Feb. 12, 2006
Ohio State won its sixth-straight game against Iowa with tonight’s 88-77 victory. The Hawkeyes fall to 0-6 in Value City Arena. Ohio State has now won 16-straight Big Ten games, dating back to a 57-54 loss to Purdue on February 8, 2004. Overall, the Buckeyes have won 31 of its last 32 home contests, dating back to the 2004-05 season.
Tonight’s loss at Ohio State coupled with an Indiana victory vs. Northwestern drops Iowa to sixth place in the Big Ten standings. Today was Indiana’s last home game and it concludes its season with three-straight road contests (Purdue, Minnesota and Iowa).
Iowa’s 39 first-half points are the most Ohio State has allowed in a half this season, besting Purdue’s 37 second-half points on January 1, 2006 in West Lafayette. Additionally, Iowa’s 77 points are the most the Buckeyes have yielded this year, besting Oklahoma’s 71 scored on January 9, 2006. The 11-point defeat is Iowa’s closet setback at Value City Arena.
Both teams started the game blazing, with the teams shooting 19-22 (.863) combined in the first 7:30 minutes of the game. Ohio State started the contest 11-11, including 4-4 from behind the arc, while Iowa was 8-11, including 2-2 from 3-point range.
Both team shot a blistering percentage the first 20 minutes. Ohio State shot 71 percent (17-24), while Iowa shot 58 percent (15-26). The Buckeyes finished the game shooting 65.4 percent (34-52), while Iowa shot 56.3 percent (27-48).
Iowa forced 16 turnovers tonight, including 10 in the first stanza. The Hawkeyes only recorded 13 miscues.
Iowa tied the game 50-50 with 15:41 left in the game, but Ohio State answered by going on an 18-6 run in 6:47 to build its advantage to 68-56 with 8:54 remaining. Iowa closed within six (81-75) after a Tiffany Reedy lay-up with 2:14 left, but would get no closer.
Megan Skouby scored 18 points, marking the tenth-straight game the freshman posted double figures. Skouby leads the Big Ten in scoring, field goal percentage and blocked shots.
Iowa trailed Ohio State 40-25 in the first half, but the Hawkeyes rallied to close the period on a 14-2 run to go into the break down only three 42-39. Iowa held the Buckeyes without a field goal the last 5:19 of the first half.
Iowa falls to 2-5 against ranked opponents this year. Tonight was the Hawkeyes’ first true road contest against a ranked foe. Then-No. 22 Oklahoma defeated Iowa 85-68 on a neutral court on November 25 in San Francisco, CA.
Tonight was the Hawkeyes’ first road contest since playing at Penn State on January 26.
Crystal Smith, who combined for only 10 points in her last two games, netted a team-high 21 points, marking the first time in three games Smith reached double figures. Smith had a 31-game double-digit scoring game streak snapped vs. Purdue on February 2. Tonight marked the eighth time this year that Smith registered 20 points or more.
Kristi Smith tallied double figures for the third-consecutive game, scoring 13 points. The native of Thornton, CO, also dished out a career-high eight assists.
Iowa converted 15-17 (.882) from the foul line today. The Hawkeyes are combined 65-73 (.890) their last four contests at the charity stripe.
Iowa pulled down a season-low 17 rebounds tonight, while Ohio State shot a Hawkeye opponent season-best 65.4 percent (34-52) from the field. The Hawkeyes were only able to grab one offensive rebound in the second period. Ohio State out-rebounded Iowa 29-17
Tiffany Reedy scored 16 points tonight on 6-11 shooting from the field, including 4-5 from behind the arc.
Krista VandeVenter fouled out for the first time in her career (56 games). The sophomore finished the contest with six points, four rebounds and a steal.
Iowa shot 53.3 percent from behind the arc, making eight triples in 15 attempts. The eight treys was one shy of a season high.