Oct. 3, 2005
The 2004-05 Iowa Hawkeyes finished their season with a 23-10 overall record and 8-8 mark in the Big Ten. The Hawkeyes won their first 13 games of the season and were the last Division I school to be undefeated. Iowa advanced to the semifinals of the WNIT before losing to the eventual champions on the road.
Iowa captured the KCRG-TV9 Hawkeye Challenge and the Junkanoo Jam holiday tournaments before entering the tough Big Ten schedule. The Hawkeyes finished their season winning seven of their last nine and posted a 13-1 mark against non-conference opponents.
Iowa’s 23 wins are the most during Lisa Bluder’s five-year tenure and the most victories since the 1995-96 season (27). The 23 victories equal the seventh-most wins in a season in school history, matching the 1989-90 team. The Iowa single season record is 29, established by the 1987-88 squad.
In addition to the stellar play of center Jamie Cavey and Johanna Solverson, Hawkeye fans saw the emergence of shooting guard Crystal Smith and power forward Krista VandeVenter
Smith electrified fans around the country with her speed, quickness, scoring ability and determination, while VandeVenter in her first year dominated the glass and served as a perfect compliment to Cavey in the frontcourt.
Click HERE to watch the highlight tape for Bluder’s Bunch, 2004-05.