Dec. 22, 2006
Box Score | Quotes | Photo Gallery 
Iowa led start-to-finish en route to snapping a three-game losing skid. The win is Iowa’s fifth straight game over Drake, including three consecutive at the Knapp Center.
All nine Hawkeyes that played scored two points or more tonight. Iowa was lead by Krista VandeVenter (23 points), Megan Skouby (16 points) and Abby Emmert (9 points).
Jenee Graham led all rebounders with 11. The junior, who leads the Big Ten in rebounding, has eclipsed double figures rebounds for the 10th times this season.
Krista VandeVenter started her first game of the season tonight. The junior started all 62 games her first two seasons but missed Iowa’s first seven games this year due to an injured shoulder. Another positive sight tonight was redshirt senior Johanna Solverson suiting up for the first time and going through pre-game drills with the team.
VandeVenter collected a season-high seven rebounds tonight to surpass Tia Jackson for 14th in career rebounding. VandeVenter also netted a game and career-high with 23 points. The junior made all eight of her field goal attempts and was 7-9 at the foul line.
Iowa started the game on an 18-9 run in the first nine minutes, with sophomore Megan Skouby scoring half of the 16 points. Iowa’s frontcourt accounted for 20 of its first 24 points. Seven different Hawkeyes scored in the first 12:30 of the game.
Iowa led by as much as 15 (31-16) in the first half, but Drake rallied with a 12-3 run to trim the deficit to six (34-28) with just over a minute remaining. However, the Hawkeyes scored the last five points of the half and reestablished an 11-point advantage (39-28).
Drake opened the second stanza on a 10-4 run in the first three minutes to cut Iowa’s lead to five (43-38). Iowa withstood the Bulldog early push and rebuilt a 10-point lead (60-50) at the 9:35 mark.
Drake was plagued with horrendous free throw shooting tonight. Drake converted only 39.1 percent (9-23) from the foul line tonight. Iowa made 71.4 percent (20-28) from the charity stripe.
Drake was 0-3 from 3-point range in the first half, but made 5-8 (.625) in the second stanza. The Hawkeyes were 3-6 (.500) from behind the arc for the game.
Iowa improves to 98-10 when leading at intermission under Coach Bluder.
Tonight was Iowa’s non-conference finale. The Hawkeyes return to action next Thursday when they travel to Minnesota to open Big Ten play.