota (7,790), No. 8 Penn State (7,250), No. 14 Wisconsin (5,877) and No. 15 Michigan State (5,428).

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 13-of-15 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 is the only Hawkeye to foul out this season (Marquette, Michigan State). Cavey fouled out a team-high eight times last season.
• Jamie Cavey has scored double figures in 14-of-15 games this year and 40 of the last 41 contests dating back to last season.
• Iowa has led at the half in 11-of-15 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 15 opponents have shot less than 50 percent from the field.
• Iowa has had more assists than its opponents in 13-of-15 games and have shot more free throws in all 15 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.

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

VANDEVENTER CLEANS THE GLASS
Krista VandeVenter has been Iowa’s leading rebounder in nine of its 15 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 7.8 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 7.3 ppg. The post player also ranks fourth in assists (30). 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 (17.0), first on the team and ninth in conference free throw percentage (.818) and first on the team and fourth in league steals (2.47). 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 (15.4) and first on the team and third in the conference in field goal percentage (.597).

Cavey has scored double figures in 14-of-15 contests. Furthermore, she has scored double digits in 55 of her last 57 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
Power forward Krista VandeVenter has started all 15 games, while point guard Abby Emmert started 14 contests.

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 17.9 minuntes per game and ranks fifth on the team in scoing (5.5). She has already eclipsed her scoring total from last year. Last season, Armstrong scored 36 points in 24 games, while she has already amassed 82 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 (.478), offensive rebounds (13.73) and scoring offense (71.4) and fourth in assists (15.67).

Individually, Crystal Smith ranks fifth in league scoring (17.0), sixth in field goal percentage (.533), ninth in free throw percentage (.818) and fourth in steals (2.47). Jamie Cavey ranks 11th in scoring (15.4), 12th in rebounding (6.7), fourth in field goal percentage (.597) and third in blocked shots (2.33). Krista VandeVenter ranks fifth in rebounding (7.8) and second in offensive rebounds (3.27). Johanna Solverson ranks third in steals (2.6), 10th in assists (3.47) and 22nd in scoring (12.3).

FAST START
Iowa enjoyed its best start in 17 years. The Hawkeyes’ 13-0 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 was the last Division I team to be beaten.

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.

CAVEY REACHES THE CHARITY STRIPE
Senior Jamie Cavey has attempted at least one free throw in 55 of her last 57 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.

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.

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.

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 TO REDSHIRT
Iowa Head Coach Lisa Bluder on Jan. 11, announced that junior point guard Lindsay Richards will redshirt this season.

“Lindsay has decided to take the redshirt this year,” said Bluder. “I think it’s a great decision. For us to have her healthy for two full years will be a great benefit to our program.”

The junior has recovered and has been participating in practices.

“In the back of my mind I made my decision a couple of weeks ago, but I wanted to make sure I took everything into consideration,” commented Richards. “There’s a big difference between being able to participate and being able to compete. At this time I don’t feel I’m at the level I need to be at.”

Richards underwent successful surgery on July 7 to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee. The native of Barrington, IL, sustained the injury during practice with the Big Ten All-Stars before the team left for Australia in June, 2004. This was the second time in as many years she underwent 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
The Hawkeyes return home to host Northwestern (Jan. 16) before returing to the road to play at nationally-ranked Purdue (Jan. 23).