Jan. 30, 2009
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- 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 (12-8, 5-4) welcome the Penn State Lady Lions (8-11, 3-6) to Iowa City Sunday. Tip-off is slated for 1:05 p.m. (CST) at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Tickets are $9 for adults, $5 for youths and free for UI students. Both teams are coming off road losses Thursday night; Iowa lost at Michigan State, while Penn State fell at Indiana.
ON THE TUBE
Sunday’s game will be televised live in Eastern Iowa on KCRG-TV9 (ABC affiliate). John Campbell, Amy Herrig and Scott Saville will call the action.
ON THE INTERNET
Hawkeye fans can watch Sunday afternoon’s game for free online at bigtennetwork.com.
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, KXIC AM-800 in Iowa City and WHO AM-1040 in Des Moines. 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 990 games since beginning basketball in 1974. Overall, Iowa’s record is 601-389 (.607). That includes a 301-150 (.667) mark in Big Ten contests and 280-82 (.773) in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
HAMLIN UPDATE
JoAnn Hamlin suffered a sprained left ankle during practice Thursday (Jan. 22) and has missed Iowa’s last two contests. She is doubtful for Sunday’s game vs. Penn State.
PINK ZONE, NATIONAL GIRLS AND WOMEN IN SPORTS DAY
Sunday’s game is Iowa’s Pink Zone event and also UI Department of Athletics is honoring National Girls and Women Sports Day. ? Boys and girls 18-and-under who wear their team jersey to the game Sunday, will receive free admission in recognition of National Girls and Women in Sports Day.
? All fans are encouraged to wear pink to Sunday’s game in support of cancer awareness.
? The first 1,000 fans will receive a pink pom pom.
? Three-point placards with American Cancer Resource Network information on the back will be distributed.
? Both teams will be wearing pink uniforms (Penn State in pink with white trim/Iowa in white with pink trim).
? Cancer Awareness facts will be read throughout the game and info will be distributed on the concourse
? Pre-game Kids Fun Zone/Post-Game autographs
? Nike Pink Initiative T-Shirts are available for purchase at the Iowa Hawk Shop. The shirts cost $20. Nike will donate $2 per shirt to the Kay Yow/WBCA Fund to support breast cancer awareness and research.
? Fans who would like to make a donation to the Holden Cancer Comprehensive Research Center located on the UI campus can make checks payable to the UI Foundation and reference Holden Cancer Center on the check. Donations can be mailed to the UI Foundation at the following address.
UI Foundation
Levitt Center for UI Advancement
One West Park Road
P.O. Box 4550
Iowa City, IA 52244-4550
SCOUTING PENN STATE
Penn State is in the middle of a stretch in which it plays six of eight games on the road. The Lady Lions lost at Indiana Thursday, 65-55. The Lady Lions led by three points (29-26) at the half, but the Hoosiers outscored Penn State by 13 (39-26) in the second stanza. Julia Trogele and Tyra Grant paced the Lady Lions. Trogele had a double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds), while Grant led all scorers with 18 points. Penn State is 1-8 in games away from home, including 0-6 in true road contests this year. Penn State is led by Grant and Brianne O’Rourke. Grant averages a team-best 19.2 points and 1.7 steals per outing. Grant’s 19.2 scoring average ranks second-best in the Big Ten behind Ohio State’s Jantel Lavender. O’Rourke averages a team-best 4.6 assists and ranks second in scoring (11.3). Janessa Wolff pulls down a team-best 6.3 rebounds per game. Grant and O’Rourke are Penn State’s top 3-point threats, making 31 and 28, respectively. The Lady Lions only attempted seven treys in Thursday’s loss at Indiana. As a team, Penn State shoots 64.7 percent (222-343) from the foul line. The Lady Lions rank first in the Big Ten in steals per game (9.3). Coquese Washington is in her second season (21-29, .420) as a head coach, both at Penn State. Prior to being named head coach at Penn State, Washington spent a total of eight seasons on the Notre Dame bench, two as an associate head coach and six as an assistant.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Sunday will be the 34th meeting between Iowa and Penn State, with the Lady Lions leading the series 19-14. The Hawkeyes have won the last three meetings. Iowa holds a 10-5 advantage in games played in Iowa City, including winning the last two. The Lady Lions’ last triumph (77-71) in Iowa City came on Jan. 6, 2005. Penn State (.576), Purdue (.564) and Ohio State (.510) are the only conference teams to have a winning percentage above .500 against Iowa. Iowa Head Coach Lisa Bluder collected her 500th career win with Iowa’s 73-65 triumph at Penn State last February.
HOME SWEET HOME
Iowa has maintained a solid home court advantage the last couple years. Dating back to last season, Iowa has won 15 of its last 16 games in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Purdue snapped Iowa’s 12-game winning streak with a 69-60 win Dec. 28 in Iowa City.
IOWA, PENN STATE NOTES
? Eleven of Iowa’s 20 games have been decided by 17 points or more (7-4).
? Iowa boasts a perfect 9-0 record when allowing 59 points or less, are 12-1 when shooting a higher field goal percentage than its opponents and 12-0 when leading at halftime this season.
? Kristi Smith, Wendy Ausdemore and Megan Skouby have had solid outings in games against Penn State during their careers. Smith has made 16-18 (.889) from the foul line and averages 15.6 points in five games vs. the Lady Lions. Ausdemore averages 10.0 points and Skouby averages 10.4 points in five contests against Penn State.
? Megan Skouby cracked Iowa’s all-time scoring top ten list with her 21 points at Illinois (Jan. 15). Skouby now has 1,316 points and is just three points from tying Amy Herrig for ninth place. Herrig will be in attendance Sunday helping with the TV broadcast fro KCRG-TV9.
? Kachine Alexander, who stands 5-9, leads the team and ranks ninth in Big Ten rebounding, pulling down 7.9 per contest.
? Wendy Ausdemore has drained 199 career triples.
? Iowa players have corralled double-digit rebounds 16 times this season. Kachine Alexander has accomplished the feat a team-best eight times, JoAnn Hamlin six times and Wendy Ausdemore twice.
? Iowa has held nine of the 12 teams it has beat to 58 points or less.
? Last season, Megan Skouby blocked 23 shots in 32 games; she already has amassed 34 through 20 games this season. She currently sits third on Iowa’s career rejections list with 141. She is only five blocks from surpassing Toni Foster for second.
? Kristi Smith has reached double figures a team-best 14 times.
? Iowa has an RPI rating of 42nd in the country and strength of schedule that ranks 17th. The Hawkeyes’ strength of schedule ranks third in the Big Ten. Penn State is rated 84th in the RPI and 15th in strength of schedule. The numbers are based on the report published Jan. 30.
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.
DISTRIBUTING THE BALL
Kachine Alexander has been putting up big assist numbers, as of late. The sophomore dished out eight assists vs. Minnesota (Jan. 11) and followed up that performance with nine at Illinois (Jan. 15). Against Northwestern (Jan. 18), Alexander collected a game and career-high 12 helpers. The 12 assists tied the school single-game and Carver-Hawkeye Arena record. She was credited with four vs. Michigan. Alexander’s 29 combined assists vs. Minnesota, Illinois and Northwestern are believed to be the most ever by a Hawkeye in a three-game span. Iowa is 6-0 this season when Alexander has five assists or more, and only 2-6 with two assists or fewer.
MICHIGAN STATE SNAPS IOWA’S FOUR-GAME WIN STREAK
Michigan State’s rebounding and defensive pressure proved to be too much for the Hawkeyes to overcome in a 68-56 win over Iowa Thursday night at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. The Spartans outrebounded the Black and Gold, 42-33 and turned 18 offensive rebounds into 23 second-chance points. Michigan State scored 46 of its 68 points in the paint. Additionally, the Spartans forced 18 turnovers, scoring 25 times off the Hawkeye miscues. Wendy Ausdemore and Kristi Smith were Iowa’s only players who scored in double figures. Ausdemore netted a game-high 18, while Smith scored all 12 of her points in the second half. Hannah Draxten provided a spark off the bench, posting game and season highs in rebounds (8) and assists (4). The Spartans were led by Allyssa DeHaan, Kalisha Keane and Brittney Thomas. DeHaan tallied 14 points, Keane had 13, while Thomas added 10. Michigan State, is tied with Indiana for second place in the Big Ten standings, shot an Iowa-opponent-season-best 59.4 percent (19-32) from the field in the second half to secure its 15th win of the season.
LAST OUTING TIP-INS
? Thursday was the 53rd meeting between Iowa and Michigan State. Michigan State has now won nine of the last 11 in the series. The Spartans extended their winning streak to five-consecutive over the Hawkeyes at the Breslin Center.
? JoAnn Hamlin missed her second-straight game with a sprained left ankle. Hamlin is Iowa’s second-leading rebounder and fourth-leading scorer. Despite feeling under the weather and not participating in the team’s shootaround earlier in the day, Kamille Wahlin started and scored six points and collected a steal and an assist in 27 minutes of action.
? Iowa trailed by double figures most of the second half. The Hawkeyes were able to cut the deficit to eight (57-49) with 3:55 left, but were unable to get any closer.
? Kristi Smith and Megan Skouby played all 40 minutes.
? Kachine Alexander got to the foul line a game-high 10 times, making seven of the attempts. The sophomore finished the contest with nine points and six rebounds.
? Iowa trailed by as many as seven points in the first half (19-12). The Hawkeyes went on a 7-0 run to tie the game at 19-19 at the four-minute mark, but the Spartans closed the half on a 7-0 run to take a 26-19 advantage into the locker room.
WAHLIN SHINES IN STARTING ROLE
Kamille Wahlin shined in her first career start last Monday against Michigan. The freshman posted a double-double, the first of her career, recording personal bests in scoring (14 points) and assists (10 assists). The 10 assists are believed to be the most in a single-game by an Iowa freshman. Wahlin was moved into the starting lineup after JoAnn Hamlin injured an ankle in practice. Despite feeling under the weather with the flu, Wahlin started at Michigan State.
TRIPLE THREAT
Kachine Alexander was named co-Big Ten Player of the Week with Minnesota’s Ashley Ellis-Milan on Jan. 19. Alexander took home her first career weekly honor after helping Iowa to a pair of victories over Illinois and Northwestern. In Iowa’s win over Northwestern, she became the eighth NCAA Division I student-athlete to post a triple-double this season. The 5-9 guard totaled 10 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists against the Wildcats. The 12 assists are a personal best and match the school single-game and Carver-Hawkeye Arena record. The last time a Big Ten player recorded a triple-double during a conference game came on Feb. 8, 2007 when Ohio State’s Jessica Davenport tallied 17 points, 10 rebounds and 11 blocks against Minnesota. The last triple-double involving points, rebounds and assists in league play was courtesy of Iowa’s Cara Consuegra (17 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists) on Feb. 3, 2000. Alexander became only the second Iowa basketball player, male or female to post a triple-double (Cara Consuegra).
MAKING THE FREEBIES
Senior Megan Skouby ranks second in the conference and ranks 20th nationally in free throw accuracy, shooting .854 (70-82). Wendy Ausdemore has missed only four free throw attempts this season (32-36, .889). As a team, Iowa shoots .781 (285-365) from the charity stripe, ranking fifth in the nation. The Hawkeyes have made (285) nearly as many free throws as their opponents have attempted (303).
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 39 triples and 33 two-pointers through 20 games. Last season, Ausdemore made 78 treys and 54 two-pointers in 32 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 199-481 (.414) from long distance. 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 196 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.
DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Last season, Iowa had only three players record a double-double in 32 games (Wendy Ausdemore, Johanna Solverson and Megan Skouby). So far this season, Iowa has had four different players post double-doubles a total of 10 times through 19 games. JoAnn Hamlin has posted four double-doubles (Boston, Iowa State, Minnesota and Wisconsin) this year. The last Iowa player to record four or more double-doubles in a season was Jennie Lillis in 2002-03. Lillis had nine double-doubles that season. Kachine Alexander registered double-doubles vs. Providence and Michigan, and also added a triple-double vs. Northwestern. Ausdemore had back-to-back double-doubles vs. Texas Tech and South Florida in the Paradise Jam. Kamille Wahlin had her first double-double vs. Michigan.
IOWA FAST BREAKS
? Iowa is 133-17 when leading at the half in nine years under Coach Bluder, including a perfect 12-0 mark this season. The Hawkeyes are 112-25 when holding opponents to 69 points or less, including a 55-4 mark when opponents score 59 points or less.
? Iowa’s 12 blocks at Drake (Dec. 20) tied the school single-game record previously set vs. UC Santa Barbara in 1995.
? 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 20 games, Iowa averages only 5.1 steals per game, which matches the lowest average in school history. The Hawkeyes averaged 5.1 thefts during the 1984-85 and 1985-86 seasons.
? Iowa is 3-0 in bus trips this season (Drake, Wisconsin and Illinois). The Hawkeyes have one bus trip remaining on their schedule (at Northwestern on March 1).
HOME, AWAY COMPARISONS
Iowa averages 13.5 more points at home than on the road. The Black and Gold have a much-higher free throw percentage at home (.817) than on the road (.741). Iowa averages 3.6 more rebounds per game, 4.9 more assists and 3.3 fewer turnovers at home than on the road.
WINS, LOSSES COMPARISONS
There are big differences, statistically in Iowa’s wins vs. losses. The Hawkeyes average 17 more points in victory. Also, Iowa averages 5.8 fewer turnovers in its victories. Finally, Iowa averages .415 from behind the 3-point arc in its wins, compared to only .302 in defeat. Individually, Kristi Smith averages 14.1 points, including making 28-56 (.500) from 3-point range, in victories. Also, Kachine Alexander averages 9.8 points, 5.1 assists and 8.5 rebounds in Hawkeyes wins. In losses, Smith averages only 9.0 points, while Alexander averages 6.3 points and 1.5 assists.
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.
FITZGERALD EARNS PRESTIGIOUS AWARD
Former Drake athlete Jenni Fitzgerald received the Drake Double D Award in Des Moines, IA, on Jan. 17. The award is presented annually to Drake letterwinners for achievements in their chosen fields of endeavor and/or community service since leaving Drake. The Double D Award is the highest honor Drake bestows on its student-athletes. Since its inception in 1968, the Double D honor has been presented to 234 former Drake letterwinners. Fitzgerald was the starting point guard for the Drake women’s basketball team from 1986-91. She was named team MVP as a junior and was named captain as a senior while earning All-Gateway Conference honors. She was a four-year starter for the Bulldogs and only the second player in Drake history to start every game of her collegiate career. Fitzgerald graduated from Drake, ranking second on the school career steals list (250) third on the school career free throw percentage chart (.802) and third on the school career assist list (516). In February 2007, Jan Jensen, who also played women’s basketball at Drake, earned the Double D Award.
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.
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. All-session tickets are on sale for $65. 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.
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.
ON THE HORIZON
The Hawkeyes conclude their stretch of playing four of five home games next Thursday when they entertain Indiana.