Dec. 7, 2006
GREEN BAY, Wis. — The University of Iowa women’s basketball team was about as cold as the temperature outside the Phoenix Sports Complex here Thursday night, falling to Wisconsin-Green Bay by a 67-43 score after making only 12 field goals and shooting just 29 percent from the field.
The Phoenix of UW-Green Bay — who have now won 69 of their last 78 home games with their second win of the season over a team from the Big Ten Conference — took advantage of an eight-minute stretch in the middle of the first half that it outscored the Hawkeyes 16-0 to take a commanding 26-10 lead. Jenee Graham’s two free throws with 5:19 broke Iowa’s drought, but the home team then went on a 10-1 run to take a 36-13 lead into intermission. The 13 points scored by the UI in the first half was a season low.
Iowa, now 7-3 overall, pulled to within 11 at 45-34 when Kristi Smith knocked down a pair of free throws with 8:36 left to play. However, Iowa’s offense stalled and the Phoenix outscored Lisa Bluder’s squad 22-9 down the stretch.
The Hawkeyes made just 12 of 41 field goal attempts and only four of 18 attempts from behind the arc. Iowa failed to make a field goal in a 16-minute period of time that spanned both halves. They also committed 22 turnovers that UW-Green Bay converted into 27 points.
“I’m embarrassed with the way we played tonight,” said Bluder afterward.
“It’s unfortunate because I thought we had two good practices coming into tonight’s game and I also thought we had an excellent shoot-around this afternoon. I thought our preparation was there, but we didn’t win any statistical category tonight. We didn’t hit our open shots. You have to give credit to UW-Green Bay they did an excellent job scouting us and being prepared.”
Smith paced Iowa with 16 points. Wendy Ausdemore added 10. Graham led all rebounders with 12, but Iowa was outrebounded in the game, 34-32.
UW-Green Bay attempted 19 more shots from the field that Iowa – 60 – and made 28, including nine three-point tries. Forward Nicole Soulis scored a game-high 17 to lead the Phoenix.
Iowa’s next game is Saturday, Dec. 16, at nationally ranked Rutgers.