Dec. 12, 2005
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The Setting ? Iowa (4-4) returns to action Sunday when it entertains Drake (3-4) on “Cram Carver” and “Ebone Pope” Day. Tip-off is slated for 2:05 p.m. at Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,500). Tickets are $2 for all ages, while University students are always admitted free with student I.D.
Both the Hawkeyes and Bulldogs will have nine days to prepare for Sunday’s contest, as both teams played last on Dec. 8. The Hawkeyes will play three games against Missouri Valley Conference opponents in six days. Iowa closes its non-conference schedule at Northern Iowa (Dec. 21) and at home vs. Creighton (Dec. 23).
On the Radio ? Brent Balbinot and Shelley Till will call the action for the Hawkeye Radio Network. Hawkeye fans can listen to the game on WHO 1040-AM in Des Moines, WMT 600-AM in Cedar Rapids and KXIC 800-AM in Iowa City.
The game can also be heard live over the Internet at www.hawkeyesports.com. Just click “Hawkeye All-Access” at the top right of the page. “Hawkeye All-Access” is a subscription service.
On the Tube ? Sunday’s game will be televised live in Eastern Iowa on KCRG-TV9. John Campbell, Amy Herrig and Sco will call the action.
On This Date ? Iowa is 3-1 in games played on December 18.
Iowa History ? Iowa has played 887 games since beginning basketball in 1974. Overall, Iowa’s record is 541-346 (.610). That includes a 267-125 (.681) mark in Big Ten games and a 241-59 (.803) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Smith Ranks Second in Big Ten Scoring ? Senior Crystal Smith ranks second in Big Ten scoring (20.8), trailing only Michigan State’s Liz Shimek (21.0). Only three Iowa players have finished a season averaging 20 points or more. Cindy Haugejorde averaged 21.0 ppg (23 games) in 1977-78 and 23.2 ppg (29 games) in 1979-80. Michelle Edwards averaged 20.0 ppg (31 games) in 1987-88, while Franthea Price averaged 21.2 ppg (29 games) in 1989-90. Smith has led Iowa in scoring the last seven contests.
Smith’s 46 points at Louisiana Tech are the most scored in a game by any player in the nation this season. Syracuse’s Vaida Sipaviciute ranks second, after netting 41 points vs. Colgate on Nov. 29.
Century Club ? Iowa Head Women’s Basketball Coach Lisa Bluder reached another milestone on Dec. 3, as Bluder collected her 100th victory as Iowa Head Coach in Iowa’s 79-57 triumph over Vermont on Dec. 3. Bluder, who is the second all-time winningest Iowa coach, boasts a 100-63 (.613) record in six years mentoring the Hawkeyes.
Scouting Drake ? Drake snapped a four-game losing streak with a 73-48 triumph over Akron on Dec. 8, to improve its record to 3-4. Sophomore Brandy Dahir netted a season-high 18 points, while freshman Jordann Plummer scored a season-high 14 points to lead the Bulldogs to victory. Additionally, junior Jill Martin tallied her 14th career double-double (10 points, 11 rebounds).
Drake is 0-2 in road games this season, falling at Oregon State (63-61) and Oregon (70-40). Three of the Bulldogs’ next four games are away from the Knapp Center.
Martin leads the team in scoring (13.7) and rebounding (8.3). Dahir ranks second in scoring (9.6) and rebounding (4.6), while sophomore Lindsay Whorton ranks third in scoring (9.0).
Drake is coached by Amy Stephens, who is in her 11th year as a head coach (248-77, .763) and her third with the Bulldogs (33-34, .493).
All-Time Series Record ? Sunday will be the 38th meeting between Iowa and Drake, with the Bulldogs leading the series 24-13. Two of the last eight games went into overtime, with each team winning one. Drake holds a 10-7 advantage in games played in Iowa City.
Iowa has won three-straight in the series, including winning two at Drake. The Bulldogs’ last victory over the Hawkeyes came Nov. 25, 2001 when Drake outlasted Iowa in overtime (75-72) at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Iowa Head Coach Lisa Bluder is 3-2 against her former team.
The Hawkeyes are 40-36 in games against teams in the Missouri Valley Conference, including a perfect 4-0 mark last season.
Iowa and Drake Fast breaks ? Iowa Head Coach Lisa Bluder coached 10 seasons at Drake, boasting a 187-106 (.638) record. She led the Bulldogs to 20-plus-win seasons in the last six years while on the Drake sidelines, including five post-season appearances. Her Drake teams won the MVC Tournament four times and she was named Conference Coach of the Year three times.
Iowa Associate Head Coach Jan Jensen played and coached at Drake. Jensen, who is one of only two Drake players to have her number retired, led the nation in scoring and was the Gateway Conference’s MVP her senior year. She currently ranks fourth on Drake’s career scoring chart, sixth in field goal percentage and seventh in rebounding. Jansen also served as Coach Bluder’s first assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Drake.
Iowa Assistant Coach Jenni Fitzgerald was Drake’s starting point giard during college. As a junior, she was named team MVP. Fitzgerald currently ranks second in career steals and seventh in free throw percentage. Like Jensen, Fitzgerald served on Coach Bluder’s Drake coaching staff after she graduated from Southern Illinois with a master’s degree.
Shelley Till, Iowa’s color analyst on the Hawkeye Radio Network, played with Fitzgerald and Jensen at Drake for one year (1987-88).
Drake senior Natalie Raub and Iowa senior Tiffany Reedy are from Dysart and played on the same high school team (Union).
Drake Graduate Manager Kris Byam, served as a manager on the Iowa women’s basketball team for two years and was also a member of the grey squad for one season.
Common Opponents ? Iowa and Drake share three common opponents: Iowa State, Northern Iowa and Creighton. Iowa State defeated Drake (69-57) on Dec. 4 and Iowa (77-61) on Dec. 8. The Hawkeyes will play Northern Iowa and Creighton next week, while the Bulldogs will play both teams twice during its regular season conference schedule.
Last Time Out ? Iowa State defeated Iowa 77-61 at Hilton Coliseum on Dec. 8. The loss was Iowa’s fifth-straight in Ames.
Iowa freshman Megan Skouby made a 10-foot jumper with 7:00 left in the first half to give the Hawkeyes a 25-24 advantage. The Cyclones responded in a big way, scoring 13 of the final 15 points to take a 37-27 lead into half. Iowa missed 15 of its last 18 first period field goal attempts.
Iowa State opened the second half on an 8-0 run to stretch its lead to 18 (45-27). The Cyclones led 51-33 with 15:32 left before Iowa went on a 15-3 run to trim the deficit to six (54-48) with 9:51 remaining, but that was as close as the Hawkeyes would get.
Iowa State played only six players. All five starters scored double figures, including junior guard Lyndsey Medders, who posted game highs in points (20) and assists (14). Three Cyclones pulled down double digit rebounds (Brittany Wilkins, 13; Nicky Wieben, 12; Megan Ronhovde, 11).
Iowa was led by Tiffany Reedy, Crystal Smith and Krista VandeVenter. Reedy scored 11 of her 13 points in the first 12:13 of the first half. The 13 points matched a season high. Smith also tallied 13 points and grabbed four rebounds. VandeVenter netted all 12 of her points in the second period. She also equaled a career high with 14 rebounds, collecting her fourth career double-double.
All 16 Hawkeye bench points came from freshmen. Skouby scored eight points on 4-7 shooting from the field, while Kristi Smith contributed six points and Wendy Ausdemore added two. Ausdemore also corralled a season-high five rebounds.
Steak Busters ? For the first time in 217 games Iowa, failed to make at least one 3-pointer when the Hawkeyes shot 0-6 from behind the arc vs. No. 6 Rutgers on Dec. 4. The 216-game streak spanned seven seasons and started on March 13, 1998.
Cleaning the Glass ? Sophomore Krista VandeVenter ranks fourth in Big Ten rebounding (8.4) and third in defensive rebounding (5.88). The native of Osseo, MN, has led the Hawkeyes in rebounding five times this season.
VandeVenter shattered Iowa’s single season freshmen rebounding record last year, pulling down 252 boards (7.6 rpg).
Freshmen Step Up ? Iowa’s freshmen class has averaged 23.1 ppg in its first eight contests. Megan Skouby, Kristi Smith and Wendy Ausdemore lead the freshmen offensive attack. Skouby ranks third in team scoring (8.1) and third in rebounding (4.1), Smith ranks sixth in scoring (7.1) and fourth in assists (18), while Ausdemore ranks seventh in scoring (5.8).
Nyenhuis Returns ? After missing Iowa’s first five games to a foot injury, freshman Lindsey Nyenhuis hit the court for her first taste of game action vs. Vermont on Dec. 3. The native of Grand Rapids, MI, played the last three minutes and grabbed one rebound.
Five Spot ? Crystal Smith, who was named Big Ten Player of the Week on Nov. 28, broke or tied five school records in two games during Thanksgiving week.
The senior broke school records for points (46) and free throws attempted (19) in a game and equaled school records in free throws made (15) and 3-pointers attempted (14) in Iowa’s 95-91 double overtime setback at Louisiana Tech on Nov. 22. The native of Haughton, LA, also matched the school record for field goal percentage (9-9, 1.000) in the Hawkeyes’ 88-41 rout over Rider on Nov. 26.
In the three games, Smith averaged 28.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.7 steals per game. She finished the week 26-of-55 (.473) from the field, 10-of-25 (.400) from the perimeter and 23-of-28 (.821) at the line.
Home Sweet Home ? Iowa will play only one game outside the state of Iowa in December (Indiana on Dec. 29). The Hawkeyes’ final non-conference road game is at Northern Iowa (Dec. 21).
Reedy Set Go ? Senior Tiffany Reedy played in her 100th career game vs. Vermont on Dec. 3. The native of Dysart, IA, has had a great start to the 2005-06 campaign, averaging 7.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg and ranking second on the team in steals with 15. Reedy collected 14 thefts and averaged 3.9 ppg and 2.4 rpg in 33 contests last season. She is also well on her way to surpassing her high mark of 19 triples made in each of her first three seasons. Reedy has already drained 12 treys and is shooting at a 42.9 percent clip from behind the arc, good enough to rank fifth in the Big Ten.
All-Tournament Selections ? Senior Crystal Smith and sophomore Krista VandeVenter were named to the KCRG-TV9 Hawkeye Challenge All-Tournament team. Smith also garnered Odwalla Classic All-Tournament accolades for her efforts Nov. 25-26 in San Francisco, CA.
Attendance Rankings ? Iowa ranks 18th nationally in the first unofficial women’s basketball attendance released Dec. 5.
RPI Ratings ? Iowa ranks No. 73, while Drake ranks 176th in the RPI ratings published on Dec. 12 on www.collegerpi.com. The Hawkeyes also rank 40th in strength of schedule, while the Bulldogs rank 146th.
High Octane ? Iowa, who ranks second in Big Ten scoring offense, has scored 80 points or more in four of its first eight games. The Hawkeyes are 3-1 when scoring 80 points or more.
Big Ten Rankings ? Iowa ranks first in Big Ten 3-point field goal percentage defense (.269) and 3-point field goal percentage (.395), second in scoring (75.1), 3-point field goals made (5.63), blocked shots (4.75) and assists (17.75), third in scoring margin (+11.2), field goal percentage defense (.368), field goal percentage (.461) and free throw percentage (.730).
Senior Crystal Smith ranks second in league scoring (20.8), fourth in 3-point field goals made (2.13), sixth in steals (2.13) and eighth in free throw percentage (.836). Freshman Megan Skouby ranks third in blocked shots (1.63) and sixth in field goal percentage (.587). Sophomore Krista VandeVenter ranks fourth in rebounding (8.4).
Making the List ? Iowa has recorded two victories by 40 points or more this season. The Hawkeyes posted a 40-point triumph (82-42) over UW-Milwaukee on Nov. 20. The 40-point win ranks as the 15th-largest margin of victory in school history. Iowa registered a 47-point victory (88-41) over Rider on Nov. 26. The 47-point win ranks as the ninth-largest margin of victory in Iowa history.
Iowa has posted six wins of 40 points or more under Coach Bluder (48 – UT-Pan American, 2001; 47 — Rider; 45 – Western Illinois, 2000; 43 – Creighton, 2002; 40 – Northwestern, 2001; 40 — UW-Milwaukee, 2005).
Movin’ On Up ? Senior Crystal Smith (160) is only six steals from equaling Cara Consuegra (166) for 11th on Iowa’s career steals chart. Smith (860) is also 42 points from matching Steph Schueler (902) for 24th in career scoring at Iowa.
More on Smith’s Records ? Crystal Smith’s 46 points bested Cindy Haugejorde’s 44-point effort vs. Luther College on Jan. 12, 1977. In addition, the 46 points is the second-most scored in a single game in Big Ten history. Illinois’ Kendra Gantt and Penn State’s Kelly Mazzante both netted 49 points. The 46 points are the most ever scored by a Louisiana Tech opponent, besting the previous record of 43 points scored by USCs Cheryl Miller, and was one point from a Thomas Assembly Center record.
Smith’s 19 free throws attempted topped the previous school record held by Nadine Domond and Amy Herrig. Domond attempted 16 foul shots vs. UCSB on Nov. 25, 1995, while Herrig attempted 16 free throws vs. Nebraska on Dec. 8, 1996. The 19 free throws attempted ranks eighth in Big Ten annals with five others.
Smith’s 15 free throws made equaled Amy Herrig’s school record of 15 established vs. Nebraska on Dec. 8, 1996. The 15 foul shots made ranks seventh in league history with eight others.
Smith’s 14 three-pointers attempted equals the school record previously set by Lindsey Meder twice before. Meder attempted 14 at Colorado on Dec. 2, 2001 and vs. Ohio State on Jan. 3, 2002.
Smith’s perfect 9-9 (1.000) shooting performance from the field matched Jamie Cavey’s record of 9-9 (1.000) vs. Marquette on March 23, 2003. All of Cavey’s field goals were two-point baskets, while four of Smith’s five were from behind the arc.
Young Guns ? Iowa is tied for 15th in the nation with the most underclassmen on its roster. The Hawkeyes are tied with 16 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 seventh (10), while Penn State (8) and Wisconsin (8) are tied for 31st.
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 started 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.
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.
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.
Big Ten Tournament Tickets on Sale ? All-session tickets for the 2006 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament are $55. Tickets can be purchased at the Conseco Fieldhouse box office, Ticketmaster outlets, www.ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster at (317) 239-5151.
The tournament returns to Indianapolis for the 11th time in 12 years and has attracted more than 30,000 fans for each of the last four events. Just two years ago, the Big Ten set a pair of attendance records when the 2004 championship game was played in front of a single-session record of 9,417 fans, which established an overall tournament record of 37,635 spectators. In the past 11 years of Big Ten Tournament play, the conference has welcomed more than 314,000 fans. Five different league representatives have become tournament champions. Purdue leads all teams with five titles followed by two championships for both Iowa and Penn State and a single title for Indiana and Michigan State.
Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk Series ? Iowa State leads the second annual Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk Series 9-2. Iowa State has recorded victories in women’s soccer (2-1), football (23-3), women’s basketball (77-61) and men’s basketball (72-60). Iowa’s only win came in wrestling (20-15).
On the Horizon ? Iowa will have only two days to prepare for its last in-state rivalry contest, as the Hawkeyes travel to Cedar Falls to face Northern Iowa, Tuesday, December 21 at the UNI Dome. Iowa will then have only one day to prepare for its last non-conference game when it entertains Creighton, Thursday, December 23 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.