March 4, 2008
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2008 Big Ten Tournament Bracket in PDF Format
THE SETTING
The Big Ten regular season co-champion Iowa Hawkeyes (20-9, 13-5) will play its first game of the 2008 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament Friday at 10:30 a.m. (CDT) at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN. The Hawkeyes earned a No. 2 seed and will play the winner of the first round match-up between No. 7 Michigan and No. 10 Penn State.
Iowa won a share of the regular season conference championship with Ohio State. The title is the program’s ninth, the second-most behind Ohio State (11). This year marked the first time since the 2004-05 season (Michigan State and Ohio State) that there are co-champions.
The Hawkeyes enter the tournament winners of 11 of their last 13, including a winning streak of eight straight games during conference play. The eight-game winning streak is the longest by any Big Ten team this season. Furthermore, Iowa won a Big Ten-best five league road games this season.
Iowa has reached the Big Ten Tournament semifinals five times and captured the tournament title in 1997 and 2001. Purdue is the defending tournament champion after topping Ohio State (64-52) last year.
TICKET INFORMATION
Fans can purchase tickets for the 2008 Big Ten Tournament Presented by Xbox 360 Live at the Conseco Fieldhouse Box Office. Single game tickets range from $12-$16. An all-session ticket (10 games) is $65. Fans interested in sitting in the Iowa section can call the UI Ticket Office at 1-800-IA-HAWKS.
ON THE TUBE
All tournament games leading up to the championship game will be televised live to a national cable audience on the Big Ten Network (HD). Mark Neely and Mary Murphy will call games 1-5, while Mark Neely and Vera Jones will call games 6-9. The championship contest will air Sunday on ESPN2.
ON THE RADIO
Brent Balbinot and Shelley Till will call all Iowa games at the Big Ten Tournament 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.
IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 966 games since beginning basketball in 1974. Overall, Iowa’s record is 587-379 (.608). That includes a 295-146 (.669) mark in Big Ten contests and 272-81 (.771) in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
HAWKEYES GARNER POST-SEASON ACCOLADES
Lisa Bluder was named Big Ten Coach of the Year, voted on by the league’s head coaches and media panel. The honor is her second in eight years at Iowa and fifth at a Division I school (three at Drake).
Junior Kristi Smith was tabbed first team all-conference by the coaches and second team by the media. Senior Johanna Solverson was recognized on the second team by the coaches and third team by the media. Junior Wendy Ausdemore earned honorable mention accolades by the media.
Megan Skouby, who was named the 2006 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, was honored as the Big Ten’s “Sixth Player of the Year” by the conference coaches.
SERIES RECORDS AT BIG TEN TOURNAMENT
The Hawkeyes are 3-0 against Illinois (1996, 1997 and 2001); 2-0 against Minnesota (1995 and 2003); 1-0 vs. Ohio State (1998) and Michigan (2005); 2-2 vs. Northwestern (1997, 1999, 2000 and 2003); 2-2 vs. Indiana (1997, 2001, 2002 and 2007 and 1-3 vs. Purdue (1996, 1998, 2001 and 2003); 0-1 against Wisconsin (1982); 0-2 vs. Penn State (1995 and 2005) and Michigan State (2004 and 2006).
IOWA BIG TEN TOURNAMENT HISTORY
The Hawkeyes won their second Big Ten Tournament title in dramatic fashion seven years ago when they upset the defending tournament champion and fifth-ranked Purdue Boilermakers (75-70) in Grand Rapids, MI. Iowa holds an overall record of 12-11 (.522) in Big Ten tournaments.
This marks the second time Iowa has garnered a No. 2 seed. The last time the Black and Gold earned a No. 2 seed, they won the 2001 tournament with victories over Indiana, Illinois and Purdue. The second seed has won the tournament five times, including four of the last seven years. Last year, No. 2 seed Purdue downed top-seed Ohio State (64-52) for the title.
Furthermore, the No. 2 seed is 10-3 in quarterfinals games (8-3 vs. No. 7 seed and 2-0 vs. No. 11 seed) and 8-3 in the semifinals (3-3 vs. No. 3 seed and 5-0 vs. No. 6 seed). The second seed has reached the championship contest seven times (5-2).
POTENTIAL QUARTERFINAL OPPONENT
Iowa will play Michigan or Penn State in the tournament quarterfinals Friday morning at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Hawkeyes swept Penn State this season (67-58 at Iowa City and 73-65 at University Park). Iowa topped Michigan in Iowa City (66-61), but fell at Ann Arbor (63-46).
Iowa played both Michigan and Penn State in the 2005 Big Ten Women’s Tournament. The Black and Gold bounced the Wolverines (70-42) in the first round, but lost to the Lady Lions (68-66) in the quarterfinals. The win over Michigan was Iowa’s last Big Ten Tournament victory.
IOWA TRAVEL SCHEDULE
The Hawkeyes will depart for the tournament Thursday afternoon following an early afternoon practice in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa will be housed in the Hilton Indianapolis located on 120 West Market Street.
IOWA HOLDS TOURNAMENT RECORDS
Iowa holds Big Ten Tournament records for field goals in a single-game (37), free throw percentage in a single-game (1.000, 12-12), fewest turnovers in a single-game (5) and average points per game (80.7).
BIG TEN TOURNAMENT HISTORY
This year marks the 14th time the Big Ten Conference will be hosting a conference tournament. This will be the eighth year that Conseco Fieldhouse will host the Big Ten Women’s Tournament. Six year’s ago, the tournament was held in Grand Rapids, MI, which was a first for the conference tournament. Prior to the 2001 tournament, the seven other tournaments were held in Indianapolis, IN. Only six teams have won the conference tournament. Purdue has won the most with six, followed by Iowa and Penn State with two. Ohio State, Michigan State and Indiana have each won one. The Boilermakers boast the best winning percentage (.781) in the tournament, while the Hawkeyes rank fourth (.522). The lowest seed to capture a tournament title was fifth-seeded Indiana in 2002 and the top seed has won the tournament only once since 2000 (Ohio State in 2006).
A record-setting attendance total of nearly 39,000 watched in 2006 as the Buckeyes captured its first title.
PRE-SEASON RANKINGS
Iowa was picked to finish fifth in the Big Ten by a selected media panel and seventh by the league coaches. Ohio State, a team that has won, outright or shared, the last three regular season conference titles, was picked to win its fourth straight. Wisconsin senior Jolene Anderson was selected as the pre-season Player of the Year by both voting groups.
EIGHT IS ENOUGH
Iowa had an eight-game winning streak snapped at Purdue Feb. 14. The streak is the longest by any Big Ten team this year, besting six-game winning streaks by Ohio State and Minnesota earlier this season. The eight-game winning streak is the longest under Coach Lisa Bluder, during Big Ten play. Iowa’s 2000-01 squad strung together six-straight in Bluder’s first season on the sidelines.
BLUDER CAPTURES WIN NO. 500
Lisa Bluder, the dean of Big Ten coaches and 2008 Big Ten Coach of the Year, captured her 500th career win at Penn State (Feb. 10). Bluder became the 35th Division I head coach to amass 500 career victories. There are currently 36 coaches with 500 career wins, as Texas A&M’s Gary Blair reached the milestone two weeks ago.
RECORD BREAKERS
Iowa broke two school records this season: field goal percentage in a half (73.9 percent at Wisconsin) and consecutive 3-pointers made in a single-game (seven vs. Minnesota).
Additionally, Wendy Ausdemore tied her own Carver-Hawkeye Arena record, making six triples vs. Purdue.
Johanna Solverson nearly broke Crystal Smith’s (28 points) school record for points in a half when she scored 23 first-half points at Wisconsin.
BLUDER AMONGST FINALISTS
Iowa Head Coach Lisa Bluder is one of 25 finalists for the 20008 Naismith Coach of the Year. Bluder, who is in her eighth season on the Iowa sidelines, is the only Big Ten candidate listed.
WINNING THE CLOSE ONES
Iowa was a perfect 5-0 during conference play in games decided by five points or less.
The Hawkeyes won two overtime contests: at Minnesota (68-66) and at home vs. Wisconsin (78-74). Iowa edged out Minnesota (72-69) and Michigan (66-61) in Iowa City and Illinois (60-58) at Champaign.
IOWA FAST BREAKS
? Iowa recorded its largest comeback in school history, erasing a 19-point second-half deficit to bounce seventh-seeded Indiana, 81-76, in the 2001 Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals at Grand Rapids, MI. The Hawkeyes ultimately won the tournament.
? Iowa is 6-6 in Big Ten Tournament contests under eighth-year Head Coach Lisa Bluder. The Hawkeyes are 3-6 in tournament games played at Conseco Fieldhouse the last six years. Iowa last won at the 2005 Big Ten Tournament in the first round, with a 70-42 triumph over Michigan.
? Since 2001, 32 of the 70 tournament games (46 percent) have been decided by eight points or less.
? Iowa won a total of six league games last season (6-10). The Hawkeyes posted a 13-5 league mark during this season’s 18-game schedule.
? Iowa has had seven players lead the team in scoring at least once during the season (Kristi Smith, Wendy Ausdemore, Megan Skouby, Johanna Solverson, Krista VandeVenter, Stacy Schlapkohl and Lindsey Nyenhuis).
? The Hawkeyes won 13 Big Ten games this season. Iowa has won 13 conference games or more in a single-season 13 times. Eleven of the 13 times have come during 18-game league schedules.
? Iowa boasted a 13-3 record in home games, including 8-1 in Big Ten play.
? Iowa’s Johanna Solverson averaged 5.67 assists per game the last nine contests. She ranks fourth in Iowa career assists (382) and is only five dimes from tying Franthea Price for third (387).
? Iowa recorded a Big Ten-best five conference road wins this season (Illinois, Minnesota Penn State, Northwestern, Wisconsin).
? The Hawkeyes defeated every Big Ten team at least once this season, except Ohio State.
? Iowa has held 13 opponents to 58 points, or less, this season (11-2).
? Iowa is 20-2 when scoring 60 points or more and 18-1 when having a higher field goal percentage than the opposition.
? Kristi Smith has netted 15 points, or more, a team-best 12 times this year. She has topped the 20-point plateau four times this season.
? Iowa concluded its last 10 regular season games, a stat the NCAA Committee looks at when determining at-large berths for the NCAA Championship last Sunday. The Hawkeyes were 8-2 in that stretch.
? Iowa has posted four wins over top-50 RPI rated teams (Minnesota – twice, 28; Purdue, 43; Michigan State, 47). Iowa ranks 41st in the latest ratings and have played the 51st toughest schedule in the country.
? Iowa is 120-15 when leading at the half in eight years under Coach Bluder. The Hawkeyes have led at half in 14 of their 18 conference games this year. Iowa is 100-21 when holding opponents to 69 points or less, including a 45-4 mark when opponents score 59 points or less.
? Kristi Smith collected seven assists four times this year (Dartmouth, Mississippi State, Western Illinois and Minnesota). Johanna Solverson has led the team in assists a team-best 14 times, including 11 of the last 12 games.
? Iowa played five non-conference games against teams 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 N. Illinois (87-43) tied the program’s 17th-largest margin of victory, equaling its 93-49 win over Iowa State (Nov. 29, 1987).
THE LAST TIME…
? Iowa won eight-straight games was during the start of the 2004-05 season. The Hawkeyes started the year 13-0 and were the last Division I team to lose.
? Iowa won eight-consecutive conference games was during the start of the 1995-96 Big Ten season. The Black and Gold started league play 12-0, before falling at Purdue. Iowa finished the 1995-96 season as Big Ten champions with a 15-1 record.
? Iowa won 20 games in a season was during the 2004-05 season. The Hawkeyes have topped the 20-win plateau 14 times in 34 seasons, including three times under Coach Bluder.
SKOUBY REACHES MILESTONE
Junior Megan Skouby, who was voted the league’s “Sixth Player of the Year”, scored six points at No. 20 Ohio State (Feb. 21) to become the 24th Hawkeye to amass 1,000 career points. Skouby, who is a native of Mentor, OH, accomplished the feat in only 82 games and she did so in front of family and friends.
Skouby, who was recognized as the 2006 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, is coming off the bench this season averaging 9.4 points and 3.2 rebounds. She ranks fourth in team scoring.
Skouby was 0-2 in 3-point attempts her first 79 career games. She attempted and made one 3-point attempt in back-to-back games three weeks ago (Purdue and Minnesota).
TRIFECTA
Iowa has three players who have scored over 985 career points: Johanna Solverson (1,098), Megan Skouby (1,029) and Kristi Smith (988). Solverson ranks 20th in Iowa scoring, followed by Skouby (23rd) and Smith (25th).
THREE FOR ALL
Iowa has sank 174 triples this season, the fourth-most in school single-season history. The record of 199 was established during the 1999-00 season, followed by 176 (2003-04) and 175 (2000-01).
SOLVERSON EARNS SECOND CO-BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONOR
Johanna Solverson put her teammates on her shoulder in Iowa’s regular season finale at Wisconsin. Solverson led all scorers with 31 points, including netting 23 first-half points on 10-12 shooting from the field, and 3-4 from long distance. The 23 points are the second-most ever by a Hawkeye in a half (28 by Crystal Smith at Louisiana Tech in 2005). She also posted 13 points and six assists in Iowa’s win over Northwestern in her final home game. Her efforts garnered Solverson her second co-Big Ten Player of the Week honor of the season and her career, earning the award with Ohio State’s Jantel Lavender March 3. She was also recognized as co-Player of the Week with Purdue’s FahKara Malone Feb. 11.
Solverson took home the first weekly honor of her career after helping the Hawkeyes record wins over Michigan State and Penn State. The sixth-year senior netted her 1,000th career point with 18 against the Spartans, also adding a season-high eight assists. Against the Lady Lions, the forward scored 16 points, including Iowa’s first seven, and also pulled down a game-high seven rebounds in just 24 minutes on the court. For the week, Solverson averaged 17 points, 6.5 rebounds and six assists per game while shooting .609 from the floor and .500 from 3-point territory.
The native of Lake Zurich, IL, is one of only two Hawkeyes to ever amass over 1,000 career points, 500 rebounds, 350 assists and 175 steals (Franthea Price).
IOWA VS. RANKED TEAMS
Iowa has played four games this season against a ranked opponent (No. 13 Arizona State, No. 20 Ohio State – twice and No. 21 Wyoming), losing all four. Iowa recorded at least one victory over a ranked opponent in each of Coach Bluder’s first six years on the Hawkeye sidelines. These are Iowa’s most recent wins vs. nationally ranked opponents:
At Home: 77-71 (OT) over 8th-ranked Purdue, 2/2/06On the Road: 78-67 over 18th-ranked Michigan State, 2/1/04Neutral Court: 54-47 over 21st-ranked Oklahoma, 11/27/04
IOWA CAPTURES CO-BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP WITH WIN AT WISCONSIN
Iowa led from start-to-finish en route to capturing its ninth Big Ten regular season championship with an 87-78 triumph over Wisconsin last Sunday in the Kohl Center. The win improved Iowa’s conference record to 13-5, which tied the Hawkeyes with Ohio State for the season title.
Sixth-year senior Johanna Solverson poured in a game-high 31 points, including 23 first-half points. Solverson made nine of her first 10 field goal attempts. Juniors Kristi Smith and Megan Skouby added 20 points and 15, respectively.
Iowa shot lights-out in the first half, making 73.9 percent (17-23) of its field goal attempts — a school record for a half.
Wisconsin closed to within one-point with four minutes remaining, but Solverson drained her fourth triple of the game to extend the Hawkeye advantage to four. Moments later, the Badgers trimmed Iowa’s lead to two, but junior Wendy Ausdemore sank a 3-pointer from the baseline, her only points of the game. Iowa secured the victory at the free throw line, sinking 10-12 the last three minutes.
The Hawkeyes out-rebounded the Badgers by 17 (42-25). Wisconsin, a team that entered the game as the league’s top rebounding team, was only out-rebounded four times this season, with two of those times coming against the Hawkeyes by double-digit margins.
LAST OUTING TIP-INS
? Iowa’s ninth regular season Big Ten championship, won outright or shared, is its first since 1998.
? Iowa has won five of the last six contests at the Kohl Center. The Hawkeyes improve to 33-20 against Wisconsin, including a 13-11 edge in Madison.
? Iowa’s 87 points equaled a season high (87 vs. Northern Illinois).
? Iowa sprinted out to a 27-7 lead the first 10:28. The Hawkeyes made 11 of their first 14 field goal attempts, including 3-4 from long distance. Senior Johanna Solverson netted 17 points the first 10:28. Conversely, Wisconsin missed 10 of its first 11 field goal attempts.
? Solverson made four 3-pointers, which moved her past Nadine Domond and into fifth place in Iowa career triples with 122.
? Solverson finished with a career-high 31 points, besting her previous high of 28 set vs. Michigan earlier this season. The senior was 12-20 from the field, including 4-6 from 3-point range, and 3-4 at the foul line.
? Iowa took an 11-point (41-30) lead into halftime. The Hawkeyes shot lights-out the first 20 minutes, shooting a school-record 73.9-percent (17-23) from the field.
? Jenee Graham pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds. She controlled double figure rebounds 14 times in her career, including three times this season.
? Kristi Smith netted 20 points, marking the fourth time she topped the 20-point plateau this season.
? Iowa held the Big Ten leading scorer, Wisconsin’s Jolene Anderson, to only two first-half points. The all-American missed her first eight shot attempts, before making her first basket with 23 seconds left in the half. She finished with only 10 points.
IMPROVED DEFENSE
Last season Iowa ranked last in Big Ten scoring defense (71.7) and field goal percentage defense (.447).
Through 29 games this year, Iowa ranks first in conference field goal percentage defense (.379) and 3-point field goal percentage defense (.297) and fourth in scoring defense (60.0).
AUSDEMORE, VANDEVENTER EARN ACADEMIC HONOR
Wendy Ausdemore and Krista VandeVenter were named to the 2008 ESPN The Magazine Academic all-District third team, Feb. 7.
Ausdemore boasts a 3.67 cumulative GPA and is majoring in business. The junior ranks second in team scoring (11.4), second in Big Ten 3-point field goal percentage (.432) and second in 3-pointers made (2.28). Ausdemore, who was recognized on the all-district second team a year ago, ranks third in Iowa career 3-pointers (139). The native of Neola, IA, has netted double figures in 18 of Iowa’s 25 games this season, including the last eight.
VandeVenter has a 3.52 cumulative GPA and is majoring in integrative physiology. The senior has started 104 of 110 career games, averaging 7.3 points and 6.9 rebounds. She ranks seventh in Iowa career rebounding (757).
Iowa and Minnesota were the only Big Ten teams with at least two student-athletes honored.
CLEANING THE GLASS
Since Big Ten Conference play began, Iowa ranks first in rebounding margin (+4.4), second in second in rebounds allowed (33.3), rebounding (37.7) and defensive rebounding (25.11).
Iowa boasted a +8.7 rebounding margin in its last seven victories. Iowa boasted a +15 rebounding edge (49-34) at Northwestern, +18 (44-26) vs. Indiana, +17 (42-25) at Wisconsin, +13 (43-30) vs. Michigan State, +5 (29-24) at Penn State and +6 (41-35) vs. Northwestern. The Hawkeyes out-rebounded seven opponents during its eight-game winning streak.
Iowa’s leading rebounders are Jenee Graham and Krista VandeVenter, both averaging better than five rebounds per contest. In fact, Iowa has four players (Graham, VandeVenter, Wendy Ausdemore and Johanna Solverson) who average 3.9 rebounds or more per contest.
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 — both of whom were named to all-Big Ten teams this season.
Smith averaged 11 points and 3.2 assists in Iowa’s 11 non-conference games. In 18 Big Ten games, she is averaging 14.4 points and 3.1 assists. Furthermore, she is averaging 14.7 points and 3.1 assists the last 16 games.
Solverson, a team co-captain, averaged 5.8 points and 1.8 assists during non-league play and 12.9 points and 4.3 assists during conference action. In Iowa’s last 16 games, she averaged 13.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.5 assists. She is Iowa’s assists leader during conference play (78).
SOLVERSON JOINS ELITE COMPANY
Johanna Solverson joined elite company when she collected 18 points and eight assists vs. Michigan State (Feb. 7). She became one of only two Hawkeyes to ever amass over 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 350 assists and 175 steals (Franthea Price). Solverson currently has 1,098 points, 544 rebounds, 382 assists and 191 steals. Price totaled 1,742 points, 726 rebounds, 387 assists and 321 steals.
HOME, AWAY COMPARISONS
Iowa averages 6.5 more points at home than on the road. The Black and Gold also averages 3.3 more assists and 2.8 more rebounds at home than on the road. Iowa has a higher free throw percentage on the road (.756) than at Carver-Hawkeye Arena (.715). Here are the home and away comparisons:
FG% 3-PT% FT% REB AST TO PTSHome .451 .399 .715 38.2 17.1 16.5 68.8Away .428 .368 .756 35.4 13.8 17.4 62.3
WINS, LOSSES COMPARISONS
The Black and Gold average 17.1 more points in their victories (71.2) than their losses (54.1). Furthermore, Iowa shoots eight percent better from the foul line and pulls down 5.7 more rebounds in wins. Here are the wins and losses comparisons:
FG% 3-PT% FT% REB AST TO PTSWins .463 .408 .750 38.7 16.6 16.6 71.2Losses .392 .333 .670 33.0 13.4 17.7 54.1
DOWNTOWN SUCCESS
Iowa has been very accurate shooting the ball behind the arc this season. The Hawkeyes rank third in the Big Ten, shooting 38.6 percent (174-451) from 3-point range. Three Hawkeyes have combined for 152 of their 174 triples (Wendy Ausdemore, 71; Kristi Smith, 44; Johanna Solverson, 39). Iowa has shot 40 percent or better from 3-point range 14 times this year, including a season-best 62.5 percent (10-16) against Northern Illinois. Iowa was 10-20 (.500) vs. Indiana and 10-18 (.556) vs. Minnesota. Last season, Iowa ranked third nationally in 3-point shooting percentage (157-391, .402).
Ausdemore, who is an honorable mention all-Big Ten honoree, ranks first in 3-pointers made by an Iowa junior (71), besting Lindsey Meder’s previous record of 68 established during the 2000-01 season. Ausdemore’s 3-point percentage (.449) ranks seventh in the country. She has attempted the second-most triples amongst the nation’s leaders.
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).
BIG TEN RANKINGS
Iowa ranks in the top three in 10 Big Ten statistical categories. The Hawkeyes rank first in field goal percentage defense (.379) and 3-point field goal percentage defense (.297), second in scoring margin (+5.8), 3-pointers made (6.0), defensive rebounding (25.38), 3-point field goal percentage (.386) and field goal percentage (.441) and third in assists (15.62), free throw percentage (.733) and assist/turnover ratio (0.92). Individually, Wendy Ausdemore ranks first in 3-point field goal percentage (.449), second in 3-pointers made (2.45) and 18th in scoring (11.7). Kristi Smith ranks seventh in assist/turnover ratio (1.38), eighth in 3-point field goal percentage (.341), ninth in 3-pointers made (1.52), 12th in free throw percentage (.788) and scoring (13.1) and 13th in assists (3.14).
SOLVERSON RETURNS FOR SIXTH SEASON
Johanna Solverson was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA after missing the last two seasons due to consecutive ACL tears in her right knee. Solverson has played with 27 different players during her six years at Iowa.
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 8.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.6 steals in 123 games.
Solverson is 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.
UI TO HOST NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES IN 2009
The UI has been selected by the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee to serve as one of 16 first and second round hosts for the 2009 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship. Games will take place Saturday, March 21, and Monday, March 23 or Sunday, March 22 and Tuesday, March 24, 2009.
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to host the first and second rounds of the NCAA Championship in 2009,” said Iowa Head Coach Lisa Bluder. “It has been a long time since Iowa has hosted the NCAA Championship and we are excited to bring the competition and atmosphere back to Carver Hawkeye Arena!”
The UI first hosted a NCAA Championship site in 1986. Carver-Hawkeye Arena has hosted NCAA Women’s Championship games 11 years (1986-90, 92-94, 96-98). The last time Iowa City hosted a first and second round site was in 1998.
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.
IOWA INFORMATION ON THE WEB
Statistics and play-by-play accounts of all games are 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.
Complete Big Ten Tournament Game Notes in PDF Format
Click HERE for the Big Ten Network home page.