Nov. 20, 2005
Final Stats | Quotes | Notes
The Iowa women’s basketball team used some dead-eye shooting, a nice balanced attack and a vicious defense to post an 82-42 win in its season opener Sunday afternoon against Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Krista VandeVenter, Stacy Schlapkohl, and Megan Skouby all scored 12 points to lead the Hawkeye scoring attack. Crystal Smith added 11 and Wendy Asdemore nine. Tiffany Reedy grabbed seven rebounds and VandeVenter six to pace Iowa on the boards.
Iowa shot 59 percent from the field, hitting on 31 of 53 shots. The Hawkeyes also cured a little pre-season blues from the free throw line, sinking 18 of 24 from the charity stripe, including 10 of 13 in the second half.
“This was a good first start for us. For us to win by 40 I think is tremendous. We had four players in double figures, we shot the ball well, so overall I thought it was a good first win,” said Bluder. “We wanted to set the tone for the year. We wanted to come out and play well so that other teams would fear us.”
Iowa led from start to finish and was never really tested. Bluder’s Bunch carried a 15-point margin in the lockerroom at halftime, 38-23, then blew the game open in the final stanza, outscoring the visitors 44-19. Defense keyed the blowout: Iowa forced 31 turnovers and was credited with 17 steals.
“A lot of our points came off of our defense. We got 38 points off turnovers. Those points are quick points and high-percentage points,” added Bluder.
The victory was Iowa’s sixth straight in a season opener and the margin of victory was the 25th largest in school history.
Iowa travels to Ruston, La., for a date with Lousiana Tech Tuesday. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
The Hawkeyes next’ home game is Nov. 30 when they entertain Wisconsin-Green Bay. That event is part of a basketball doubleheader. Iowa’s men’s team will play North Carolina State later that night one of the games of the 2005 Big Ten-ACC Challenge.