Dec. 13, 2006
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The Setting ? Iowa (7-3, 0-0) returns to action Saturday when the Hawkeyes travel to Piscataway, NJ, to face Rutgers (4-4, 0-1). Tip-off is slated for 7:05 p.m. in the Louis Brown Athletic Center. Saturday will be Iowa’s first game in eight days due to its student-athletes taking final exams.
Iowa History ? Iowa has played 918 games since beginning basketball in 1974. Overall, Iowa’s record is 561-357 (.611). That includes a 277-131 (.679) mark in Big Ten games and a 256-72 (.780) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
On the Tube ? Hawkeye fans will be able to watch the game live in Eastern Iowa on KCRG-TV9.
On the Radio ? Brent Balbinot and Shelley Till will call the action for the Hawkeye Radio Network. Hawkeye fans can listen to the game on 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 Rutgers ? Rutgers is riding a two-game winning streak into Saturday’s game with the Hawkeyes. Rutgers is in the middle of a stretch where it plays three of four home games. Three of Rutgers’ four losses have come to teams ranked in the RPI top 20 (Georgia, Duke and DePaul). After being ranked since the preseason, Rutgers dropped out of the rankings this week. The Scarlet Knights began the season ranked 12th by the Associated Press.
Rutgers outlasted Mississippi 89-84 in three overtimes in its last contest Tuesday night. Five Scarlet Knight players scored double figures, including two posting double-doubles. Freshman guard Epiphanny Prince collected 22 points and 10 rebounds, while sophomore center Kia Vaughn recorded her fifth double-double of the season with 11 points and 13 rebounds. Rutgers paraded to the free throw 35 times, but only managed to make 22 (.629).
Like the Hawkeyes, Rutgers has four players averaging double figures. Prince averages a team-best 17.1 points, followed by Vaughn (14.6), junior guard Matee Ajavon (13.3) and junior guard Essence Carson (10.3). Vaughn also averages 11.0 rebounds per contest. Ajavon missed Rutgers’ first four games due to a leg injury, but has since played three games.
Rutgers shoots 45 percent from the field and 61 percent from the foul line. Their opponents are shooting 44 percent from the field, including 40 percent from 3-point range.
Rutgers is coached by former Iowa Head Coach C. Vivian Stringer, who is in her 35th year as a head coach (754-255, .747) and her 12th on the Rutgers sideline (234-120, .661).
Vivian to Coach Against Former Team ? Former Iowa Head Coach C. Vivian Stringer will coach against her former team for only the second time Saturday.
Stringer, Iowa’s all-time winningest coach (269 wins), coached 12 seasons in Iowa City and guided the Hawkeyes to six Big Ten regular season titles and nine straight NCAA Tournaments. The Hall of Fame coach and the Hawkeyes advanced to three Elite Eight’s and a Final Four in 1993.
Stringer and the Hawkeyes won 46-consecutive home games from 1986-90 and 41-straight Big Ten Conference contests between 1985-90 — both league records.
Also on the Rutgers coaching staff are former Hawkeye teammates and all-Americans Michelle Edwards and Jolette Law. Edwards was named the 1988 National Player of the Year and is the only Hawkeye to have her jersey retired (No. 30). Law was a Kodak District all-American in 1990 and then went on to tour four years with the Harlem Globetrotters.
All-Time Series Record ? Saturday will be only the second meeting between Iowa and Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights defeated the Hawkeyes, 57-51, last year in Iowa City. Iowa boasts a 17-6 (.739) record against current members of the Big East.
Iowa, Rutgers Notes ? Saturday’s game will feature two of the nation’s top rebounders. Iowa’s Jenee Graham ranks 15th, while Rutgers’ Kia Vaughn ranks ninth.
? Iowa ranks 35th nationally in assists (16.5), while Rutgers ranks 26th in fewest turnovers (14.9) and 28th in blocked shots (5.0).
? Iowa is 97-10 when leading at the half in the seven years under Coach Bluder. Additionally, Iowa is 78-12 when holding opponents to 69 points or less, including a 32-1 mark when opponents score 59 points or less.
? Kia Vaughn collected six points and six rebounds in 28 minutes off the bench last year against Iowa. Megan Skouby tallied only two points and two rebounds in only eight minutes of action as a reserve vs. Rutgers.
? Rutgers all-American Cappie Poindexter and Iowa honorable mention all-American Crystal Smith both graduated last spring and played together as teammates on the WNBAs Phoenix Mercury.
? Megan Skouby is the only Hawkeye to lead the team in scoring in back-to-back contests (Florida International and Louisiana Tech). The Hawkeyes have had a different leading scorer the last five games.
? Iowa is 6-0 when having a higher field goal percentage and opponents shoot less than 40 percent from 3-point range this season. The Hawkeyes are also 7-1 when having more assists.
? Iowa is 2-2 in games played on December 16.
? Krista VandeVenter has grabbed exactly 500 career rebounds and ranks 16th in Iowa career rebounding. VandeVenter is only six rebounds from tying Jamie Cavey (506) for 15th.
Last Meeting ? Cappie Pondexter scored 22 points and No. 6 Rutgers held off Iowa 57-51 to win the KCRG-TV9 Hawkeye Challenge.
The victory also capped an emotional weekend for Rutgers coach C. Vivian Stringer, who coached against her old team for the first time since leaving Iowa City to take the Scarlet Knights’ job.
Pondexter, who scored 26 points in the tournament’s opening round, was voted MVP. But Rutgers also relied on its size and strength inside to wear down the Hawkeyes inside and cut short each rally.
Seven of Pondexter’s points came at key moments late in the game.
After Iowa pulled to 46-44 on a short jumper by Krista VandeVenter, Pondexter answered with a long 3-pointer.
In the final minute with Rutgers leading by four, Pondexter milked the clock on all alone on the perimeter before driving an Iowa defender into the paint and swishing a short jumper.
Five times Iowa crept within two points in the second half, only to see Rutgers, which never trailed in the game, respond and stretch its lead by controlling the boards.
Led by Mariota Theodoris’ 16 rebounds, Rutgers outrebounded Iowa 40-31, including 17-8 on the offensive end, outscored Iowa 28-16 on points in the paint and blocked six shots.
Crystal Smith led the Hawkeyes with 17 points. VandeVenter had 15 points and had six rebounds. The Hawkeyes shot 38 percent from the floor and 79 percent from the free throw line.
Stringer was cheered loudly as she strolled out of the locker room and along the sidelines, shaking hands with friends and university officials, during warmups and pregame introductions.
Foursome ? Iowa has four players averaging double figures in scoring: Megan Skouby (14.2), Kristi Smith (13.1), Wendy Ausdemore (12.0) and Stacy Schlapkohl (11.6). The Hawkeyes’ top three scorers are sophomores.
Iowa and Michigan State are the only Big Ten teams that have four players average double figures.
Last Time Out ? Iowa was about as cold as the temperature outside the Phoenix Sports Complex last Thursday, falling at UW-Green Bay by a 67-43 score after making only 12 field goals and shooting just 29 percent from the field.
The Phoenix, who have now won 70 of their last 79 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. Iowa missed its last 14 shots from the field in the first stanza.
The Hawkeyes 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. UW-Green Bay led start-to-finish en route to victory.
The Hawkeyes made just 12-41 field goal attempts and only 4-18 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.
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 than Iowa – 60 – and made 28, including nine triples. Forward Nicole Soulis scored a game-high 17 to lead the Phoenix.
Final Game Notes ? The 43 points is Iowa’s lowest scoring output since Head Caoch Lisa Bluder’s second game at Iowa — a 66-42 defeat vs. Utah on November 19, 2000.
? Iowa converted 15-19 (.789) from the foul line, while UW-Green Bay was only 2-3 (.667) from the free throw line.
? The Hawkeyes opened the second half on a 21-9 run in 11:22 to shave the deficit to 11 (45-34) with 8:38 remaining. Trailing by 11 (52-41) with 5:02 left, UW-Green Bay closed the contest on a 15-2 run to win the game by a 24-point margin (67-43).
? Jenee Graham has collected double-digit rebounds seven times this year.
? Iowa’s leading scorer, Megan Skouby, played only 21 minutes and was held scoreless for the first time in her career.
? The Hawkeyes posted season lows in field goals made (12) and attempted (41), rebounds (32), assists (4) and steals (4).
RPI Ratings ? Iowa ranks 50th, while Rutgers ranks 40th in the RPI rankings published on December 11, on collegerpi.com/women. Currently, the Big Ten Conference is the nation’s best rated league.
Attendance Rankings ? Iowa ranks 28th nationally in attendance, averaging 3,509 fans. The Hawkeyes ranked in the top 25, 15 of the last 17 seasons.
Graham Steps Up ? With Iowa’s leading rebounder (Krista VandeVenter) sidelined for the first seven contests, Jenee Graham stepped up and filled the rebounding void. The junior grabbed double-digit rebounds in 8-10 contests and has been Iowa’s leading rebounder in nine games. Graham corralled a career-high 14 rebounds against Indiana State and Louisiana Tech.
Graham averages 6.4 points, 10.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists. The native of Bolingbrook, IL, is the Big Ten’s leading rebounder (10.6) and ranks second in defensive rebounding (7.1). She also ranks seventh in assists (3.7).
The sophomore is the first Iowa player to average double figures in rebounding this far into the season, since Amy Herrig in 1998-99 (11.3).
Freebies ? Iowa has made free throws when it counted — in the last five minutes of the games. The Hawkeyes are 40-50 (.800) in the last five minutes, 20-27 (.741) under two minutes and 22-26 (.846) with under a minute to play.
Iowa has made 175-221 from the foul line this season. The Hawkeyes’ 79.2 percent shooting from the free throw line ranks first in the Big Ten and eighth nationally. Iowa opponents are only 116-160 (.725) from the charity stripe through 10 games. The Hawkeyes rank third in the country in free throws made (175).
Iowa is well on pace to break the school record of 512 free throws made, established in 2002-03.
Behind the Arc ? Iowa has two players who have drained over 15 triples this season, Wendy Ausdemore (18) and Lindsey Nyenhuis (15).
As a team, the Hawkeyes rank fourth in Big Ten 3-pointers made (4.7).
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.
Nyenhuis ranks eighth in Big Ten 3-point field goal percentage (.341) and 11th in 3-pointers made (1.5).
Smith Leads ? Kristi Smith has done a great job leading the Hawkeye offense as point guard through 10 games. Smith ranks second in team scoring (13.1) and assists (3.5) and first in free throws made (49), attempted (57) 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 four times, including scoring 20-plus points twice, and led the team in steals seven times.
Big Ten Rankings ? Iowa ranks first in Big Ten free throw percentage (.792), fourth in scoring offense (71.2), 3-pointers made (4.7) and assist/turnover ratio (0.98). Individually, Jenee Graham ranks first in rebounding (10.6), fourth in assist/turnover ratio (1.68) and seventh in assists (3.7). Wendy Ausdemore ranks eighth in 3-pointers made (1.8). Megan Skouby ranks ninth in scoring (14.2) and sixth in blocks (1.6). Kristi Smith ranks fourth in free throw percentage (.860) and 10th in assists (3.5). Stacy Schlapkohl ranks 12th in field goal percentage (.512).
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. VandeVenter and Quoie Return ? After missing the first seven games to respective injuries, junior forward Krista VandeVenter (shoulder) and freshman Zoraa Quoie (knee) have resumed playing in games.
VandeVenter has played in three games, averaging 3.7 rebounds and 1.7 points in 17.7 minutes. Quoie has played in two games, averaging 1.0 points, 1.0 assists and 1.0 steals in 4.0 minutes.
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 6-10 contests this season. Schlapkohl ranks third in team scoring (12.0).
On the Road Again ? After playing six of seven games at home, the Hawkeyes are in the middle of a stretch where they play four of five on the road.
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 16-50 (.320) from 3-point range.
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.
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 late January.
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 692 career games (476-216, .688) and 194 contests (120-74, .619) 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.
Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk Series ? Iowa currently leads the third annual Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk Series 11-4 with only three events remaining. Iowa was victorious in women’s soccer (1-0, OT), football (27-17), wrestling (24-6) men’s basketball (77-59) and women’s swimming (181.5-117.5). Iowa State won volleyball (3-2) and women’s basketball (80-74).
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.
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, 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 years. 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.
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.
“Hawk Talk with Lisa Bluder” ? Catch “Hawk Talk with Lisa Bluder”, the radio call-in program Monday nights featuring Iowa 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.
Fans can call toll-free at (877) 464-2957. The show originates from Bob’s Your Uncle restaurant on the eastside of Iowa City.
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 concludes its non-conference schedule with a pair of in-state rivals. The Hawkeyes return home to host Northern Iowa (Dec. 19). Iowa will then travel to Drake three days later (Dec. 22).