Nov. 9, 2005
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Women’s Basketball Photo Gallery
The Setting ? The University of Iowa women’s basketball team hosts Minnesota State-Moorhead Sunday in its final exhibition game. The game is slated to tip-off at 2:05 p.m. in Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,500). Single game tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for youths and University students are admitted free with student I.D.
Season Tickets ? Hawkeye fans may purchase a season ticket for only $70, while senior citizens and faculty/staff may purchase season tickets for $56. Tickets can be purchased online by logging on to www.hawkeyesports.com or by calling 1-800-IA-HAWKS. Fans may also order tickets in person at the UI Ticket Office.
Iowa History ? Iowa has played 879 games since beginning basketball in 1974. Overall, Iowa’s record is 537-342 (.611). That includes a 267-125 (.681) mark in Big Ten games and a 238-58 (.804) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Five Spot ? The Iowa Hawkeyes were picked to finish fifth in the Big Ten Conference by both the league coaches and media. The Hawkeyes finished sixth in the conference last season with a record of 8-8. The coaches and media both selected Ohio State to win the regular season championship and Michigan State to finish second.
Scouting Minnesota State-Moorhead ? Sunday will be Minnesota State’s first game. The Dragons are picked to finish third in their conference this season. MSU was the 2004-05 regular season champions with a 12-2 league mark and finished with a 24-7 overall record, earning its first trip to the NCAA Regional Tournament. MSU returns first team all-conference honoree Jessica Fesenmaier, who averaged 13.2 ppg and 6.3 rpg last year. She also led the league in blocks per game (1.71) and helped her team lead Division II in rebounding. Fesenmaier is one of three NSIC Women’s Basketball Preseason Players of the Year. MSU’s 16-player roster is filled with underclassmen — seven freshmen and six sophomores. There are no seniors on this year’s squad.
MSU is coached by Karla Nelson, who enters her sixth season as head coach. Prior to being named head coach, she spent six seasons (1994-2000) as an assistant coach. In addition to serving as an assistant basketball coach, she was also the school’s head softball coach for five years.
Injured Hawkeyes ? Two players expected to start this year suffered season-ending ACL injuries over the summer. Point guard Lindsay Richards sustained her third ACL injury in as many years on her right knee in June playing a “pick-up” game in Pinehurst, North Carolina while serving as an intern for the PGA U.S. Open Golf Tournament. Like Richards, small forward Johanna Solverson sustained her ACL injury while playing a “pick-up” game. Solverson suffered the injury while playing a game at a DePaul Sports Camp in July. The Chicago area native has been a camp instructor at the DePaul the last two summers.
Last Time Out ? Iowa defeated Wisconsin AAU 81-61 in the Hawkeyes’ first exhibition game on November 6. Wisconsin AAU grabbed a 29-27 lead with 5:52 left in the first half, but Iowa closed the half on a 14-4 run to take control. Wisconsin AAU trimmed Iowa’s lead to seven in the second half, but the Hawkeyes answered with a 22-4 run to rebuild their lead to a game-high 24 points and ultimately win by 20. Ten of Iowa’s 12 players that played scored at least one point. Sophomore Krista VandeVenter contributed eight points (1-3 FG, 6-8 FT) and nine rebounds in 21 minutes, while senior Crystal Smith added 14 points (6-13 FG, 1-3 FT) and five steals in 28 minutes. As a team, the Hawkeyes collected 20 steals.
Paint Job ? Sophomore Stacy Schlapkohl and freshman Megan Skouby combined for 31 points in Iowa’s first exhibition contest. The 6-6 Skouby netted a team-high 17 points (8-12 FG, 1-1 FT) and grabbed eight rebounds in 19 minutes of action. The 6-3 Schlapkohl scored 14 points (6-9 FG, 2-2 FT) and corralled seven rebounds in 21 minutes.
Freebies ?Iowa’s aggressive play garnered the Hawkeyes 21 second-half free throw attempts and 28 for the game. Wisconsin AAU was rewarded with only 13 attempts from the charity stripe.
Long Distance ? Iowa and Wisconsin AAU played with an extended 3-point line. The Hawkeyes made 3-8 (37.5%) from beyond the arc, while Wisconsin AAU converted 5-19 (26.3%). Iowa limited Wisconsin AAU to only 1-11 (9.1%) from 3-point range in the second period.
Day-to-Day ? Freshman Lindsey Nyenhuis did not dress for Iowa’s exhibition game vs. Wisconsin AAU due to a foot injury. It is hopeful she will see her first game action in Iowa’s second exhibition contest.
Michigan Starts Season ? Michigan will be the first Big Ten school to start regular- season play when the Wolverines play Temple Friday in the first game of the Women’s Sports Foundation Basketball Challenge in Eugene, OR. Michigan will play either Oregon or St. Francis on Saturday.
All-Big Ten Returnees ? Iowa returns two players who received all-Big Ten accolades last season. Senior Crystal Smith, who averaged 16.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg and 2.4 spg, was a third team selection. Smith produced a +12.9 scoring increase from her sophomore to junior year to rank second nationally. Sophomore Krista VandeVenter, who averaged 7.3 ppg, 7.6 rpg and 2.0 apg, was named to the all-Freshman team. VandeVenter pulled down an Iowa freshman single season record 252 rebounds.
Countdown to 100 ? Iowa Head Women’s Basketball Coach Lisa Bluder enters the 2005-06 season four victories from notching her 100th on the Iowa sidelines. Bluder, who is the second all-time winningest Iowa coach, boasts a 96-59 (.619) record in five years mentoring the Hawkeyes.
Last Season Recap ? The 2004-05 Iowa Hawkeyes finished its season with a 23-10 overall record and 8-8 mark in the Big Ten. The Hawkeyes won their first 13 games and were the last Division I school to be undefeated. Iowa advanced to the semifinals of the WNIT before losing to the eventual champions (SMS) on the road. Iowa captured the KCRG-TV9 Hawkeye Challenge and the Junkanoo Jam holiday tournaments before entering the rigouris 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 single season in school history, matching the 1989-90 team. The Iowa single season record is 29, established by the 1987-88 squad.
Fresh Faces ? Iowa welcomes five talented freshmen to its 2005-06 roster. The Hawkeyes add two guards (Kristi Smith and Lindsey Nyenhuis), two forwards (Wendy Ausdemore and Nicole VanderPol) and one center (Megan Skouby). Smith is a 5-6 point guard, while Nyenhuis is a 5-7 shooting guard. Ausdemore is a 6-2 small forward, while VanderPol is a 6-1 power forward. Skouby is a 6-6 center and is the tallest Iowa women’s basketball player in history.
Preseason Rankings ? Iowa can potentially play eight games against six of the teams ranked in the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today Top 25 Preseason Coaches’ Polls. The Hawkeyes are slated to play No. 4/4 Ohio State and No. 10/11 Michigan State twice. Iowa will also play No. 16/17 Minnesota, No. 19/23 Purdue and No. 25/25 Oklahoma once each during the 2005-06 campaign. The Hawkeyes can potentially meet No. 5/5 Rutgers in the second game of the KCRG-TV9 Hawkeye Challenge.
Hawkeye Schedule ? Iowa will play one of its most challenging schedules during Bluder’s tenure. The Hawkeyes can potentially play 12 teams who played in the postseason last year, including 10 NCAA Tournament teams. Iowa is slated to play NCAA Tournament squads Penn State, Ohio State and Michigan State twice during the regular season, while it will also square off against Minnesota, Purdue, Iowa State, UW-Green Bay, Oklahoma and Louisiana Tech once. Iowa and Rutgers can potentially meet in the second round of the Hawkeye Challenge. The Hawkeyes will also face WNIT opponents Illinois (twice) and Creighton. Iowa will play its 900th game as a varsity sport on Feb. 2, 2006 vs. Purdue in Iowa City.
Iowa Big Ten Schedule ? Iowa’s Big Ten portion of its schedule includes single games with Penn State, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Purdue, with the Golden Gophers and Boilermakers playing in Iowa City.
Raining Threes ? Iowa has made at least one 3-pointer in 210 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.
Home Grown Hawkeyes ? Iowa’s roster features six players from the state of Iowa (Wendy Ausdemore, Abby Emmert, Ebone Pope, Tiffany Reedy, Stacy Schlapkohl and Nicole VanderPol). The Hawkeyes also have four players from Illinois (Jeneé Graham, Morgan Kasperek, Lindsay Richards, Johanna Solverson). Iowa’s 15-person roster also features players from Colorado (Kristi Smith), Louisiana (Crystal Smith), Michigan (Lindsey Nyenhuis), Minnesota ( Krista VandeVenter) and Ohio (Megan Skouby).
Center of Attention ? For the fifth time during Coach Bluder’s Iowa tenure, the Hawkeyes will start the season with a different center. Jamie Cavey started for the Hawkeyes the last two years. She became Iowa’s first center to start consecutive seasons since Amy Herrig (1997-99). Randi Peterson was Iowa’s starter in 2000-01, followed by Beatrice Bullock (2001-02), Tracy Schrupp (2002-03) and Jamie Cavey (2003-05).
Iowa’s two centers on its 2005-06 roster are sophomore Stacy Schlapkohl and freshman Megan Skouby.
Nuthin’ But Net ? Catch all the University of Iowa women’s basketball games on the radio and the Internet (www.hawkeyesports.com). Fans can listen to live or archived games with a subscription to “Hawkeye All-Access”.
Brent Balbinot returns for his second season as the play-by-play voice, while Shelley Till enters her first season as the color analyst.
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.
“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 6-7 p.m. Fans can call toll-free at (800) 332-5401 or locally at (319) 365-0600. The show originates from Bob’s Your Uncle restuarant on the eastside of Iowa City.
Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk Series ? Iowa State leads the second annual Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk Series 5-0. Iowa State recorded a 2-1 victory in women’s soccer and a 23-3 win in football. The next event in the Series is wrestling on Dec. 2 in Ames.
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 eight different times during the 2005-06 academic year. The competition this season is in men’s basketball, women’s basketball, wrestling, women’s gymnastics (2), women’s soccer and softball. Additional points will be available for each school based on successful performance in the classroom by its student-athletes.
Dec. 2, Wrestling — 2 points
Dec. 8, W. Basketball — 2 points
Dec. 9, M. Basketball — 2 points
Jan. 28, W. Gymnastics — 2 points
Mar. 17, W. Gymnastics — 2 points
Apr. 4, Softball — 2 points
Two points for an institution if the student-athlete graduation rate for all student-athletes is greater than the national average for all student-athletes.
Up Next ? Iowa opens its regular season Sunday, November 20 when it hosts UW-Milwaukee. Tip-off is slated for 2:05 p.m. in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.