July 26, 2006
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OSLO, NORWAY – The Big Ten Women’s Basketball All-Star team concluded its four-game foreign tour undefeated today as the squad cruised to a 97-55 victory over Oslo/Akershus.
Iowa’s Megan Skouby netted four points and collected three rebounds, two steals and one block in the 42-point win. The Mentor, OH, native concluded the international tour averaging 6.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks.
All 12 student-athletes that played Wednesday scored. Illinois’ Lori Bjork led all scorers with 14 points, followed by Indiana’s Leah Enterline’s 13. Northwestern’s A.J. Glasauer, Penn State’s Rashida Mark and Brianne O’Rourke tallied 11 points each.
Wednesday’s win marked the 23rd-consecutive win over the past five years and its fifth-straight undefeated foreign tour. Since the inception of the tour in 1992, which has been held annually except for 2003, the All-Stars have gone 55-18 (.753).
The Big Ten All-Stars jumped out to a 14-4 lead in the first 10-minute period and did not look back. Purdue’s Katie Gearlds scored the team’s final six points in the first quarter en route to an all-around performance of nine points, seven rebounds and a team-high four assists.
As a team, the All-Stars finished 41-84 (.488) from the floor and 11-18 (.611) from the free throw line. The 97 points was a tour high for the team and was the highest scoring total since the All-Stars posted 110 against the Luxembourg Musel Pikes in their finale victory during last year’s trip.
For the entire 10-day, four-game tour, Bjork led all scorers with 10.3 points per contest, while Wisconsin’s Danielle Ward led the rebounders with 7.3 boards per game. Additional categorical leaders include Enterline in assists (3.0), Gearlds in steals (3.5) and Skouby in blocks (1.5). O’Rourke was the only student-athlete to start three games, while Skouby and five others received two starts.
The Big Ten squad will spend Thursday in Oslo, before boarding the Crown of Scandinavia cruise ship for an overnight trip back to Copenhagen, Denmark. Upon arrival in Copenhagen, the team will have a few hours for last-minute shopping and will fly back to the U.S. just after noon. The All-Stars are expected in to Chicago’s O’Hare airport around 5:30 p.m. (CT). For continued Tour coverage, including results, stats, photos and entertaining diaries of the student-athletes, log on to bigten.org.