Dec. 19, 2005
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The Setting ? Iowa (5-4) returns to action Wednesday when it plays its final non-conference road game of the year at Northern Iowa (6-2). Tip-off is slated for 7:05 p.m. at the UNI Dome.
The Hawkeyes are in the middle of three games against Missouri Valley Conference opponents in six days. Iowa closes its non-conference schedule 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 This Date ? Iowa is 6-2 in games played on December 21, including winning its last three.
Iowa History ? Iowa has played 888 games since beginning basketball in 1974. Overall, Iowa’s record is 542-346 (.610). That includes a 267-125 (.681) mark in Big Ten games and a 242-59 (.804) 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 (21.3). Smith’s 20.8 scoring average also ranks 20th nationally. 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 eight contests.
Smith’s 46 points at Louisiana Tech are the most scored in a game by any player in the nation this season. San Diego’s Michelle Augustavo ranks second, after netting 42 points vs. Clemson on Dec. 11.
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 101-63 (.616) record in six years mentoring the Hawkeyes.
Scouting Northern Iowa ? Northern Iowa will be playing its third game in five days Wednesday when the Panthers host Iowa at the UNI Dome. Wednesday’s game will be Northern Iowa’s only game played at the dome this year.
The Panthers went 1-1 last weekend, dropping a 61-54 decision to Iowa State at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines Saturday before rebounding with a 60-53 triumph over Chicago State Sunday at the West Gym in Cedar Falls.
Sarah Larsen scored a team-high 19 points, while Cassie Hager added nine points and a game-high 12 rebounds in UNIs loss against Iowa State. The Panthers drained 10 triples in defeat. UNI averages 7.0 three-pointers per game, an average that ranks 19th nationally.
Hager paced the Panthers in Sunday’s win over Chicago State, posting game highs in points (21) and blocks (5). The game featured five second half ties before the Panthers pulled away in the final minutes.
Hager ranks first in team scoring (16.6), free throws made (35) and attempted (44), rebounding (7.5), and blocks (3.4). Tara King ranks second in scoring (10.6) and rebounding (6.4).
Fourteen of UNIs 16 players are natives of Iowa; the other two hail from Minnesota.
Northern Iowa is coached by Tony DiCecco, who is in his 11th year as head coach (153-139, .524), all with the Panthers.
All-Time Series Record ? Wednesday will be just the 11th meeting between Iowa and Northern Iowa, with the Hawkeyes leading the series 9-1. Iowa has won nine straight after Northern Iowa won the first game of the series (83-39) on Feb. 8, 1975 in Cedar Falls. Iowa holds a 4-1 advantage in games played in Cedar Falls.
The Hawkeyes are 41-36 in games against teams in the Missouri Valley Conference, including winning six of their last seven games against MVC squads.
Iowa, Northern Iowa Ties ? Iowa Head Coach Lisa Bluder graduated from Northern Iowa in 1983 with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. She was a three-year starter for the Panthers.
Common Opponents ? Iowa and Northern Iowa share four common opponents: Iowa State, Illinois, Drake and Creighton. Both the Hawkeyes and Panthers lost to Iowa State. Northern Iowa routed Illinois (71-47) at the Coors Classic in Boulder, CO, and will play Drake and Creighton twice during regular season conference play. The Hawkeyes dropped Drake (92-72), will host Creighton Friday night and will play Illinois twice during Big Ten play.
Last Meeting ? Iowa won its sixth-straight game to start the season as the Hawkeyes bounced Northern Iowa 77-50 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Dec. 5, 2004.
The Hawkeyes turned a 40-28 halftime lead into a 21-point margin by outscoring Northern Iowa 14-5 during the first 10 minutes of the second stanza. Iowa never led by less than 20 during the last 10 minutes of the second half. That was in sharp contrast to the first half when Iowa built a double-digit lead only to see UNI trim it to six, 27-21, when Tara King dropped a jumper with 6:10 to play.
Iowa was led in scoring by Crystal Smith who scored a game-high 21 points. Stacy Schlapkohl added 18 and Jamie Cavey 14. Hawkeye guard Abby Emmert paced Iowa’s rebounding attack with eight – all coming on the defensive end of the floor.
UNIs Cassie Hager scored 11 points (5-13 FG) and collected five rebounds and four blocks in defeat.
Defense again proved big for the Hawkeyes. In addition to out-rebounding their visitors by nine, Iowa limited the Panthers to just 38 percent shooting from the field and forced 21 turnovers.
Iowa also again enjoyed big-time contributions from its bench, getting 31 points from its non-starters.
Last Time Out ? The Iowa Hawkeyes returned to action Sunday after a 10-day layoff and cruised to a 92-72 victory over Drake in front of a season-high 5,556 fans at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Iowa had four players score double figures for the fourth time this season. Pacing the Hawkeyes was senior Crystal Smith. Smith tallied 21 points on 10-14 shooting from the field, including 1-3 from behind the arc. Freshman Megan Skouby contributed a career-high 19 points, while sophomores Stacy Schlapkohl and Krista VandeVenter each netted 14 points.
Nine Hawkeyes played 12 minutes or more. Additionally, Iowa had 26 assists, with 10 Hawkeyes collecting one assist or more. Iowa had six players with two assists at halftime.
Drake, who lost for the fifth time in six tries, was led by Jill Martin. Martin tallied 17 points and grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds.
Iowa started the game on fire, sinking 12 of its first 16 shots from the floor and claiming a 16-point advantage (28-12) by the second media timeout of the first period. Iowa went into halftime with a comfortable 45-29 lead. The Hawkeyes shot a blistering 60.6 percent (20-33) from the field in the first stanza.
Iowa, who improved to 4-0 when out-rebounding its opponent, out-rebounded the Bulldogs by 15 (42-27). The Hawkeyes converted 12 offensive rebounds into 14 second chance points.
The 92 points are the most yielded by a Drake team since the Bulldogs surrendered 90 against Iowa State on Dec. 5, 2001. The 92 points are also the most scored by the Hawkeyes this season.
Triple Threat ? Iowa’s post players combined for 47 points and 17 rebounds in Sunday’s victory over Drake. The trio of Megan Skouby, Krista VandeVenter and Stacy Schlapkohl shot at a 77.8 percent (21-27) from the field and 83.3 percent (5-6) from the foul line.
Skouby netted a career-high 19 points in 9-11 shooting from the field (.818) and 1-2 from the free throw line. Skouby becomes the first Hawkeye to shoot 80 percent or better from the floor (min. 10 attempts), since Johanna Solverson converted 84.6 percent (11-13) from the field vs. Western Illinois on Dec. 21, 2004.
VandeVenter tallied 10 of her 14 points in the first half. The sophomore was 6-8 from the field and 2-2 from the charity stripe. VandeVenter also collected seven rebounds, four assists and matched a career-high with four steals.
Schlapkohl scored 12 of her 14 points in the first half. The native of Durant, IA, also grabbed a career-high eight rebounds.
Iowa is the only Big Ten school to have three players rank in the top ten in field goal percentage. Skouby ranks first (.632), Schlapkohl ranks sixth (.588), while VandeVenter ranks 10th (.515). Skouby’s 9-11 shooting performance vs. Drake Sunday raised her field goal percentage 45 points.
Kristi Smith Makes First Career Start ? Freshman Kristi Smith started her first career game Sunday vs. Drake. Smith directed the Hawkeye offense for 25 minutes, collecting four points, four assists and two rebounds.
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.
Nyenhuis scored her first collegiate points when she netted six points on 2-3 shooting from behind the arc in Iowa’s 20-point triumph over Drake Sunday.
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 (8.2) 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 24.9 ppg in its first nine contests. Megan Skouby, Kristi Smith and Wendy Ausdemore lead the freshmen offensive attack. Skouby ranks third in team scoring (9.3) and third in rebounding (3.9), Smith ranks sixth in scoring (6.8) and fourth in assists (22), while Ausdemore ranks seventh in scoring (5.6).
Start-to-Finish ? Iowa has led games start-to-finish four times this season (Rider, UW-Green Bay, Vermont and Drake).
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.
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 7.1 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 38.7 percent clip from behind the arc, good enough to rank ninth 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. 92, while Northern Iowa ranks 101st in the RPI ratings published on Dec. 12 on www.collegerpi.com. The Hawkeyes also rank 67th in strength of schedule, while the Panthers rank 187th.
High Octane ? Iowa, who ranks first in Big Ten scoring offense, has scored 80 points or more in five of its first nine games. The Hawkeyes are 4-1 when scoring 80 points or more.
Big Ten Rankings ? Iowa ranks first in Big Ten scoring (77.0), assists (18.67), field goal percentage (.477), 3-point field goal percentage defense (.266) and 3-point field goal percentage (.384), second in 3-point field goals made (5.33) and blocks (4.67), third in scoring margin (+12.2) and steals (9.78).
Senior Crystal Smith ranks second in league scoring (20.8), fifth in 3-point field goals made (2.0) and steals (2.33) and 11th in free throw percentage (.810). Freshman Megan Skouby ranks first in field goal percentage (.632) and fourth in blocked shots (1.56). Sophomore Krista VandeVenter ranks fourth in rebounding (8.2), while sophomore Stacy Schlapkohl ranks sixth in field goal percentage (.588).
Head of the Class ? Kristi Smith ranks second in Big Ten freshman assists (2.4), while Megan Skouby ranks first in field goal percentage (.632) and second in scoring (9.3) among league rookies.
Krista VandeVenter ranks second in conference sophomore rebounding (8.2), while Stacy Schlapkohl ranks fourth in field goal percentage (.588).
Crystal Smith ranks second in Big Ten senior scoring (20.8) and third in steals (2.3).
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).
Smith Nominated For Senior CLASS Award ? Seniors Crystal Smith is one of 30 seniors from Division I basketball programs around the nation who have been named as candidates for the Bayer Advantage Senior CLASS Award. The award, now in its fifth year, is presented annually to the nation’s senior player-of-the-year. CLASS is an acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School. The award was launched during the 2001-02 season in response to the trend of college players leaving college early to turn professional. Smith joins Michigan State’s Liz Shimek and Lindsay Bowen as the only three Big Ten student-athletes nominated. Sportscaster Dick Enberg, who initiated the idea for the award and now serves as honorary Chairman, will announce the winner during the CBS telecast of the NCAA Men’s Final Four in April.
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.
Movin’ On Up ? Senior Crystal Smith (164) is only two steals from equaling Cara Consuegra (166) for 11th on Iowa’s career steals chart. Smith (881) is also 21 points from matching Steph Schueler (902) for 24th in career scoring at Iowa.
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.
Skouby Quicky Climbing Freshman Chart ? Megan Skouby has already rejected 14 shots. She is only nine blocks from claiming second place on Iowa’s freshman single season blocking list.
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.
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.
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.
Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk Series ? Iowa State leads the second annual Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk Series 9-4. 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 two wins came in wrestling (20-15) and women’s swimming and diving (156-144).
On the Horizon ? Iowa will have only one day to prepare for its last non-conference game when it entertains Creighton, Friday, December 23 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes will leave for Christmas Break after the game and return to Iowa City December 27 for a night practice. Iowa opens Big Ten play at Indiana on Dec. 29 in Bloomington, IN.