Nov. 21, 2005
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The Setting ? Iowa (1-0) begins a three-game road trip Tuesday when the Hawkeyes travel to Ruston, LA, for a game at Louisiana Tech (0-1). Tip-off is slated for 7:05 p.m. at the Thomas Assembly Center (8,000).
On the Radio ? Brent Balbinot and Shelley Till will call the action for the Hawkeye Radio Network. Hawkeye fans can listen to the game tape delayed. Check with your local radio station for availability.
The game can also be heard live over the Internet at www.hawkeyesports.com and clicking on “Hawkeye All-Access” at the top right of the page. “Hawkeye All-Access” is a subscription service.
Iowa History ? Iowa has played 880 games since beginning basketball in 1974. Overall, Iowa’s record is 538-342 (.611). That includes a 267-125 (.681) mark in Big Ten games and a 239-58 (.805) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Number of the Week — 300 ? Iowa will play game No. 300 in Carver-Hawkeye Arena Saturday, December 4. The Hawkeyes potentially can play fifth-ranked Rutgers that game. The Scarlet Knights are coached by former Iowa Head Coach C. Vivian Stringer.
Welcome Home ? Iowa guard Crystal Smith will be returning to her home state Tuesday as the senior played prep ball at Haughton High School. Smith expects a crowd of about 50 family and friends to cheer her and the Hawkeyes on against Louisiana Tech.
Road Openers Under Bluder ? Iowa is 4-1 in road opening games under sixth-year Head Coach Lisa Bluder. The Hawkeyes defeated Mount Saint Mary’s (89-63) in 2000, Gonzaga (69-54) in 2001, Saint Joseph’s (62-58) in 2003 and Florida (65-62) in 2004. Iowa lost to NC State (69-66 – ot) in 2002. The contest against Mount Saint Mary’s was the only true road contest as the other four were played on neutral courts in Thanksgiving holiday tournaments.
Scouting Louisiana Tech ? Louisiana Tech enters Tuesday’s game 0-1 after falling at Western Kentucky (80-59) Saturday. The Lady Techsters led 34-32 at half, but poor shooting in the second half doomed La. Tech. WKU out-scored the Lady Techsters by 23 in the second stanza, limiting La. Tech to 15.8 percent (6-38) shooting. La. Tech was whistled for 34 fouls, with WKU converting 33-45 (73.3 percent) from the foul line. Tasha Williams posted team highs in points (22) and steals (6), while Ty Moore grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds to pace the Lady Techsters.
Louisiana Tech returns eight letterwinners, including four starters from last year’s squad that went 20-10 overall and received an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament. The Lady Techsters return the 2005 WAC Player of the Year, Williams, who ranked 37th in the nation in scoring (18.2 ppg).
Louisiana Tech is coached by first-year Head Coach Chris Long.
Louisiana Tech Tip-Ins ? Tasha Williams is married to the Minnesota Vikings’ defensive lineman Kevin Williams. Additionally, Margaret DeCiman is former NBA player Manute Bol’s niece.
All-Time Series Record ? Louisiana Tech leads the all-time series, 4-3. Tuesday will be the first meeting between the two teams since an 83-58 Lady Techsters’ triumph on Dec. 6, 1997 in Richmond, VA. Four of the seven previous meetings have been decided by four points or less, with Louisiana Tech winning three of those four. Tuesday will be only the Hawkeyes’ second visit to Ruston. Iowa dropped an 85-82 decision to Louisiana Tech on Dec. 2, 1989 at the Thomas Assembly Center.
Iowa is 8-3 all-time against current members of the Western Athletic Conference (Louisiana Tech 3-4, Boise State 1-0, New Mexico State 1-0 and San Jose State 1-0).
Common Opponents ? Iowa and Louisiana Tech can potentially play one common opponent: San Jose State. The Lady Techsters will play the Spartans twice during league play, while the Hawkeyes can potentially play San Jose State in the second game of the KCRG-TV9 Hawkeye Challenge on Dec. 4 in Iowa City.
Rising Stars ? Iowa’s Crystal Smith ranked second in the nation producing a +12.9 scoring increase from her sophomore to junior year. Besting Smith’s 12.9 increase was Louisiana Tech’s Tasha Williams. The Lady Techster senior boosted her scoring average 13.6 ppg last season.
Last Time Out ? Iowa won its sixth-straight season opener with an 82-42 triumph over UW-Milwaukee Sunday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The 40-point victory is Iowa’s largest season opening win since a 43-point triumph (83-40) vs. Wyoming on Nov. 25, 1988 in the Hawaii Wahine Classic.
All 12 Hawkeye players that played scored at least two points or more. Post players Krista VandeVenter, Stacy Schlapkohl and Megan Skouby each scored a team-high 12 points each. The trio combined for 15-23 (.652) shooting from the field and 6-8 (.750) from the foul line. Jenee Graham dished out a game and career-high six assists. UWM collected a total of seven assists as a team. Tiffany Reedy collected a career-high four assists en route to victory.
Iowa shot 58.5 percent (31-53) from the field, with a majority of its field goal attempts coming from close range. Iowa out-scored the Panthers 42-18 in the paint. The Hawkeyes registered 17 steals and forced 31 turnovers, converting the UWM miscues into 38 points. Iowa finished strong, out-scoring UWM 23-6 in the final 12 minutes of the contest.
On This Date ? Iowa is 3-4 in games played on November 22, losing the last three. Tuesday also marks the fourth time in eight meetings Iowa and Louisiana Tech will play a game during the month of November.
Countdown to 100 ? Iowa Head Women’s Basketball Coach Lisa Bluder is only three victories from notching her 100th on the Iowa sidelines. Bluder, who is the second all-time winningest Iowa coach, boasts a 97-59 (.622) record in six years mentoring the Hawkeyes.
Fresh Legs ? Iowa Head Coach Lisa Bluder was able to rotate her entire roster for a majority of Sunday’s 40-point victory over UW-Milwaukee. With Iowa playing four games in seven days, Bluder was able to divide playing time and no Hawkeye played more than 21 minutes. Stacy Schlapkohl, Abby Emmert and Jenee Graham all played a team-high 21 minutes. Krista VandeVenter only played 16 minutes, while Crystal Smith only saw 13 minutes of floor time.
Making the List ? Iowa’s 40-point win over UW-Milwaukee ranks as the 25th-largest margin of victory in school history. Iowa has posted five wins of 40 points or more under Coach Bluder (48 – UT-Pan American, 2001; 45 – Western Illinois, 2000; 43 – Creighton, 2002; 40 – Northwestern, 2001; 40 — UW-Milwaukee, 2005).
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.
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.
Day-to-Day ? Freshman Lindsey Nyenhuis did not dress for Iowa’s game Sunday due to a foot injury. The native of Grand Rapids, MI, is out indefinitely.
Perfection ? Iowa was a perfect 5-0 in games that Krista VandeVenter pulled down double digit rebounds and 3-0 in contests that she posted a double-double in 2004-05.
Raining Threes ? Iowa has made at least one 3-pointer in 211-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.
Young Guns ? Iowa is tied for 11th in the nation with the most underclassmen on its roster. The Hawkeyes are tied with 12 other schools, including Big Ten schools Northwestern and Illinois, with nine underclassmen on its roster. The Hawkeyes have four freshmen and five sophomores on its roster. Air Force (13) leads the nation, followed by New Orleans (12). Michigan is tied for sixth (10), while Penn State (8) and Wisconsin (8) are tied for 23rd.
Californ-IA ? Iowa will be making its sixth trip to the state of California, including its second under Coach Bluder this weekend. The Hawkeyes competed in the Cal-Poly Classic (1981), the San Jose Classic (1984), the NCAA Tournament in Long Beach (1988), the USC Christmas Tournament (1993), the Stanford Cardinal Classic (1994) and the LMU Thanksgiving Classic (2002).
2004-05 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 ESPN/USA Today Top 25 Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The Hawkeyes are slated to play fourth-ranked Ohio State and 11th-ranked Michigan State twice. Iowa will also play 17th-ranked Minnesota, 23rd-ranked Purdue and 25th-ranked Oklahoma once each during the 2005-06 campaign. The Hawkeyes can potentially meet fifth-ranked 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. The Hawkeyes will play Big Ten favorites Michigan State and Ohio State in consecutive games twice this season. Iowa hosts the Spartans on Jan. 9 and the Buckeyes on Jan. 12. The Hawkeyes travel to Columbus on Feb. 12 and East Lansing on Feb. 16.
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 (Jenee 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 tenture, 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.
Smith Leads Big Ten All-Stars ? Guard Crystal Smith helped the Big Ten Foreign All-Star Team to a perfect 5-0 record last summer in games played in Belgium and the Netherlands. Smith ranked second in scoring (12.8) and assists (2.6). She sank a 10-foot jumper for the game-winning basket with seconds to play to lift the Big Ten All-Stars to a 78-77 victory over the Belgium National Team for the team’s fourth win of the trip.
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 is in his second season as the play-by-play voice, while Shelley Till is in her first season as the color analyst.
Hawkeyes Pen Quoie ? Iowa signed Woodbury, MN, native Zoraa Quoie to a National Letter of Intent this fall. She was an all-conference and honorable mention all-state selection her junior year. Quoie averaged 10.6 ppg and just fewer than four steals per game on a team that won its conference and finished 25-3 last season. Her Woodbury High School team also captured a league title and finished third at the Minnesota state tournament her sophomore year. Quoie was a reserve her sophomore year, but started last season. She was also an all-state sprinter on the track team her freshman year.
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 restaurant on the eastside of Iowa City.
On the Horizon ? Iowa continues its road trip with two contests in the Odwalla Classic in San Francisco, CA. Iowa will play No. 25 Oklahoma on Friday and either Rider or San Francisco on Saturday.