Nov. 8, 2006
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The Setting ? The University of Iowa women’s basketball team opens its season at the four-team WBCA Classic in Kansas City, MO, Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $20 for a reserved seat and $14 for general admission. Both prices are all tournament passes.
Iowa faces Missouri State in its opener Saturday at 4:35 p.m. in the Municipal Auditorium. The Hawkeyes will face either Kansas or Seton Hall Sunday.
On the Radio ? Brent Balbinot and Shelley Till will call the action for the Hawkeye Radio Network. Hawkeye fans can listen to Saturday’s game live on AM-1360 KMJM in Cedar Rapids and AM-1460 KXNO in Des Moines. The game will be tape delayed on AM-800 KXIC in Iowa City. Sunday’s contest can be heard live on AM-800 KXIC in Iowa City, AM-600 WMT in Cedar Rapids and AM-1040 WHO in Des Moines.
The game can also be heard live over the Internet at hawkeyesports.com. Just click “Hawkeye All-Access” at the top right of the page. “Hawkeye All-Access” is a subscription service.
Scouting Missouri State ? Missouri State tied for sixth in the Missouri Valley Conference last year with a 7-11 league mark and 17-15 overall record. Missouri State won the conference tournament, which it hosted, to earn its third NCAA Tournament berth in four years.
The Lady Bears, who have been picked to finish seventh in the MVC by the coaches and media, return only one starter, junior forward Tiff Terwelp. Terwelp started 25-of-32 games, averaging 8.0 points and 5.6 rebounds. Missouri State’s top two scoring threats from 2005-06 of Kari Koch (20.2 ppg) and Sarah Klaassen (12.5 ppg) graduated. Terwelp averaged 22.0 points and 11.5 rebounds in Missouri State’s two exhibition game victories last week.
Missouri State has seven freshmen on its 13-player roster, six of which stand 5-10 or taller. In fact, a total of seven players stand over 6-0 on the roster, which is the tallest basketball team the Lady Bears have ever had.
The Lady Bears are coached by Katie Abrahamson-Henderson, who is a 1990 graduate and four-year letterwinner of the University of Iowa. Abrahamson-Henderson enters her fifth season in Springfield, boasting an 88-40 (.688) record. She has guided the Lady Bears to two Missouri Valley regular season titles. Prior to being named head coach at Missouri State, she was an assistant coach at Iowa State (1994-00) and Michigan State (2000-02).
Scouting Seton Hall ? Seton Hall returns 10 letterwinners, including all five starters from last year’s team that finished 6-21 overall and tied for 13th in the Big East Conference with a 3-13 mark. The Pirates have been picked to finish last in the 16-team Big East by the league’s coaches.
Seton Hall has players on its roster that hail from Australia, Canada, Finland and Poland. Monique Blake (11.9 ppg and 9.1 rpg) and Heta Korpivaara (10.1 ppg) are Seton Hall’s top returnees.
If Iowa and Seton Hall would play on Sunday, it would be the first meeting between the two schools.
The Pirates are coached by Phyllis Mangina, who enters her 22nd year on the Seton Hall sidelines. Mangina (294-306, .490) has coached 600 career games.
Scouting Kansas ? Kansas finished 10th in the Big XII last year with a 5-11 conference record and 17-13 overall mark. The Jayhawks advanced to the WNIT, where they won their preliminary round contest, but lost in the first round.
Kansas returns two starters, sophomore guard Ivana Catic (7.7 ppg and 4.6 apg) and junior forward Taylor McIntosh (4.5 ppg and 5.0 rpg). Like Missouri State, Kansas welcomes seven freshmen to its 2006-07 roster. The Jayhawks had four players average double figures in their two exhibition game wins.
The Jayhawks, who are picked to finish 10th by the Big XII coaches, have the potential to play three Big Ten teams this season, if the Hawkeyes and Jayhawks meet up in the second game at the WBCA Classic. Kansas is also slated to play road games at Wisconsin (Dec. 3) and Indiana (Dec. 21).
Kansas holds a 2-1 series advantage over Iowa, with the Jayhawks winning the last meeting (62-58) in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Iowa City on March 15, 1998.
Kansas is coached by Bonnie Hendrickson, who is in her 10th season as a head coach, her third with Kansas. Hendrickson’s overall record is 187-91 (.673), while she is 29-29 (.500) on the Kansas sidelines. Hendrickson served as an assistant coach at Iowa from 1995-97. Kansas’ top assistant, Karen Lange, is a 1996 graduate and four-year letterwinner of the University of Iowa.
WBCA Classic Notes ? This year marks only the second time under Coach Bluder that Iowa will open its season on the road. The Hawkeyes opened the 2001-02 season with wins over Marquette and Gonzaga at the Great Alaska Shootout in Anchorage, AK.
? Iowa’s season opener on Nov. 11 is the earliest regular season start in school history.
? Missouri State is one of five Missouri Valley teams the Hawkeyes will face this season (Creighton, Drake, Indiana State and Northern Iowa).
? Iowa played at Virginia Tech in the first round of the 2004 NCAA Tournament in Hendrickson’s last season as head coach in Blacksburg. Iowa lost the contest 89-76.
? Kansas junior forward Jamie Boyd hails from Underwood, Iowa. She was the recipient of the Miss Iowa Basketball Award in 2004, one year prior to Iowa’s Wendy Ausdemore earning the award.
VandeVenter Out ? Krista VandeVenter, who sprained her ankle in practice Oct. 24, played limited minutes in the exhibition opener. The junior played six minutes, scoring two points and grabbing one rebound. Unfortunately, her night ended prematurely as with a dislocated right shoulder while diving for a loose ball in the second half. She is out indefinitely.
The native of Osseo, MN, will miss her first career start this weekend. VandeVenter is the only Iowa player in history to have started 62 games her first two seasons. The team co-captain enters the 2006-07 campaign ranked 16th in career rebounding at Iowa.
Hawkeyes Win Both Exhibitions ? Iowa posted exhibition game victories over a pair of Division II opponents, Northern State (88-55) and Concordia (70-50) last week. Northern State was picked to win the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, while Concordia was picked to finish third in the league.
Fab Five ? Iowa’s sophomore class looked strong and paced the Hawkeyes in their exhibition contests last week. The five freshmen were Iowa’s top scorers in the two pre-season contests. Megan Skouby averaged 19.5 points, followed by Wendy Ausdemore (15.5), Lindsey Nyenhuis (13.5), Kristi Smith (9.5) and Nicole VanderPol (6.5).
Hot Shot ? Lindsey Nyenhuis was on fire behind the 3-point arc in Iowa’s exhibition opener vs. Northern State. The sophomore tallied 18 points, on 6-7 shooting from behind the arc. In fact, the native of Grand Rapids, MI, was a perfect 5-5 from 3-point range in the first half. Nyenhuis was 8-21 from 3-point range in limited action as a freshman.
Graham Shines ? Iowa got a boost from Jeneé Graham in both pre-season games. The junior scored six points and posted game highs in rebounds (8), steals (3) and assists (7) vs. Northern State. Against Concordia, Graham was a force on the boards, pulling down an astonishing 21 rebounds.
All-Big Ten Recognition ? For the second straight year, Iowa has been picked to finish fifth in the Big Ten by the media and coaches. Individually, Megan Skouby was named to the pre-season all-conference team by the media and coaches. Skouby is the only sophomore to be recognized; the team is comprised of three seniors, one junior and one sophomore.
Number of the Week – – 0 ? For the first time under Coach Bluder, Iowa will not have a senior in the starting lineup. Iowa’s probable starting lineup includes four sophomores (Wendy Ausdemore, Lindsey Nyenhuis, Kristi Smith, Megan Skouby) and one junior (Krista VandeVenter).
The last time Iowa did not have a senior starter was the 1999-00 season (two juniors, three sophomores). Iowa has had at least two senior starters every year under Bluder, except the 2002-03 season (center Tracy Schrupp). Below is a list of Iowa’s senior starters under Bluder:
2000-01: Cara Consuegra, Randi Peterson2001-02: Leah Magner, Lindsey Meder, Jerica Watson2002-03: Tracy Schrupp2003-04: Kristi Faulkner, Jennie Lillis2004-05: Jenna Armstrong, Jamie Cavey2005-06: Tiffany Reedy, Crystal Smith="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>
Iowa Ranked 24th by Lindy’s ? Iowa is ranked 24th in Lindy’s pre-season poll. The Hawkeyes are one of four Big Ten teams ranked; Ohio State is 10th, followed by 11th-ranked Purdue and 20th-ranked Michigan State. In addition to the ranked Big Ten teams, which Iowa will play twice each, Rutgers (ninth) and Louisiana Tech (23rd) are also on the Hawkeyes’ schedule.
Iowa History ? Iowa has played 908 games since beginning basketball in 1974. Overall, Iowa’s record is 554-354 (.610). That includes a 277-131 (.679) mark in Big Ten games and a 252-70 (.783) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Tickets ? Season ticket prices remain the same for the 2006-07 women’s basketball season. A reserved general public season ticket is $70 and UI faculty is $56. Single game tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for youths and UI students are admitted free with a student I.D.
Gunning For Seven ? Iowa has posted a winning season each year Coach Bluder has been on the Hawkeye sidelines. The Hawkeyes have strung together six straight winning seasons since the 2000-01 campaign, earning an NCAA Tournament berth four times. The school record for consecutive winning seasons is 11, established 1984-1994.
Kids Admitted Free for Weekday Games ? A new promotion this year allows children, 18-years-and-under, to be admitted free for all home games that fall on Monday-through Thursday nights.
Six-Pack ? Four home games will have a 6:35 p.m. tip-off this season: Indiana State (Nov. 15), Louisiana Tech (Nov. 21), Purdue (Jan. 3) and Illinois (Feb. 15).
Challenging Schedule Awaits ? Iowa’s schedule looks to be just as challenging as last year’s, if not more so. The Hawkeyes have the potential to play 16 teams that competed in 2006 post-season tournaments, including eight that participated in the NCAA Tournament. Iowa will play 17 games (two exhibitions) inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena, the most regular season home contests in school history.
Hawkeyes Return 10 ? Iowa returns 10 letterwinners, including three starters from a team that finished 17-12 overall, fifth in the Big Ten with a 10-6 mark and earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament. Returning starters include point guard Kristi Smith, power forward Krista VandeVenter and center Megan Skouby.
20-Year Anniversary ? This season marks the 20-year anniversary of Iowa’s first Big Ten regular season championship. Iowa’s 1986-87 team finished the league campaign 17-1 and shared the title with Ohio State. The squad advanced to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament before falling to eventual NCAA runner-up Louisiana Tech. Michelle Edwards earned all-America honors, while Franthea Price was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
Hawkeyes on the Tube ? Seven regular season games are already scheduled to be televised by either KCRG or Comcast SportsNet Chicago. KCRG will televise home contests vs. Iowa State (Nov. 30), Northern Iowa (Dec. 19), Michigan State (Jan. 14) and Wisconsin (Feb. 25). Comcast SportsNet Chicago will air home games vs. Minnesota (Jan. 25) and Michigan (Feb. 8) and the Hawkeyes’ road game at Penn State (Jan. 28).
Bluder Approaches Milestones ? After garnering her 300th Division I victory in Iowa’s regular season finale vs. Indiana last season, Bluder will reach two additional coaching milestones in 2006-07. She will coach in her 700th career game and 200th on the Iowa sidelines, both during conference play. The Marion, IA, native has coached in 682 career games (469-213, .688) and 184 contests (113-71, .614) on the Hawkeye sidelines.
During her six years at Iowa, Bluder has guided the Black and Gold to four first division finishes in the highly regarded Big Ten Conference. Iowa’s 56 league wins the last six seasons rank as the fourth-highest total in the Big Ten behind Purdue (75), Penn State (69) and Ohio State (64). She has coached five Hawkeye players to all-Big Ten first team status, three to the second team and three that were named to the all-freshman team.
Hawkeyes Return Two All-Big Ten Performers ? Iowa returns sophomore center Megan Skouby and junior power forward Krista VandeVenter. Skouby was the consensus Big Ten Freshman of the Year and earned second-team all-league accolades. Skouby became the third Hawkeye to earn Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors, joining Franthea Price (1987) and Tiffany Gooden (1995). The 6-6 center is also the sixth Big Ten post-player to earn the award since 1983 and the first since Ohio State’s Jessica Davenport in 2004. VandeVenter was named honorable mention all-conference and was a nominee for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
Iowa Returned to NCAA Tournament ? A season that was filled with numerous knee injuries did not keep the 2005-06 Iowa Hawkeyes from achieving success. Three starters suffering season-ending ACL injuries and two reserves missing substantial time due to knee injuries only propelled the freshman class to contribute and help lead the Hawkeyes to a first-division finish in the Big Ten and an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament.
Iowa finished the season 17-12 overall and placed fifth in the Big Ten with a 10-6 mark. Playing in its 16th NCAA Tournament, Iowa lost to 20th-ranked BYU (67-62) in the first round.
The Hawkeyes were led by senior Crystal Smith, who was a consensus first team all-Big Ten selection, and Big Ten Freshman of the Year Megan Skouby. The inside-outside punch of Skouby and Smith ignited the Hawkeye offense, which was tops in the Big Ten.
Underclassmen Stepped Up in 2005-06 ? Last year’s freshman class of Megan Skouby, Kristi Smith, Wendy Ausdemore, Nicole VanderPol and Lindsey Nyenhuis stepped up and accounted for 42.5 percent of Iowa’s offense. The sophomore class of Krista VandeVenter, Abby Emmert and Stacy Schlapkohl was responsible for 20.6 percent of Iowa’s offense. Combined, the underclassmen accounted for 63.1 percent of Iowa’s offense, which bodes well for the future.
Giant Killers ? Iowa recorded two victories over top-ten opponents in 2005-06 (No. 9 Michigan State 75-64 and No. 8 Purdue 77-71, OT). The last time the Hawkeyes recorded two wins against top-ten teams in the same season was Head Coach Lisa Bluder’s first season at Iowa (2000-01). Iowa picked up two victories over Purdue that year, first when it was ranked fifth (96-87 at Iowa City) and second when the Boilermakers were ranked seventh (75-70 at Grand Rapids).
In the 2005-06 Rankings ? Iowa ranked 10th in the nation in free throw percentage, 15th in assists, 16th in field goal percentage and fewest fouls and 24th in scoring. Megan Skouby ranked 25th nationally in field goal percentage.
RPI Ratings ? Iowa ranked 55th in the final regular season RPI rating released by the NCAA. All 11 regular season Iowa losses came to opponents with an RPI of 100 or better, including four in the top 10. The Hawkeyes were credited with two top-25 victories (Purdue and Michigan State).
DE-FENSE! ? Iowa’s perimeter defense was stellar in 2005-06. The Hawkeyes ranked first in Big Ten 3-point field goal defense (.296). In 2004-05, Iowa ranked 10th in Big Ten 3-point field goal defense (.361).
Hawkeyes Crack History Books ? Iowa made 29 free throws in its regular season finale vs. Indiana to establish a new Carver-Hawkeye Arena record in a Big Ten game. The 29 free throws also tied the school record previously set against Missouri State on December 5, 1993.
The 2005-06 Iowa Hawkeyes rank second in school annals in single-season free throw percentage (.760), sixth in assists (16.8), seventh in 3-point field goal percentage (.359) and 10th in scoring (72.3). Additionally, Iowa opponents’ 288 free throws made are the second-lowest in school history, second only to 273 converted in 1992-93. Also, Iowa opponents in 2005-06 attempted only 415 foul shots, which rank second behind the 393 attempted in 2004-05.
Hawkeye Fast Breaks ? 2005-06 marked the first time Iowa ever placed fifth in the Big Ten standings.
? Krista VandeVenter started her 62nd game in Iowa’s NCAA Tournament appearance vs. BYU, becoming the first Hawkeye to start 62 games her first two years.
? Eight of Iowa’s 12 losses came to ranked opponents in 2005-06. The four losses to unranked foes came on the road at Louisiana Tech (2OT), Iowa State, Indiana and Penn State. Iowa was 11-3 in home games, with its three defeats coming to No. 6 Rutgers, No. 8 Ohio State and No. 12 Minnesota.
? Krista VandeVenter finished the season with 61 steals, the most ever by a Hawkeye sophomore. The 61 thefts topped Toni Foster’s 56 established in 1990-91.
? Kristi Smith finished the season with 82 assists, the most ever for a Hawkeye freshman. Smith bested Necole Tunsil’s 78 set in 1990-91. Smith also ranks fourth in 3-pointers made (22).
? Wendy Ausdemore made 20 triples in 2005-06, which ranks fifth for a Hawkeye freshman.
? Iowa freshman Megan Skouby ranked third in conference scoring, averaging 16.8 points. She is the highest ranking freshman scorer, since Penn State all-American Kelly Mazzante ranked first in 2000-01, averaging 19.7 points.
? Skouby’s 414 points ranks second in Iowa single-season freshman scoring, only two points from matching Lisa Becker’s school freshman record of 416. She also ranks second in freshman single-season blocks (47).
Senior Update ? Redshirt senior Johanna Solverson, who is Iowa’s lone senior on the roster, suffered her second ACL tear on her right knee in late June. She is currently rehabbing and it is hopeful that she will return to game action in February.
Home Grown Hawkeyes ? Iowa’s 2006-07 roster features four players from the state of Iowa (Wendy Ausdemore, Abby Emmert, Stacy Schlapkohl and Nicole VanderPol). The Hawkeyes also have two players from Illinois (Jenee Graham and Johanna Solverson) and Minnesota (Krista VandeVenter and Zoraa Quoie). Iowa’s 12-person roster also features players from Colorado (Kristi Smith), Kansas (JoAnn Hamlin), Michigan (Lindsey Nyenhuis) and Ohio (Megan Skouby).
Hawkeye Newcomers ? Iowa’s only freshman is Zoraa Quoie, from Woodbury, MN. Quoie was named to the Miss Minnesota Basketball Senior All-State team her senior season. She was also named to the Star-Tribune third defensive team as a senior. Quoie was a 2005 and 2006 all-conference selection and earned 2004 and 2005 honorable mention all-state laurels. Quoie holds her high school’s record for single-season steals.
Also on the roster this year is JoAnn Hamlin, who transferred from Kansas State. Hamlin cannot compete due to NCAA transfer rules, but can practice with the team and will have three years of eligibility remaining starting in 2007-08. Hamlin played in 33 games last year, with 31 starts at center for the Wildcats. The 31 starts were the fifth-most in the nation among freshmen. She scored in double figures 15 times, reaching the 20-point plateau four times. Hamlin averaged 10 points, 4.6 rebounds, had a total of 22 blocks and 26 steals.
Blogging ? Hawkeye fans will be treated to behind-the-scenes information this season as sophomore Wendy Ausdemore and junior Abby Emmert will have their own blogs, which will be posted on the women’s basketball page of hawkeyesports.com. The duo will share their thoughts on practices, games, road trips, and everything else surrounding the program.
Hawkeyes Traveling Overseas in 2007 ? The women’s basketball team will be traveling overseas for 12 days to Greece, August 2007, to play four exhibition games and do some sightseeing.
Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk Series ? Iowa currently leads the third annual Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk Series 5-2. Iowa was victorious in women’s soccer (1-0, OT) and football (27-17), while Iowa State won volleyball (3-2). The next event is women’s basketball on Nov. 30 in Iowa City.
The nine-sport series awards two points (except football, which is worth three) to the winning school in each head-to-head match-up between the two institutions. Additionally, two points are awarded to an institution if the graduation rate of its student-athletes is greater than the national average as reported each fall by the NCAA.
Iowa Information on the Web ? Statistics and play-by-play accounts of all Big Ten Tournament games 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 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 7:30-8:30 p.m. The first show is set for November 27.
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.
On the Horizon ? Iowa returns to Iowa City for four consecutive games. The Hawkeyes play their home opener Wednesday, November 15 when they host Indiana State (6:35 p.m.) at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa then hosts the four-team KCRG-TV9 Hawkeye Challenge, Nov. 17-18 and then Louisiana Tech, Nov. 21 (6:35 p.m.).