Jan. 11, 2008
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THE SETTING
The Iowa Hawkeyes (9-7, 2-3) return home to host the Wisconsin Badgers (8-6, 1-3) Sunday. Tip-off is slated for 3:05 p.m. Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for youths, while UI students are admitted free.
Sunday is “Pack the House Challenge” and “Girl Scout Day” at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa will attempt to top last year’s best single-game attendance mark of 5,865 (set vs. Iowa State). Girl Scouts who attend in their uniform will be admitted for $1 at the West entrance.
ON THE TUBE
Sunday’s contest will be televised live in Eastern Iowa on KCRG-TV9. John Campbell, Amy Herrig and Scott Saville will call the action. It will be Iowa’s third of four games to be televised on KCRG.
ON THE RADIO
Brent Balbinot and Shelley Till will call Sunday afternoon’s game for the Hawkeye Radio Network. Hawkeye fans can listen to the contest on WHO 1040-AM in Des Moines, WMT 600-AM in Cedar Rapids and KXIC 800-AM in Iowa City. Balbinot is in his fourth season as Iowa’s play-by-play voice, while Till is in her third providing analysis.
PROMOTIONS
? Halftime entertainment provided by Steve Max
? Players will be available for autographs, after the game, on the concourse.
? The first 1,500 fans will receive a free Hawkeye keychain
? During the second half of every home game, one lucky Hawkeye fan will win an iPod Shuffle, while another will win an iTunes gift card during “Big Ten SuperFan T-Shirt Toss”. Each winner will be included in a final drawing at Iowa’s home finale vs. Northwestern (Feb. 28) for an all-expenses-paid trip for two to the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament in Indianapolis (March 6-10).
IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 954 games since beginning basketball in 1974. Overall, Iowa’s record is 577-377 (.605). That includes a 285-144 (.664) mark in Big Ten games and 265-81 (.766) in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
SCOUTING WISCONSIN
Wisconsin has six days to prepare for Sunday’s contest against the Hawkeyes. The Badgers lost their last contest (81-73), at home, to Minnesota on Monday.
Wisconsin has started the Big Ten schedule 1-3. The Badgers are 2-4 in contests away from Madison, including an 0-2 road mark in conference games. The Badgers average 78.1 points per game in their eight victories.
The Badgers lost Monday, despite out-rebounding the Golden Gophers by 15 (49-34) and forcing 25 Minnesota turnovers. Two Badgers recorded double-doubles in defeat. Senior Danielle Ward totaled 10 points and 12 rebounds, while senior Jolene Anderson tallied 16 points and 12 rebounds. Senior Janese Banks netted a team-high 20 points and secured nine rebounds. Minnesota’s Emily Fox led all scorers with 29.
Anderson, who was tabbed Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year, ranks third in Big Ten scoring (17.9). Anderson won the league’s scoring title by one point last season.
Sophomore Rae Lin D’Alie ranks first in Big Ten assists (4.57) and fourth in team scoring (6.7). Banks ranks sixth in league scoring (15.1).
Lisa Stone is in her fifth season (64-70, .478) as Wisconsin’s head coach and 23rd year (439-188, .700) as a head coach.
LAST MEETING
Five Hawkeyes scored in double figures as Iowa outlasted Wisconsin, 103-93 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Feb. 25, 2007.
The 103-point outburst by Iowa is the second-highest scoring game in school history and is an arena record. The Hawkeyes reached the century mark for the first time in 18 years and only the fifth time in school history.
Wendy Ausdemore, Kristi Smith and Nicole VanderPol combined for 65 of the 103 points. Ausdemore and Smith shared team high honors with 24 points, while VanderPol netted a career-high 17 and a career-high eight rebounds in only her fourth start of the year.
Ausdemore drained four consecutive 3-pointers the first 5:07 of the second half to fuel the Hawkeye offense. In fact, the sophomore finished the contest 6-8 from behind the arc. The six treys is an arena record by an Iowa player.
Smith tallied 11 of her 24 points from the foul line.
The Black and Gold led by as many as 18 points and held a double-digit lead for most of the second half. The Badgers were able to cut the deficit to seven (90-83) with 4:25 left, but Iowa was able to hold on for the win.
Wisconsin was led by Jolene Anderson and Mariah Dunham. Anderson led all scorers with 26 points, while Dunham chipped in 25. Both shared team high honors with seven rebounds.
Iowa and Wisconsin combined for 72 free throw attempts and both teams made the most of its attempts. The Hawkeyes made their first 17 attempts and concluded the game shooting 81.6 percent (31-38). The Badgers shot at a 85.3 percent clip (29-34). Fifty-two fouls were called in the contest, 35 in the second period.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Sunday will be the 52nd meeting between Iowa and Wisconsin, with the Hawkeyes boasting a 31-20 advantage. Iowa owns a 19-8 edge in games played in Iowa City.
The Hawkeyes have won seven of the last nine in the series. Iowa and Wisconsin met twice last season, with the home team winning each game.
DIFFICULT START TO BIG TEN SCHEDULE
The start of the Big Ten schedule has been challenging for the Iowa Hawkeyes. Its first five games were all against teams that rank in the RPI top 44, including three (Penn State, 15; Ohio State, 26; Minnesota, 28; Michigan, 39; Michigan State 44) with RPIs 28 or better. Furthermore, Iowa just concluded a stretch of three of four games away from Iowa City Thursday night at Michigan State.
IOWA, WISCONSIN NOTES
? Iowa and Wisconsin both traveled overseas last summer to compete in exhibition games and tour different countries. The Hawkeyes traveled to Greece (May), while the Badgers went to Australia (August).
? Wisconsin Head Coach Lisa Anderson Stone (1980-84) and Assistant Coach Donna Freitag (1981-83) both played basketball for the Hawkeyes. Stone currently ranks 18th in Iowa career scoring (1,129), seventh in assists (322) and ninth in steals (177). Iowa senior Johanna Solverson needs only one more steal to pass Stone for ninth place in career thefts.
? Wisconsin Director of Basketball Operations Stephanie Schmitz was recruited and played two seasons for Lisa Bluder when she coached at Drake. Lisa Stone followed Lisa Bluder as head coach at Drake after Bluder left to become Iowa’s head coach.
? Four Hawkeyes average better than 13.3 points per game in games against Wisconsin (Kristi Smith, 13.3; Megan Skouby, 15.0; Nicole VanderPol, 16.0; Wendy Ausdemore, 17.7).
? Iowa has two wins over top-30 RPI rated teams (Penn State, 15 and Minnesota, 28).
? Iowa is 111-15 when leading at the half in eight years under Coach Bluder. The Hawkeyes have led at half in four of their five conference games this year. Iowa is 91-19 when holding opponents to 69 points or less, including a 41-3 mark when opponents score 59 points or less.
? Point guard Kristi Smith has collected seven assists four times this year (Dartmouth, Mississippi State, Western Illinois and Minnesota).
? Iowa has held nine of its 15 opponents to 58 points or less this season (7-2).
? Iowa played five non-conference games against a team from a major conference: SEC (Mississippi State), Pac-10 (Arizona State), ACC (Georgia Tech), Big XII (Iowa State) and MWC (Wyoming).
? Iowa’s 44-point win over Northern Illinois (87-43) tied the program’s 17th-biggest margin of victory, equaling its 93-49 win over Iowa State (Nov. 29, 1987).
? Iowa ranks 32nd nationally in attendance, averaging 2,750 fans.
SECOND HALF RALLY PROPELS MICHIGAN STATE TO WIN OVER IOWA
Iowa led by as many as 16 points in the first half, but Michigan State mounted a second-half comeback to upend the Hawkeyes, 73-65, in the Breslin Center at East Lansing Thursday night.
The Hawkeyes held the Spartans to 22 first-half points, but rallied and out-scored Iowa 51-30 in the final 20 minutes. Brittney Thomas and Courtney Davidson shared team high scoring honors with 18 points each. Thomas netted 16 of her 18 points in the second stanza, while Davidson scored 13 of her 18 in the second half.
Iowa’s Kristi Smith poured in a game and season-high 23 points, scoring 20 points or more for the second consecutive game. Johanna Solverson posted her second career double-double and first of the season. The senior totaled 15 points and 13 rebounds to go along with a season-high five assists. Stacy Schlapkohl had 12 points on an efficient 6-7 shooting from the floor. Schlapkohl has posted double figures in Iowa’s last three road contests.
The Spartans forced 25 Hawkeye turnovers, 17 in the second half. Michigan State scored 36 of its 73 points off Iowa’s miscues.
LAST OUTING TIP-INS
? Michigan State won its fifth consecutive game over the Hawkeyes with Thursday’s 73-65 triumph. Iowa falls to 29-22 vs. Michigan State and 13-11 in contests played in East Lansing. Michigan State improves to 5-3 in home contests, while Iowa falls to 3-4 in contests away from Iowa City.
? Iowa has lost its last two games by identical scores 73-65 (Ohio State and Michigan State).
? Iowa closed the first half outscoring Michigan State 31-13 to build a 13-point halftime margin (32-19). Kristi Smith netted 12 first-half points on a perfect 5-5 shooting from the field (3-3 from behind the arc), during that span. Iowa lost its third game (Arizona State, Michigan and Michigan State) of the year when leading at intermission.
? The Black and Gold drained 5-8 (.625) from 3-point range in the first half. Kristi Smith made three, while Johanna Solverson and JoAnn Hamlin each sank one each. Hamlin’s triple was only the second of her career; she is a perfect 2-2 on the season.
? Iowa limited the Big Ten’s fifth-leading scorer, Allyssa DeHaan, to only two points on 1-7 shooting in the first half. The Hawkeyes also got the 6-9 sophomore center in foul trouble with two early fouls in the first stanza.
? Michigan State went on a 21-4 run, including an 11-0 run, to erase a 13-point Iowa second-half cushion and claim a 58-55 advantage with 5:52 left. The Spartans were able to make the comeback with DeHaan on the bench for most of the surge. The sophomore was whistled for her fourth foul at the 12-minute mark.
? Wendy Ausdemore, who averages 11.7 points per game, was held scoreless (0-8 FG). The last time Ausdemore was held without a point was vs. Indiana in the first round of the 2007 Big Ten Tournament (March 1).
? Megan Skouby had 10 points, marking the first time the junior posted double figures since scoring 15 vs. Northern Illinois, Dec. 8.
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SMITH AND SOLVERSON’S NUMBERS RISE DURING BIG TEN PLAY
Point guard Kristi Smith and small forward Johanna Solverson’s numbers have improved since conference play began. Smith averaged 11.0 points and 3.2 assists in Iowa’s 11 non-conference games. In Iowa’s five Big Ten games, she is averaging 16.0 points and 4.2 assists. Solverson averaged 5.8 points and 1.8 assists during non-league play and 11.2 points and 2.6 assists during conference action.
IMPROVING DEFENSE
Last season Iowa ranked last in Big Ten scoring defense (71.7) and field goal percentage defense (.447).
Through 16 games this year, Iowa ranks second in the conference in field goal percentage defense (.372) and 3-point field goal percentage defense (.281) and fourth in scoring defense (58.1).
INJURY UPDATE
Reserve guard Lindsey Nyenhuis is out indefinitely with a stress fracture (left foot). The injury was diagnosed Dec. 19 and she will be in a boot for about two weeks. Nyenhuis has missed six games since being injured.
DOWNTOWN SUCCESS
Iowa has been very accurate shooting the ball behind the arc this season. The Hawkeyes rank second in the Big Ten, shooting 37.6 percent (88-234) from 3-point range. Three Hawkeyes have combined for 78 of their 88 triples (Wendy Ausdemore, 38; Kristi Smith, 22; Johanna Solverson, 18). Iowa has shot 40 percent or better from 3-point range seven times this year, including a season-best 62.5 percent (10-16) against Northern Illinois. Last season, Iowa ranked third nationally in 3-point shooting percentage (.402).
BLUDER APPROACHES MILESTONE
Head Coach Lisa Bluder, the dean of Big Ten coaches, is only eight victories (489) from reaching her 500th career win. Bluder amassed 127 wins at St. Ambrose (1984-1990), 187 victories at Drake (1990-2000) and 136 at Iowa (2000-07).
SHARP-SHOOTER
Junior Wendy Ausdemore doesn’t get to the free throw line very much, only 1.5 attempts in 75 games the last three years, but rarely misses when she toes the line.
Ausdemore has missed only 11 free throws in her career (.895, 102-114). The native of Neola, IA, broke the Iowa single-season free throw percentage (.902, 55-61) and Big Ten-season free throw percentage (.975, 39-40) records her sophomore campaign.
BIG TEN RANKINGS
Iowa ranks second in field goal percentage defense (.372) and 3-point field goal percentage (.376), second in 3-pointers made (5.5), third in field goal percentage (.437) and fourth in scoring defense (58.1), scoring margin (+4.6) and assists (14.38) in Big Ten all games rankings. Individually, Wendy Ausdemore first second in 3-point field goal percentage (.442) and 3-pointers made (2.38) and 20th in scoring (10.9). Kristi Smith ranks sixth in assist/turnover ratio (1.33), ninth in assists (3.5), 11th in 3-pointers ade (1.28) and 13th in scoring (12.6).
SOLVERSON RETURNS FOR SIXTH SEASON
Johanna Solverson has been granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA after missing the last two seasons due to consecutive ACL tears in her right knee. The 6-2 small forward played in all but one game her first three seasons. One of Iowa’s most versatile players, she boasts a career average of 8.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.6 steals in 110 games.
Solverson becomes only the second Iowa women’s basketball player to receive a sixth year from the NCAA. Simone Edwards (1993-97) received a sixth year after suffering two season-ending knee injuries. Edwards played two full seasons and a partial third with the Hawkeyes after transferring to Iowa from Seminole Junior College.
SILVER ANNIVERSARY
Iowa will honor and celebrate the 1992-93 team that posted a 27-4 overall record, captured first place in the Big Ten with a 16-2 mark and advanced to the Final Four in Atlanta. The team will be recognized at halftime of the February 17th game vs. Minnesota.
HOME GROWN HAWKEYES
Iowa’s roster features five players from the state of Iowa (Wendy Ausdemore, Kelsey Cermak, Abby Emmert, Stacy Schlapkohl and Nicole VanderPol). The Hawkeyes also have two players from Illinois (Jenee Graham and Johanna Solverson) and Minnesota (Kachine Alexander and Krista VandeVenter). Iowa’s 13-person roster also features players from Colorado (Kristi Smith), Kansas (JoAnn Hamlin), Michigan (Lindsey Nyenhuis) and Ohio (Megan Skouby).
BLOGGING
Iowa Hawkeye fans will again be treated to behind-the-scenes information this season as seniors Jenee Graham and Johanna Solverson and junior Lindsey Nyenhuis will blog during the season, which will be posted on hawkeyesports.com. The trio will share their thoughts on practices, games, road trips, and everything else concerning the program.
BIG TEN TOURNAMENT TICKETS ON SALE
All-session tickets for the 2008 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament presented by Xbox 360 Live are $45 through Jan. 14, 2008, that’s a $20 discount from the regular price. After Jan. 7, all-session tickets will be $65. Tickets can be purchased at the Conseco Fieldhouse box office, Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster at (319) 363-1888.
The tournament returns to Indianapolis for the 13th time in 14 years and has attracted more than 29,000 fans for each of the last six events. The 2006 tournament attendance of 38,638 and session average of 7,728 were both event records. In the past 13 years of Big Ten Tournament play, the conference has welcomed more than 382,000 fans. Six different league representatives have become tournament champions. Purdue leads all teams with six titles followed by two championships for both Iowa and Penn State and a single title for Indiana, Michigan State and Ohio State.
IOWA INFORMATION ON THE WEB
Statistics and play-by-play accounts of all 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 City, WHO-AM 1040 in Des Moines and WMT-AM 600 in Cedar Rapids from 6-7 p.m.
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 east side of Iowa City.
ON THE HORIZON
Iowa receives the first of two “byes” next week and returns to action next Monday at Illinois (Jan. 21). Tip-off is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. and the game will be televised live on the Big Ten Network (HD). The Hawkeyes’ next home game is vs. Purdue (Jan. 24).
