Jan. 9, 2006
Recap | Box Score | Quotes | Photo Gallery
Freshman Megan Skouby netted a game and career-high 27 points on 12-20 shooting from the field and 3-4 from the foul line. She also matched a career best with eight rebounds and established a career high with three assists. The 27 points are the third most scored in a single game by an Iowa freshman. Lisa Becker scored 37 in a game in 1984 and Tiffany Gooden netted 36 in a game in 1995.
Iowa recorded a season-low 14 turnovers for the second straight game. The Hawkeyes also recorded a season-low eight fouls. Michigan State converted 4-6 from the foul line, both season lows for Hawkeye opponents. The Spartans converted a staggering 30-34 in its 73-71 triumph over then-ninth-ranked Rutgers Saturday in East Lansing, MI.
Iowa’s 75-64 win over ninth-ranked Michigan State marked its first win over a top-ten team since January 6, 2002 when the Hawkeyes upset No. 9 Purdue 90-75 in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa has knocked off at least one ranked opponent in each of Lisa Bluder’s six years on the sidelines.
Senior Crystal Smith had another all-around stellar game. The native of Haughton, LA, netted 18 points, matched a career high in rebounds with eight and collected six assists, two steals and one block in helping her team to victory.
Iowa’s starting unit tallied 72 of its 75 points. The Hawkeyes’ lone three bench points came from freshmen Wendy Ausdemore on a critical 3-point basket late in the second half. The three bench points are a season low for the Hawkeyes.
Iowa’s 75 points are the second-most points recorded by a Michigan State opponent this season. Top-ranked Tennesse tallied 83 in a victory over the Spartans in November.
With the game tied 36-36 with 16:40 remaining, Iowa went on a 10-0 run to grab a 46-36 advantage with 13:30 remaining. Michigan State closed the deficit to one point (61-60) with 3:13 remaining, but the Hawkeyes closed the contest on a 14-3 run en route to its 10th win of the season.
Sophomore Krista VandeVenter corralled a game-high five steals tonight. The native of Osseo, MN, has averaged 3.57 steals in Iowa’s last seven games. VandeVenter also grabbed a team-high nine rebounds.
Michigan State shot 45.2 percent (28-62) from the field tonight. Iowa opponents have yet to reach the 50 percent mark through 15 games.