Nov. 28, 2006
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
The Setting ? Iowa (6-1) returns home to face intra-state rival Iowa State (3-1) Thursday in the fourth event of the Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk Series. Tip-off is slated for 7:05 p.m. in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for youths and UI students with their student I.D. are free.
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 in the series is wrestling, Sunday at 4 p.m. 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 History ? Iowa has played 915 games since beginning basketball in 1974. Overall, Iowa’s record is 560-355 (.612). That includes a 277-131 (.679) mark in Big Ten games and a 255-71 (.782) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
On the Tube ? Thursday’s game will be televised live in Eastern Iowa on KCRG-TV9. John Campbell, Amy Herrig and Scott Saville will call the action.
On the Radio ? Brent Balbinot and Shelley Till will call the action for the Hawkeye Radio Network. Hawkeye fans can listen to the games on WHO 1040-AM in Des Moines, WMT 600-AM in Cedar Rapids and KXIC 800-AM in Iowa City.
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 Iowa State ? Iowa State concludes a four-game road stretch Thursday when it visits Iowa City. The Cyclones return to the state after splitting two games at the Pepperdine Thanksgiving Tournament in California last weekend.
Iowa State defeated Virginia Tech (75-69) in the first round, but lost to Pepperdine (52-46) in the championship. Junior college transfer Toccara Ross posted back-to-back double-doubles to earn a place on the all-tournament team along with senior Lyndsey Medders. Ross recorded 18 points and 11 rebounds vs. Virginia Tech and 16 points and 11 rebounds against Pepperdine. Medders netted 23 points and collected seven rebounds and seven assists vs. the Hokies and six points and four rebounds against the Waves.
Three Cyclones players average double figures in scoring. Medders, who was named to the all-Big XII and John R. Wooden Award preseason teams, ranks first in team scoring (16.5) and assists (7.3). Ross ranks first in rebounding (8.0) and second in scoring (13.8). Heather Ezell ranks third in scoring (12.0).
The Cyclones, who were picked to finish fifth by the Big XII coaches in its presason poll, shoot 46.8 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from behind the arc. Iowa State also boasts a +7.3 rebounding margin.
Iowa State is coached by Bill Fennelly, who is in his 19th year (402-164, .710) as a head coach, and his 12th season (236-111, .680) with the Cyclones. Fennelly recently collected his 400th career win in the Cyclones’ season-opening 85-62 victory over Cal-State Fullerton on Nov. 15.
Iowa, Iowa State Notes ? Iowa is 96-9 when leading at the half in the seven years under Coach Bluder. Additionally, Iowa is 77-11 when holding opponents to 69 points or less, including a 32-1 mark when opponents score 59 points or less.
? Iowa boasts a 30-8 (.789) home non-conference record under Coach Bluder.
? Iowa State overcame a 13-point second-half deficit to pull off an 80-74 overtime win at Northern Iowa on Nov. 20. The game was the Northern Iowa’s first game in its new McLeod Center. The Cyclones withstood Northern Iowa’s Tara King, who poured in a career-high 38 points. Iowa State’s Lyndsey Medders dished out a game-high 11 assists in the comeback win.
? In addition to playing Iowa this season, the Cyclones will also host Big Ten opponent Minnesota (Dec. 9).
? There have been three overtime games in the Iowa-Iowa State series, with Iowa State winning two of the three.
All-Time Series Record ? Thursday will be the 37th meeting between Iowa and Iowa State, with the Hawkeyes leading the series 20-16. Iowa holds a 12-5 advantage in games played in Iowa City.
The home team has won the last five meetings, including Iowa State winning last year’s contest (77-66) at Hilton Coliseum. The Hawkeyes won the last game played in Carver-Hawkeye Arena (89-80) in 2004.
On This Date ? Iowa is 4-5 in games played on November 30, including a 3-0 mark under Coach Bluder. The Hawkeyes routed UW-Green Bay (81-57) last November 30th in Iowa City.
Last Meeting ? Iowa State defeated Iowa, 77-61, at Hilton Coliseum on December 8, 2005. It was Iowa’s fifth-straight setback in Ames.
Iowa’s Megan Skouby made a 10-foot jumper with 7:00 left in the first half to give the Hawkeyes a 25-24 advantage. The Cyclones responded in a big way, scoring 13 of the final 15 points to take a 37-27 lead into half. Iowa only made three of its last 18 field goal attempts in the first period.
Iowa State opened the second half on an 8-0 run to stretch its lead to 18 (45-27). The Cyclones led 51-33 with 15:32 left before Iowa went on a 15-3 run to trim the deficit to six (54-48) with 9:51 remaining, but that was as close as the Hawkeyes would get.
Iowa State played only six players. All five starters scored double figures, including guard Lyndsey Medders, who posted game highs in points (20) and assists (14). Three Cyclones pulled down double digit rebounds (Brittany Wilkins, 13; Nicky Wieben, 12; Megan Ronhovde, 11).
Iowa was led by Tiffany Reedy, Crystal Smith and Krista VandeVenter. Reedy scored 11 of her 13 points in the first 12:13 of the first half. Smith also tallied 13 points and grabbed four rebounds. VandeVenter netted all 12 of her points in the second period. She also equaled a career high with 14 rebounds, collecting her fourth career double-double.
The game featured four ties and three lead changes.
Home Sweet Home ? Iowa is about to conclude a stretch of six of seven home games. The Hawkeyes went 3-1 in their four home contests last week. After collecting its first true road win of the year at Creighton on Sunday, Iowa hosts Iowa State (Thursday) and Samford (Sunday) this week.
Foursome ? Iowa has four players averaging double figures in scoring: Megan Skouby (16.6), Wendy Ausdemore (14.0), Kristi Smith (13.0) and Stacy Schlapkohl (12.4). The Hawkeyes’ top three scorers are sophomores.
Last Time Out ? For the first time this year, Iowa had five players score double figures en route to a 75-69 victory over Creighton at the Omaha Civic Auditorium last Sunday. The win was Iowa’s fourth-straight over the Bluejays.
Creighton led by as many as six points in the first half, but Iowa was able to climb back into the game thanks to excellent free throw shooting. The Hawkeyes made their first 22 free throw attempts and finished the game 23-25 (.920) from the charity stripe.
Iowa led by one (33-32) at the half and opened the second stanza on a 15-6 run to build its biggest lead 48-37 with 13:30 left in the contest. The Hawkeyes maintained their cushion by attacking Creighton’s full court press and creating and sinking high percentage baskets in the second half. Iowa shot 53.8 percent from the field in the second half and finished the game shooting 49.0 percent.
Sparking the Hawkeyes were guards Kristi Smith and Abby Emmert. Smith scored nine of her game-high 15 points at the foul line. Emmert tallied all of her career-high 10 points in the second half.
The Bluejays’ Michelle Kaus was 4-8 from the behind the 3-point arc in the first half, but did not attempt another triple the rest of the game. In fact, Iowa’s perimeter defense intensified and held Creighton to 0-9 shooting from behind the arc in the second half.
Wendy Ausdemore and Stacy Schlapkohl each contributed 12 points, while Jenee Graham added 10 points and a game-high nine rebounds for the Hawkeyes.
Creighton also had five players score double figures, led by Kaus’ 14 and Ally Thrall’s 12. The Bluejays forced 21 Iowa turnovers and collected 10 steals in defeat.
Iowa also shot a high percentage from 3-point range, making four of its seven attempts (.571).
Streak Snapped ? Megan Skouby had her 22-game double-digit scoring streak snapped when she was held to eight points at Creighton. The streak dated back to last season. In addition to scoring eight points, she snagged seven rebounds in victory.
Graham Steps Up ? With Iowa’s leading rebounder sidelined indefinitely, Jenee Graham has stepped up and filled the rebounding void. The junior grabbed double-digit rebounds in 5-7 contests. Graham corralled a career-high 14 rebounds against Indiana State and Louisiana Tech.
Graham averages 5.9 points, 10.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists. The native of Bolingbrook, IL, is the Big Ten’s leading rebounder (10.3) and ranks first in defensive rebounding (7.0). Graham also ranks 10th in assists (3.6).
Freebies ? Iowa has made free throws when it counted — in the last five minutes of the games. The Hawkeyes are 38-47 (.809) in the last five minutes, 18-25 (.720) under two minutes and 20-24 (.833) with under a minute to play.
Iowa has made 137-172 from the foul line this season. The Hawkeyes’ 79.7 percent shooting from the free throw line ranks first in the Big Ten. Iowa opponents are only 85-121 (.702) from the charity stripe through seven games.
What to Look For ? Iowa is undefeated this year when Iowa has a higher field goal percentage than its opponent (5-0), has more rebounds (5-0), has more assists (6-0), shoots more free throws (5-0), and its opponents shoots less than 40-percent from behind the 3-point arc (5-0).
Fast Start ? The Big Ten has had a fast start to the 2006-07 campaign. After last week’s action, three teams remained undefeated (Purdue, Ohio State and Wisconsin) and five squads had suffered only one loss (Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan State and Northwestern).
Behind the Arc ? Iowa has two players who have drained over 10 triples this season, Wendy Ausdemore (14) and Lindsey Nyenhuis (13). Ausdemore ranks eighth in Big Ten treys made (2.0), while Nyenhuis ranks 12th (1.86). Nyenhuis also ranks seventh in percentage (.433).
Hot Shot ? Lindsey Nyenhuis provided a spark for the Hawkeyes off the bench in the KCRG-TV9 Hawkeye Challenge. Nyenhuis scored a career-high 12 points vs. Quinnipiac and nine against Florida International. All of her points came from behind the 3-point arc. The sophomore was a sizzling 7-8 (.875) from 3-point range in the tournament.
Number of the Week – – 689 ? Iowa Head Coach Lisa Bluder has coached in 689 career games, with her career winning percentage standing at .689 (475-214).
Hawkeyes Honored ? Sophomores Wendy Ausdemore and Megan Skouby were named to the KCRG-TV9 Hawkeye Challenge All-Tournament team. Skouby was recognized as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
Smith Leads ? Kristi Smith has done a great job leading the Hawkeye offense as point guard through seven games. Smith ranks third in team scoring (13.0) and first in assists (4.29), free throws made (43), attempted (50) and percentage (.860). The sophomore was 7-7 from the line vs. Florida International, 11-12 against Missouri State and 9-10 at Creighton.
Smith has led the team in scoring three times, including scoring 20-plus points twice, and led the team in steals five times.
Hi-Octane ? The 171 combined points in Iowa’s 88-83 win over Indiana State on Nov. 15, was the highest scoring game in Carver-Hawkeye Arena since a 94-83 loss to Minnesota in 2001.
Ausdemore Ties Record ? Wendy Ausdemore tied a Carver-Hawkeye Arena record by an Iowa player when she made five triples vs. Quinnipiac. The sophomore was 5-7 (.714) from behind the arc against the Bobcats. For the season, she is 14-40 (.350) from 3-point range.
Ausdemore ranks third in Big Ten minutes played (35.14), 11th in scoring (14.0) and 13th in assists (3.29).
Schlapkohl Delivers ? Stacy Schlapkohl returned to the starting lineup in lowa’s 88-83 win over Indiana State on Nov. 15. The junior scored a game and career-high 24 points on 9-15 shooting from the field and 6-10 from the foul line. She has netted double figures in 5-7 contests this season. Schlapkohl ranks fourth in team scoring (12.54.
Hawkeyes Win WBCA Classic ? Iowa opened the season with two quality road wins, defeating Missouri State (79-70) and Kansas (63-49) to capture the fifth-annual WBCA Classic in Kansas City, MO.
Trifecta ? The Hawkeyes had three sophomores recognized on the WBCA Classic All-Tournament team. Wendy Ausdemore, Megan Skouby and Kristi Smith all earned all-tournament laurels. Skouby was honored as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
Skouby averaged 16.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 blocks in the two contests. Smith averaged 15.0 points, 4.0 assists, 2.5 steals and 2.5 rebounds. Ausdemore averaged 13.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists.
VandeVenter Out ? Krista VandeVenter, who sprained her ankle in practice Oct. 24, played little 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, missed her first career start last weekend. VandeVenter is the only Iowa player in history to have started 62 games her first two seasons. The team co-captain entered the 2006-07 campaign ranked 16th in career rebounding at Iowa.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 689 career games (475-214, .689) and 191 contests (119-72, .623) on the Hawkeye sidelines.
In her first six years at Iowa, Bluder 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.
No Senior Starters ? 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:>
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).
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.
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.
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.
Hawkeyes Ink Two ? Kachine Alexander and Kelsey Cermak have signed National Letters of Intent to attend the University of Iowa.
Alexander, a native of Minneapolis, MN, is a three-time all-conference honoree. She earned the Best Defensive Player Award at Benilde-St. Margaret’s High School her freshman and sophomore seasons. Her team was three-time conference champions and won the Minnesota State AAA Championship in 2006. The 5-9 forward was named state tournament MVP and earned honorable mention all-state honors her junior year. She averaged 12.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.5 steals and 3.0 assists in 29 starts her junior season.
Cermak, who hails from Norwalk, IA, is a two-time first team all-state honoree and a three-time first team all-conference and all-district selection. She was the Norwalk High School MVP her first three years. The 6-1 guard holds her school’s single-season record for steals (90). She averaged 17.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.8 steals in 26 starts on a team that won the Iowa state and conference championship her junior season. Cermak averaged 18.9 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.6 steals her sophomore campaign. Norwalk placed second in its conference her freshman and sophomore seasons.
“We are excited to sign these two talented recruits,” said Head Coach Lisa Bluder. “We welcome both of these new Hawkeyes to our family!”
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.
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.
Big Ten Tournament Tickets on Sale ? All-session tickets for the 2007 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament presented by Xbox Live are $65. Tickets can be purchased at the Conseco Fieldhouse box office, Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster at (317) 239-5151.
The tournament returns to Indianapolis for the 12th time in 13 years and has attracted more than 30,000 fans for each of the last five events. The 2006 tournament attendance of 38,638 and session average of 7,728 were both event records. In the past 12 years of Big Ten Tournament play, the conference has welcomed more than 353,000 fans. Six different league representatives have become tournament champions. Purdue leads all teams with five titles followed by two championships for both Iowa and Penn State and a single title for Indiana, Michigan State and Ohio State.
On the Horizon ? Iowa welcomes Samford to Iowa City on Sunday for a 12:05 p.m. tip-off before going on a two-game road trip at UW-Green Bay (Dec. 7) and Rutgers (Dec. 16).