Oct. 29, 2006
Chicago, IL – The Iowa women’s basketball team has been picked to finish fifth in the Big Ten by both the media and coaches for the second consecutive year. Individually, last year’s Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Megan Skouby, was honored on the pre-season all-Big Ten team by both the media and coaches. The announcement came today at Big Ten Basketball Media Day in Chicago, in which Skouby and Head Coach Lisa Bluder were represented.
Both the conference coaches and media agree on the first seven places. Ohio State was chosen as the unanimous pre-season favorite, followed by Purdue, Michigan State, Penn State, Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois. The coaches have Minnesota eighth, followed by Michigan, Indiana and Northwestern. The media picked Indiana eighth, followed by Minnesota, Michigan and Northwestern.
Iowa has one of the league’s most difficult Big Ten schedules, as predicted by the media and coaches. The Hawkeyes play Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Northwestern only once – all four of which have been predicted to finish in the lower division.
A total of four former Big Ten Freshman of the Year honorees grace the five-player pre-season team. Skouby, joins seniors Jessica Davenport (Ohio State), Amanda Brown (Penn State) and Katie Gearlds (Purdue) and junior Jolene Anderson (Wisconsin). Skouby is the only sophomore selected to the all-conference team. Davenport was chosen as the pre-season Player of the Year.
Skouby emerged as one of the league’s top players in her first season. The native of Mentor, OH, averaged 14.3 points and 5.0 rebounds in all games and 16.8 points and 5.8 rebounds during conference play. The 6-6 center led Iowa in scoring in 10 of Iowa’s last 16 contests in 2005-06.
Iowa returns 10 letterwinners, including three starters (point guard Kristi Smith, power forward Krista VandeVenter, center Megan Skouby) from last year’s team that finished fifth in the Big Ten with a 10-6 conference record. The Hawkeyes earned an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament and finished the season with a 17-12 mark.
“Since three of the top six players from last year were freshmen, we are confident that they will continue to progress and lead our team for the next few seasons,” said Bluder. “We are proud to have been to four NCAA Tournaments in the past six years, but we would like to be more consistent and avoid being a bubble team. Unfortunately, injuries have slowed us more than we would like in the past, as well as this season.”
Iowa hosts Northern State in its first exhibition game Wednesday. Tip-off is slated for 6:35 p.m. inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Team Rankings – Coaches
1. Ohio State
2. Purdue
3. Michigan State
4. Penn State
5. IOWA
6. Wisconsin
7. Illinois
8. Minnesota
9. Michigan
10. Indiana
11. Northwestern
Team Rankings – Media
1. Ohio State
2. Purdue
3. Michigan State
4. Penn State
5. IOWA
6. Wisconsin
7. Illinois
8. Indiana
9. Minnesota
10. Michigan
11. Northwestern
All-Big Ten – Coaches and Media
Jessica Davenport, Ohio State, Sr., C
Katie Gearlds, Purdue, Sr., G/F
Jolene Anderson, Wisconsin, G, Jr.
Amanda Brown, Penn State, F/C, Sr.
Megan Skouby, Iowa, So., C
Player of the Year
Jessica Davenport, Ohio State, Ohio State, Sr., C