Jan. 9, 2009
- Purchase Iowa Season Tickets and Iowa City NCAA First/Second Round Tickets
- Follow the Hawkeyes to the Big Ten Tournament
- Basketblog
- Iowa and the Big Ten Network
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
Complete Release in PDF Format
THE SETTING
The Iowa Hawkeyes (8-7, 1-3) return home to entertain the Minnesota Golden Gophers (11-4, 3-1) on Sunday. Tip-off is slated for 4:36 p.m. in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Tickets are $9 for adults, $5 for youths, while UI students are admitted free. The Golden Gophers have won three-straight contests, while the Hawkeyes have lost three straight. Iowa just concluded a stretch of playing four of five games on the road. It will now play five of its next seven at home.
PROMOTIONS
Sunday is Iowa’s annual “Linn County Day” and “Go Red for Women Day”. Also, there will be a pre-game Kids Fun Zone on the north concourse and post-game player autographs.
ON THE TUBE
Sunday afternoon’s game will be televised live to a national cable audience on the Big Ten Network (HD). Steve Schlanger and Vera Jones will call the action.
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 game on WMT AM-600 in Cedar Rapids and WHO AM-1040 in Des Moines. The game will be joined in progress on KXIC AM-800. Balbinot is in his fifth season as Iowa’s play-by-play voice, while Till is in her fourth providing analysis. Hawkeye fans can also follow the game via live stats (gametracker). The `GT’ link can be accessed under the `Calender’ tab on the front page of hawkeyesports.com or on the women’s basketball schedule page.
IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 984 games since beginning basketball in 1974. Overall, Iowa’s record is 596-388 (.606). That includes a 296-149 (.665) mark in Big Ten contests and 277-82 (.772) in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
IOWA APPROACHES MILESTONE
The Iowa’s women’s basketball program has 596 overall wins and 296 victories in Big Ten Conference play.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Sunday will be the 60th meeting between the two schools. Iowa owns a commanding 39-20 advantage in the all-time series. The Hawkeyes also hold a 21-8 edge in games played in Iowa City. The last four games between these two teams have been decided by three points or less, including two going to overtime. The Hawkeyes won both meetings last year, 68-66 in overtime at Minnesota, and 72-69 in Iowa City. The Gophers’ last win in Iowa City was an 80-78 overtime thriller on Jan. 25, 2007.
SCOUTING MINNESOTA
Minnesota begins a two-game road trip Sunday. The Gophers will travel to Ohio State for its next competition Thursday before returning home to host Michigan (Jan. 18). Minnesota went 8-3 in non-conference play and has begun Big Ten play 3-1. The Golden Gophers topped Indiana, 70-62 in Minneapolis Thursday night. Minnesota won despite being outrebounded 38-29. However, the Golden Gophers did take care of the basketball only turning the ball over a season-low nine times, while forcing 16 Hoosier miscues. Junior Ashley Ellis-Milan posted a double-double (18 points, 10 rebounds). Senior Emily Fox was credited with 15 points and seven assists, while junior Brittany McCoy contributed 10 points and seven assists. Fox averages a team-best 13.6 points and 2.47 steals. Junior Katie Ohm averages 12.3 points and has drained a team-best 44-98 (.449) from 3-point range. Ellis-Milan averages 10.9 points and a team-best 8.6 rebounds. Minnesota boasts a +9.6 scoring margin and +1.2 rebounding margin. The Golden Gophers shoot 73 percent from the free throw line and 41 percent from the field. Minnesota ranks first in the league in 3-pointers made (6.53), 3-point field goal percentage (.374) and turnover margin (+4.87). Pam Borton is in her 10th season (212-111, .656) as a head coach, including her sixth year on the Golden Gopher sidelines (143-65, .688).
IOWA, MINNESOTA NOTES
? Iowa is 5-1 in home games this season, while Minnesota is 4-3 in games away from home.
? Nine of Iowa’s 15 games have been decided by 18 points or more (5-4).
? Kristi Smith collected her 350th career assist at Indiana. She dished out four assists at Purdue to surpass Jolette Law for seventh on Iowa’s all-time assists chart. She is only four assists from passing Nadine Domond for sixth.
? Wendy Ausdemore and Kristi Smith are the only Hawkeyes to average double figures against Minnesota. Ausdemore averages 16.2 points, while Smith averages 11.2 points in five games against the Golden Gophers.
? Wendy Ausdemore has missed only three free throws (27-30, .900) this season.
? Ten Big Ten teams already have at least one loss. Furthermore, seven squads already have two losses or more.
? Iowa players have corralled double-digit rebounds 12 times this season. JoAnn Hamlin and Kachine Alexander have accomplished the feat a team-best five times, while Wendy Ausdemore has done it twice.
? Iowa has held seven of the eight teams it has defeated to 58 points or less.
? JoAnn Hamlin and Kachine Alexander lead the team in rebounding, averaging 7.5 and 7.4, respectively. Hamlin ranks ninth in league rebounding, while Alexander ranks tenth.
? Iowa has had six different players lead the team in scoring through 15 games. Megan Skouby has shared or led the squad in scoring a team-best six times.
? Iowa ranks fifth in the country in free throw percentage (.788). The Hawkeyes have made (234) nearly as many free throws as their opponents have attempted (239).
? Last season, Megan Skouby blocked 23 shots in 32 games; she already has amassed 31 through 15 games this season. She currently sits third on Iowa’s career rejections list with 138. She is only eight blocks from surpassing Toni Foster for second.
? Kristi Smith and Megan Skouby have reached double figures a team-best 10 times.
? Iowa has an RPI rating of 38th in the country and strength of schedule that ranks fifth. The Hawkeyes’ strength of schedule is tops in the Big Ten. Minnesota is rated 35th in the RPI and 43rd in strength of schedule. The numbers are based on the report published Jan. 9.
AUSDEMORE LIKES PLAYING MINNESOTA
Wendy Ausdemore’s last four games against Minnesota have been tremendous. In the last four outings, Ausdemore averaged 18.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists. She shot 59.5 percent (25-42) from the field, 59.3 percent (16-27) from 3-point range and 100 percent (9-9) from the foul line. Her six triples against Minnesota last season tied her own Carver-Hawkeye Arena record (by an Iowa player).
HOME SWEET HOME
Iowa has maintained a solid home court advantage the last couple years. Dating back to last season, Iowa has won 12 of its last 13 games in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Purdue snapped Iowa’s 12-game winning streak with a 69-60 win Dec. 28 in Iowa City.
HAWKEYES FALL AT PURDUE THURSDAY NIGHT
Iowa trailed by just four points at halftime, but were unable to regain the lead in a 60-49 setback at Purdue Thursday night in Mackey Arena. The loss was Iowa’s third straight, equaling a season-long losing skid. Iowa scored just one field goal the first nine minutes of the second half as Purdue went on a 14-3 surge that spanned halves to take command of the contest. Kristi Smith and Megan Skouby each scored 14 points to lead the Hawkeyes. Skouby also pulled down a season-high eight rebounds and blocked a career-high six shots. Wendy Ausdemore added 11 points. Purdue shot only 41 percent from the floor, but a blistering 7-12 (.583) from behind the 3-point line. Jodi Howell and Lauren Mioton combined for 5-5 shooting from long distance. Howell was a perfect 3-3 from long distance, scoring nine points, while Mioton was 2-2 from 3-point range with six points. Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton contributed 14 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
LAST OUTING TIP-INS
? Purdue now leads the all-time series 32-24, including a 16-9 edge in games played at West Lafayette. The Boilermakers have won 12 of the last 14 meetings against Iowa, including nine-straight in Mackey Arena. The Hawkeyes’ last victory in West Lafayette came on Feb. 6, 1998.
? The Boilermakers shot a blistering 66.7 percent (6-8) from behind the arc against Iowa’s zone defense the first 20 minutes. For the game, Purdue shot 7-12 (.583) from behind the arc. Iowa shot 5-16 (.312) from long distance.
? The Hawkeyes went ice cold the start of the second half, scoring only three points the first nine minutes. Iowa made only one of its first eight field goal attempts to start the half. Iowa closed to within nine points with nine minutes remaining, but would get no closer.
? Kachine Alexander contributed seven points and three rebounds the first 24 minutes, but did not record any statistics the final 16 minutes of the game. The sophomore left the game at the 16:14 mark of the second half due to an injury, but returned later in the half. The Boilermakers went on a 15-4 run while Alexander was on the sidelines.
? Iowa outrebounded Purdue, 36-34.
? Purdue attempted nine free throws, making seven of the nine (.778). Iowa, who ranks fifth in the nation from the foul line, shot a season-low 61.5 percent (8-13) from the charity stripe. Purdue did not shoot a free throw in the first half. Iowa was only 1-3 from the foul line in the first stanza.
? Iowa has averaged only 47.5 points in its last two games at Mackey Arena.
FINDING WAYS TO SCORE
Kachine Alexander has found ways to score this season. The sophomore is Iowa’s best penetrator and has scored 122 points this year — 71 points coming via 35 field goals and 51 coming from the free throw line. In the last three games, 19 of her 31 points have come from the charity stripe.
LIKING THE DISTANCE
Wendy Ausdemore has made more 3-pointers than two-point field goals this season. Ausdemore, who ranked third in the country in 3-point percentage a year ago, has made 28 triples and 23 two-pointers through 15 games. Last season, Ausdemore made 78 treys and 54 two-pointers in 32 contests.
DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Last season, Iowa had only three players record one double-double in 32 games (Wendy Ausdemore, Johanna Solverson and Megan Skouby). So far this season, Iowa has had three players post double-doubles a total of six times through 15 games. JoAnn Hamlin recorded double-doubles vs. Boston, Iowa State and at Wisconsin this year. Kachine Alexander tallied her first double-double vs. Providence, while Ausdemore had back-to-back double-doubles vs. Texas Tech and South Florida in the Paradise Jam.
TRIFECTA
Iowa has three seniors who have reached the 1,000-point plateau. Wendy Ausdemore, Megan Skouby and Kristi Smith became the first senior trio at Iowa to eclipse 1,000 points. The 1998 senior duo of Tangela Smith and Tiffany Gooden reached the milestone, the 1990 tandem of Franthea Price and Jolette Law accomplished the feat, and the 1987 duo of Lisa Becker and Lisa Long both tallied 1,000 points. Skouby and Smith accomplished the feat last season as juniors, while Ausdemore topped 1,000 points early this season. Ausdemore netted a game-high 21 points in an overtime loss to South Florida (Nov. 28, 2008). The native of Neola, IA, reached 1,000 points in 97 games. Skouby scored six points at No. 20 Ohio State (Feb. 21, 2008) 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. Smith netted 19 points vs. Purdue (March 8, 2008) to become the 25th Iowa player to tally 1,000 points. The Thornton, CO, native accomplished the feat in 90 contests.
AUSDEMORE IN THE RECORD BOOKS
Wendy Ausdemore, a senior, has her name all over the Hawkeye record books for 3-point shooting. The native of Neola, IA, is 188-452 (.416) from long distance. The senior has been on fire from behid the arc the last five games; Ausdemore sank 52 percent (13-25) of her 3-point attempts at Drake, at Wisconsin, vs. Purdue, at Indiana and at Purdue. Ausdemore’s career shooting accuracy from beyond the arc currently ranks first in the Big Ten and Hawkeye record books. Former Ohio State Buckeye Caity Matter (270-657, .411) ranks second, while former Hawkeye Lindsey Meder (261-644, .405) is third. Ausdemore’s 188 treys ranks second in Iowa annals behind Meder’s 261. Last season, Ausdemore was 78-171 (.456), with her percentage ranking third in the nation, and first among players with over 150 attempts. Also, Ausdemore made a school-best 62 triples as a sophomore and 78 as a junior.
SIMILARITIES
Coach Bluder sees similarities between this season’s senior and freshman classes. This year’s senior class was asked, in 2005-06, to step-up and make an immediate impact when they were freshmen. Iowa’s freshman class this year will, again, be asked to provide depth and will likely play a pivotal role in the team’s success.
PRE-SEASON RANKINGS
Iowa has been picked to finish fourth in the Big Ten by the league coaches and fifth by a selected media panel. The coaches picked Purdue to win the conference, while the media selected Ohio State. The Buckeyes have won outright, or shared, the last four regular season conference titles. Ohio State sophomore Jantel Lavender was selected as the pre-season Player of the Year by both voting groups.
IOWA FAST BREAKS
? Iowa is 129-17 when leading at the half in nine years under Coach Bluder, including a perfect 8-0 this season. The Hawkeyes are 109-24 when holding opponents to 69 points or less, including a 53-4 mark when opponents score 59 points or less.
? Iowa played seven non-conference games against teams from a major conference: Big East (Providence and South Florida), Pac-10 (California), ACC (Duke), Big 12 (Kansas, Texas Tech and Iowa State).
? Megan Skouby tied a Paradise Jam tournament game record with four blocked shots against Texas Tech (11/27/08). Additionally, she blocked a career-high six shots at Purdue (1/8/09).
? Iowa boasted a +21.3 scoring margin in its three wins over in-state competition. The Hawkeyes dropped Iowa State by 20, Northern Iowa by 26 and Drake by 18.
? Iowa’s loss to South Florida was its first overtime loss since falling 80-78 to Minnesota (Jan. 25, 2007) in Iowa City.
? Through 15 games, Iowa averages only 4.7 steals per game, which is the lowest average in school history. The Hawkeyes averaged 5.1 thefts during the 1984-85 and 1985-86 seasons.
HOME, AWAY COMPARISONS
Iowa averages 13.4 more points at home than on the road. The Black and Gold have a higher free throw percentage at home (.814) than on the road (.759). Iowa averages 5.3 more rebounds per game, 3.6 more assists and 2.7 fewer turnovers at home than on the road.
WINS, LOSSES COMPARISONS
There are big differences in the statistics in Iowa’s wins to Iowa’s losses. The Hawkeyes average 16.2 more points in their wins to losses. Also, Iowa averages 4.3 fewer turnovers in its victories. Finally, Iowa averages .369 from behind the 3-point arc in its wins, compared to only .291 in its defeats.
GET TO KNOW HER CAMPAIGN
The Big Ten Conference announced its latest public service effort for women’s basketball. The Get to Know Her campaign is a fully integrated effort that will allow fans to see the non-basketball sides of their favorite student-athletes via multimedia tools and on-campus promotions. Elements of the Get to Know Her campaign include a fan club, theme nights, a weekly newsletter, Big Ten Network-produced PSAs, video and print feature stories, a Facebook page and fan rewards. Fans can sign up to be members of the Get to Know Her Club at all Big Ten women’s basketball home games. Fans will receive special rewards for joining the club, while membership privileges include special access, giveaways and insider information on Big Ten women’s basketball. Fans will also enjoy increased chances to learn about their favorite women’s basketball players through multimedia outlets. Written feature stories will appear on the Big Ten website throughout the conference season, while the Big Ten Network will air features and Get to Know Her PSAs through the duration of the 2008-09 campaign.
HOME GROWN HAWKEYES
Iowa’s 2008-09 roster features four players from the state of Iowa (Wendy Ausdemore, Kelsey Cermak, Kelly Krei and Nicole VanderPol). The Hawkeyes also have three players from Minnesota (Kachine Alexander, Hannah Draxten and Kamille Wahlin). Iowa’s 13-person roster also features players from Ohio (Shante Jones and Megan Skouby), Colorado (Kristi Smith), Kansas (JoAnn Hamlin) and Michigan (Lindsey Nyenhuis).
UI TO HOST NCAA TOURNAMENT GAMES IN 2009
The University of Iowa and Carver-Hawkeye Arena will serve as one of 16 first and second round hosts for the 2009 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship. Games will take place Sunday, March 22 (6 p.m./8:30 p.m.) and Tuesday, March 24, 2009 (8:30 p.m.). Adult tickets prices are $28 for the three tournament games and $18 for students and senior citizens if they purchase their tickets over the phone or at the UI Ticket Office. The two ticket prices are $31 and $21, respectively, if purchased on the Internet. The UI Department of Athletics first hosted an NCAA Championship site in 1986 when it served as one of four regional final sites. Carver-Hawkeye Arena has hosted NCAA Women’s Championship games 11 years (1986-90, 92-94, 96-98). The UI and Carver-Hawkeye Arena have entertained the regional finals four times and first and/or second rounds nine times. The NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1994. The last time Iowa City hosted a first and second round site was in 1998. Iowa defeated Massachusetts in the first round, but lost to Kansas in the second round. The Hawkeyes boast a 9-4 record in NCAA Championship games at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
BLOGGING
Iowa Hawkeye fans will be treated once again to behind-the-scenes information this season as senior Wendy Ausdemore, and sophomore Kelsey Cermak and freshman Hannah Draxten will have their own blogs, which will be posted on hawkeyesports.com. The trio will share their thoughts on practices, games, road trips, and everything else surrounding the program. Additionally, fans will be able to watch behind-the-scenes clips of the team with Lindsey Nyenhuis’ video blog.
IOWA INFORMATION ON THE WEB
Statistics and play-by-play accounts of all Iowa Hawkeye 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 `GT’ link.
BIG TEN TOURNAMENT ALL-SESSION TICKETS ON SALE
Make sure you have the best seats to cheer on the Hawkeyes at the 2009 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament in Indianapolis at Conseco Fieldhouse March 5-8. Secure the best seats available by contacting the UI Athletic Ticket Office at (800) IA-HAWKS. To reward fans for their support of the tournament over the years, all-session tickets are on sale for $45 for the first 45 days of public sale. That is a $20 discount from the regular price of $65. The ticket promotion ends Jan. 19, 2009. The Big Ten Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments will call Indianapolis and Conseco Fieldhouse home through 2012. Indianapolis has staged 13 of the 14 previous women’s tournaments. The 2009 tournament features all 11 Big Ten teams in action, competing in 10 games over four days to crown the 2009 champion and earn the conference’s automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament. Six different conference representatives have won the tournament championship. Reigning Big Ten Tournament Champion Purdue leads all teams with seven titles, followed by two championships for both Iowa and Penn State and one title each for Indiana, Michigan State and Ohio State. The 2009 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament bracket, along with information on tickets, travel, lodging, tournament history and more, can be found at bigten.org and indianasportscorp.com.
“HAWK TALK WITH Lisa Bluder”
Catch “Hawk Talk with Lisa Bluder”, the radio call-in program Monday night 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 7:30-8:30 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 returns to the road Thursday when it faces Illinois at Champaign, IL. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. and will be streamed free online at bigtennetwork.com.