Dec. 20, 2008
Recap | Box Score | Quotes | Photo Gallery 
Iowa defeated Drake today, 71-53, at the Knapp Center. The win was Iowa’s third-straight, all three coming over in-state competition (No. 22 Iowa State, Northern Iowa and Drake). Iowa has won the last seven games against Drake, including four consecutive in Des Moines. Iowa has now won 16 of its last 18 games against Missouri Valley Conference teams; Iowa defeated Northern Iowa and Drake this year.
Iowa Head Coach Lisa Bluder improves to 7-2 against her former team. Bluder coached at Drake for 10 seasons (1990-2000).
After losing its first two road games (Kansas and Duke), Iowa won its first road contest of the 2008-09 campaign with today’s 71-53 triumph.
Today started a stretch of playing four of five games on the road for the Hawkeyes. Iowa plays at Wisconsin (Dec. 22), host Purdue (Dec. 28) and then play at Indiana (Jan. 4) and at Purdue (Jan. 8).
After blocking 10 shots in their last game vs. Northern Iowa, the Hawkeyes rejected a season-high 12 today at Drake. JoAnn Hamlin blocked a career-high five shots, while Megan Skouby matched a career high with five rejections. Skouby has blocked five shots in back-to-back games (Northern Iowa and Drake).
Kachine Alexander pulled down a team-high eight rebounds today. She has led Iowa in rebounding five times this season, including the last two outings. She also chipped in 11 points.
Iowa led by as many as 30 points in the second half today.
The Hawkeyes, who average 80 percent from the free throw line, shot their average today 8-10 (.800).
Trailing 9-2, Iowa went on a 21-2 run in 10:35 to claim a 23-11 advantage. Drake missed 12-straight field goals and had six turnovers during its scoring drought. The Bulldogs went 10:35 without making a field goal as their two points came via a pair of free throws. Iowa led 37-21 at the half, outscoring Drake 34-12 the final 15:30 of the first half.
After missing her first shot attempt, Wendy Ausdemore made five-straight field goals, including three 3-pointers, and two free- throws attempts. Ausdemore netted 15 points the first 14 minutes of the game. She finished the contest with a game-high 20 points and a season-high four steals. Today marked the first time in four games she reached double figures. Ausdemore has posted double digits six times this season. The senior finished the game 4-6 from behind the arc.
Three other Hawkeyes scored double figures today. JoAnn Hamlin contributed 14 points, Megan Skouby tallied 12, while Kachine Alexander added 11. Hamlin also blocked a career-high five shots. Alexander and Hamlin have now scored double figures four times, while Skouby has tallied double digits seven times this campaign.
Drake started the game on a 9-2 run, making four of its first eight field goal attempts. Iowa made only one of its first seven from the floor to start the contest.
Iowa improves to 128-17 when leading at the half in nine years under Coach Bluder, including a perfect 7-0 this season. The Hawkeyes are 108-22 when holding opponents to 69 points or less, including a 53-4 mark when opponents score 59 points or less. In all seven Iowa wins this year, Iowa has held its opponents to 58 points or less.
Iowa (7-4) returns to action in two days when it opens Big Ten play at Wisconsin (10-1) Monday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at the Kohl Center. The Badgers will have had eight days to prepare for the Hawkeyes.