Feb. 17, 2009
- Purchase Iowa Season Tickets and Iowa City NCAA First/Second Round Tickets
- Follow the Hawkeyes to the Big Ten Tournament
- Basketblog
- From the Desk of Lisa Bluder…
- 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 (16-9, 9-5) return home to host the Wisconsin Badgers (15-11, 5-10) Thursday night. Tip-off is slated for 7:05 p.m. in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Tickets are $9 for adults, while youths and UI students are admitted free. Iowa has won eight of its last 10 games, while Wisconsin has lost six of its last seven. The Hawkeyes are currently in fifth place in the Big Ten standings, while the Badgers are seventh.
ON THE INTERNET
Hawkeye fans can watch Thursday night’s game for free online at bigtennetwork.com.
ON THE RADIO
Brent Balbinot and Shelley Till will call Thursday night’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 995 games since beginning basketball in 1974. Overall, Iowa’s record is 605-390 (.608). That includes a 305-151 (.669) mark in Big Ten contests and 283-82 (.775) in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
HOME SWEET HOME
Iowa has maintained a solid home court advantage the last couple years. Dating back to last season, Iowa has won 18 of its last 19 home games. Iowa boasts an 11-1 home record this season.
SCOUTING WISCONSIN
Thursday will be Wisconsin’s second game in four days after falling to Indiana in overtime (67-61) Monday night at home. The Badgers have a difficult finish to the regular season. After playing at Iowa, they finish with Michigan State (home) and Ohio State (away) — both teams are tied for first in the Big Ten standings. In Monday night’s loss to the Hoosiers, the Badgers had a three-point lead in the final seconds, but Kim Roberson drained the game-tying 3-pointer with 1.6 seconds remaining to send the game to overtime. Indiana ultimately prevailed in the extra session. Wisconsin’s Tara Steinbauer netted a team-high 17 points and had nine rebounds. Teah Gant contributed 16 points and Lin Zastrow 14. Indiana outscored Wisconsin, 18-10, at the free throw line and sank four more triples (7-3) than the Badgers. Alyssa Karel leads the Badgers this season, averaging 13.0 points per contest and making a team-best 44 triples. Zastrow is second in team scoring (7.3) and first in rebounding (5.0). As a team, Wisconsin shoots only 66.6 percent (283-425) from the foul line. Junior Mariah Dunham, who averaged 9.2 points and 4.5 rebounds in 20 games, was dismissed from the team earlier this month. In the previous game vs. Iowa Dec. 22 in Madison, Dunham collected 14 points and eight rebounds in a starting role. The Badgers are 5-7 in games away from home, including a 2-7 mark in true road contests. Wisconsin’s only road Big Ten victory this season came at Illinois on New Year’s Day. Wisconsin’s head coach is Lisa Stone, an Iowa graduate and former Hawkeye basketball player. Stone is 87-89 (.494) in six seasons with the Badgers and 462-207 (.691) in 24 seasons as a head coach.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Thursday will be the 55th meeting between Iowa and Wisconsin, with the Hawkeyes boasting a 34-20 advantage. The Hawkeyes have won 10 of the last 12 in the series, including five straight. Wisconsin’s last victory over the Hawkeyes (84-73) came on Feb. 11, 2007 in Madison, WI. Iowa owns a 20-8 edge in games played in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes have won the last two meetings in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Wisconsin’s last victory (88-78) in Iowa City came on Feb. 6, 2005.
IOWA, WISCONSIN NOTES
? Both Iowa and Wisconsin competed at the 2008 Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The two teams did not face each other, as the two schools were in different brackets.
? Wisconsin Head Coach Lisa Anderson Stone (1980-84) played basketball for the Hawkeyes. Stone currently ranks 20th in Iowa career scoring (1,129), eighth in steals (177) and ninth in assists (322).
? 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 the Hawkeyes’ head coach.
? Iowa’s last five games of the season are vs. the last five teams in the Big Ten standings.
? Iowa boasts a perfect 10-0 record when allowing 59 points or less, are 15-2 when shooting a higher field goal percentage than its opponents and 14-1 when leading at halftime this season.
? Lin Zastrow and Alyssa Karel had solid performances against Iowa in the previous meeting Dec. 22, 2008 in Madison, WI. Zastrow netted a team-high 18 points, while Karel contributed 11 points.
? Three Hawkeyes average double figures in games against Wisconsin. Kristi Smith averages 14.2 points and 2.8 assists in six starts vs. the Badgers. Wendy Ausdemore averages 13.5 points, including 15-27 (.556) from distance, and 2.0 assists in six games. Megan Skouby averages 14.0 points, including 18-22 (.818) from the foul line and 4.6 rebounds in five contests.
? Kamille Wahlin ranks second in assists (3.0), fourth in scoring (7.9), rebounding (3.3), and fifth in field goal percentage (.442) and 3-point field goal percentage (.394), amongst Big Ten freshmen, in conference games only rankings. Additionally, she ranks first in Big Ten assist/turnover ratio (2.26), and 12th in assists (3.0) and field goal percentage (.442), in league games only.
? Last season, Megan Skouby blocked 23 shots in 32 games; she already has amassed 41 through 23 games this season. Her single-season best is 47 rejections, which she accomplished her freshman campaign. Her 41 blocks this season rank fourth-best in a single-season for an Iowa senior.
? Wendy Ausdemore’s 17 points Sunday increased her career scoring total to 1,242. The Hawkeyes have three seniors (Ausdemore, Smith and Skouby) who have over 1,225 career points. The senior trio is the first-ever, in one class, in Big Ten history to top 1,225 points.
? Kachine Alexander, who stands 5-9, leads the team and ranks fifth in Big Ten rebounding, pulling down 8.6 per contest.
? Kristi Smith has reached double figures a team-best 19 times this year, including the last 11 contests.
? Kristi Smith, who is in fourth place in Iowa all-time assists (389) is 11 from reaching 400. Megan Skouby, who is tied for 20th in career rebounding (482), is 18 from reaching 500.
? Iowa players have corralled double-digit rebounds 19 times this season. Kachine Alexander has accomplished the feat a team-best 10 times, JoAnn Hamlin six times, Wendy Ausdemore three times and Megan Skouby once. The last time an Iowa player controlled double-digit rebounds 10 times or more in a season was Jenee Graham (11), during the 2006-07 season.
? Iowa has an RPI rating of 34th in the country and strength of schedule that ranks 24th. Iowa has five wins over teams ranked in the RPI top-50, including two ranked in the top 25. Wisconsin is rated 57th in the RPI and 32nd in strength of schedule. The numbers are based on the report published Feb. 17.
SMITH OVERTOPS SKOUBY IN CAREER SCORING
For the first time in her career Kristi Smith moved ahead of Megan Skouby in career scoring. After Sunday’s game at Penn State, Smith moved ahead of Skouby by one point. Smith currently ranks eighth in career scoring with 1,367 points, while Skouby ranks ninth with 1,366 points. Skouby (112) has played four fewer games than Smith (116). Smith has been on fire the last few games. In Iowa’s two wins last week, she averaged 20.5 points, made all 12 free throw attempts and averaged 2.5 assists. Additionally, Smith has netted 20 points or more in three of Iowa’s last five contests. Her 54 triples this season are a single-season best and rank third-best in school history by an Iowa senior.
FIVE YEARS AGO…
Iowa pulled off the largest second-half comeback in school history when it rallied from 20 points down to beat Penn State 63-57 on Feb. 15, 2009, in University Park, PA. Nearly five years ago to the day Iowa pulled off another incredible comeback. On Feb. 12, 2004, the Hawkeyes overcame an eight-point deficit with 39 seconds left in regulation to defeat Wisconsin 87-82 in overtime. Iowa guard Kristi Faulkner scored an astonishing 15 points (four 3-pointers, one lay-up and one free throw) in the final 1:50 of regulation to help send the game into the extra session.
SPECIAL GUEST IN IOWA CITY ON “SENIOR NIGHT”
Gina Glocksen, who was the ninth-place finisher in the 2007 American Idol competition will be in Iowa City for Iowa’s regular season finale vs. Illinois Feb. 26. The Tinley Park, IL, native, will sing the national anthem. Glocksen is friends with Hawkeye senior Lindsey Nyenhuis.
KASHIN’ IN
Sophomore Kachine Alexander has made a name for herself in the Big Ten with her improved play. Last season, she played only 18 games, averaging 2.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.7 assists. Through 25 games this season, she is averaging 9.2 points, 8.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists. Alexander, who stands 5-9, ranks second in assists (4.64) and defensive rebounding (7.21), third in assist/turnover ratio (1.59) and rebounding (9.7), and 13th in free throw percentage (.763), in league game rankings. Additionally, she became the first Big Ten player to ever post two triple-doubles in the same season when she accomplished the feat twice in four games. The Minneapolis, MN, native had 10 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists vs. Northwestern (Jan. 18) and 26 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists vs. Penn State (Feb. 1). Both games were Iowa wins.
FINAL STRETCH
There are two weeks left in the Big Ten regular season and the conference race is heating up. The top six teams can finish no worse than sixth place after the results from last weekend. Listed below are each team’s remaining schedule.
Michigan State (11-3): Michigan, at Wisconsin, Minnesota, Purdue
Ohio State (11-3): at Minnesota, at Indiana, Wisconsin, Penn State
Purdue (11-4): at Penn State, Michigan, at Michigan State
Minnesota (10-4): Ohio State, at Northwestern, at Michigan State, Illinois
Iowa (9-5): Wisconsin, at Michigan, Illinois, at Northwestern
Indiana (9-6): at Northwestern, Ohio State, Michigan
HAWKEYES RECORD HISTORIC COMEBACK IN WIN AT PENN STATE
Iowa posted the largest comeback in school history when it overcame a 20-point second half deficit to beat Penn State 63-57 in front of 9,536 fans at University Park, PA, last Sunday. Penn State closed the first half on an 18-3 run to take a commanding 41-23 cushion into the half. The Lady Lions made the first bucket of the second half to stretch their advantage to 43-23. However, the Hawkeyes mounted a furious comeback outscoring Penn State 40-14 the rest of the way to escape with a victory. Iowa’s Kristi Smith equaled a season high with 21 points, bolstered by 5-10 shooting from distance. Kachine Alexander, who was held scoreless and without a rebound the first 20 minutes, collected nine points and nine rebounds in the second half. Seven of her nine points came from the charity stripe. Wendy Ausdemore contributed 17 points and a career-high 13 rebounds. Ausdemore had two huge offensive rebounds and field goals the final 5:45 of the game. Ausdemore had a put-back at the 5:38 mark to give Iowa its first lead (52-51) and drained a 3-pointer to put the Black and Gold up five (59-54) with 19 seconds remaining. Penn State’s Tyra Grant led all scorers with 26 points, 20 coming in the first half.
LAST OUTING TIP-INS
? The 20-point comeback is the largest comeback in Iowa women’s basketball school history. It bested an 18-point comeback vs. Indiana in the quarterfinals of the 2001 Big Ten Tournament.
? Sunday was Penn State’s Pink Zone event. Both teams wore pink-trimmed uniforms in an effort to help raise breast cancer awareness. Iowa improved to 4-0 in pink-trimmed uniforms the last two seasons.
? Sunday was the 35th meeting between Iowa and Penn State. Iowa has now won five-straight over the Lady Lions, including the last two played at Penn State. The all-time series is now 19-16 in favor of Penn State.
? Kristi Smith’s five treys equals a career high, which she has accomplished four times this year.
? Wendy Ausdemore recorded her third double-double of the season. Ausdemore’s totals at Penn State move her past Lisa Long and into 15th place in Iowa career scoring with 1,240 points.
? Penn State dominated the glass in the first half, out-rebounding the Black and Gold 28-13, including 13 offensive boards. Penn State scored 17 second chance points in the first stanza, but did not record another the rest of the game.
? Iowa was 10-22 from the 3-point range and 11-14 from the foul line. Iowa attempted all 14 free throws in the second half. Iowa held Penn State to only 25 percent (7-28) shooting from the field in the second half.
MAKING THE FREEBIES
Senior Megan Skouby ranks first in the conference and ranks 34th nationally in free throw accuracy, shooting .847 (72-85). Wendy Ausdemore has missed only five free throw attempts this season (45-50, .900). As a team, Iowa shoots .790 (362-458) from the charity stripe, ranking sixth in the nation. The Hawkeyes have made (362) nearly as many free throws as their opponents have attempted (371).
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 five different players post double-doubles a total of 14 times through 25 games. The last time Iowa had at least 14 double-doubles in a season was during 2000-01 campaign. That team, which was Lisa Bluder’s first Hawkeye team, collected a total of 16 double-doubles that season. Kachine Alexander has posted a team-best five double-doubles this season, which includes two triple-doubles. The sophomore registered double-doubles vs. Providence, Michigan, and No. 13 Ohio State, and also added triple-doubles vs. Northwestern and Penn State. The last Iowa player to record five or more double-doubles in a season was Jennie Lillis in 2002-03. Lillis had nine double-doubles that season. JoAnn Hamlin has four double-doubles (Boston, Iowa State, Minnesota and Wisconsin) this year. Wendy Ausdemore collected double-doubles vs. Texas Tech and South Florida in the Paradise Jam and also at Penn State. Kamille Wahlin had her first double-double vs. Michigan, while senior Megan Skouby posted her first career double-double at Minnesota.
SENIOR DUO IN THE RECORD BOOKS
Seniors Kristi Smith and Wendy Ausdemore have their names all over the Hawkeye record books for 3-point shooting. Smith is shooting at a 40.9 percent (174-425) clip from 3-point territory, while Ausdemore is shooting 40.7 percent (209-513). Smith’s career shooting accuracy from distance currently ranks second in the Big Ten and first in Hawkeye record books. Former Ohio State Buckeye Caity Matter (270-657, .411) ranks first. Ausdemore is currently slotted third, followed by former Hawkeye Lindsey Meder (261-644, .405) in fourth. Ausdemore’s 209 treys ranks second in Iowa annals behind Meder’s 261. Smith’s 174 triples rate third best. 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.
HOME, AWAY COMPARISONS
Iowa averages 16 more points at home than on the road. The Black and Gold have a much-higher free throw percentage at home (.819) than on the road (.751). Iowa averages 4.73more rebounds per game, 4.8 more assists and 2.6 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 18.2 more points in victory. Also, Iowa averages 5.2 fewer turnovers in its victories. Finally, Iowa averages .403 from behind the 3-point arc in its wins, compared to only .296 in defeat. Individually, Kristi Smith averages 15.5 points, including making 38-82 (.463) from 3-point territory, in victories. Also, Kachine Alexander averages 11.2 points, 5.1 assists and 9.7 rebounds in Hawkeyes wins. In losses, Smith averages only 9.6 points, while Alexander averages 5.8 points and 1.7 assists.
TRIFECTA MAKES HISTORY
Iowa has three seniors who have reached the 1,200-point plateau. Wendy Ausdemore, Megan Skouby and Kristi Smith became the first trio, from the same class, in Big Ten history to ever eclipse 1,225 points! Purdue and Illinois each hav three members from their 1988 class score 1,000 points or more. Smith currently has 1,367 points, followed by Skouby (1,366) and Ausdemore (1,240). 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.
TRIPLE THREAT
Kachine Alexander, who was tabbed Big Ten Player of the Week twice this season (Jan. 20 and Feb. 3), is the first player in Big Ten history to record two triple-doubles in a season. The 5-9 guard totaled 10 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists in Iowa’s win against the Northwestern Wildcats. The 12 assists are a personal best and match the school single-game and Carver-Hawkeye Arena record. She became the first player to register a triple-double during a Big Ten game since 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. The sophomore repeated the feat three games later when she totaled 26 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists in a triple-overtime triumph over Penn State. She is the only Hawkeye to ever record two triple-doubles. Alexander is one of only three NCAA Division I student-athletes to post multiple triple-doubles this season. Kansas State’s Shalee Lehning and St. Mary’s Louella Tomlinson are the other two players to have two triple-doubles this year. In total, there have been 12 triple-doubles, by a total of nine different players in 2008-09. Alexander became only the second Iowa basketball player, male or female, to post a triple-double (Cara Consuegra).
WAHLIN SHINES IN STARTING ROLE
Kamille Wahlin was moved to a starting role the last seven games, due to the absence of JoAnn Hamlin. In her first seven career starts, Wahlin averaged 11.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 35.6 minutes of action. She currently ranks second in assists (3.07), fourth in scoring (7.9), rebounding (3.3), and fifth in field goal percentage (.442) and 3-point field goal percentage (.394), amongst Big Ten freshmen, in conference games only rankings. Additionally, she ranks first in Big Ten assist/turnover ratio (2.26), 10th in assists (3.07) and 12th in field goal percentage (.442), in league games only. In her first career start against Michigan (Jan. 26), she posted a double-double, the first of her career, recording 14 points and a personal-best 10 assists. The 10 assists are believed to be the most in a single-game by an Iowa freshman. At Michigan State, Wahlin was under the weather, with the flu, but still managed to play 27 minutes and collect six points and two assists. In Iowa’s triple overtime thriller, the freshman logged 43 minutes of court time, recording 18 points and seven boards. Wahlin helped Iowa to a two-point victory (69-67) over Indiana on Feb. 5. The freshman tallied 10 points, seven rebounds and five assists. At Minnesota, she was credited with eight points, seven rebounds and a game-high six assists. The native of Crookston, MN, netted a personal-best 19 points and collected a team-high five assists in Iowa’s 10-point upset home win over No. 13 Ohio State.
COMPARING SMITH AND WAHLIN’S FRESHMAN NUMBERS
Kamille Wahlin is on the same path as Kristi Smith in her freshman season. Below are Kamille’s and Kristi’s freshman year numbers.
Kristi Smith's Freshman Campaign in 2005-06="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/strong%3E%3Cstrong%3EGP/GS%20%20%20%20FG-FGA%20%203-Ptrs%20%20FT-FTA%20%20RB%20%20AS%20%20ST%20%20PTS%20AVG%3C/strong%3E29/21%20%20%2074-156%20%2022-53%20%20%2036-43%20%20%2061%20%2082%20%2029%20%20206%207.1%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E%3Cahref="http: onlyfans.cstv.com/schools/iowa/sports/w-baskbl/mtt/wahlin_kamille00.html"="">Kamille Wahlin's Freshman Campaign in 2008-09="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/strong%3E%3Cstrong%3EGP/GS%20%20%20%20FG-FGA%20%203-Ptrs%20%20FT-FTA%20%20RB%20%20AS%20%20ST%20%20PTS%20AVG%3C/strong%3E25/7%20%20%20%2062-136%20%2016-42%20%20%2024-33%20%20%2071%20%2061%20%2018%20%20164%206.6%3C/pre%3E%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Cstrong%3E%3Cem%3ESIMILARITIES%3C/em%3E%3C/strong%3E%3Cbr%3E%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20Coach%20Bluder%20sees%20similarities%20between%20this%20season's%20senior%20and%20freshman%20classes.%20This%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20year's%20senior%20class%20was%20asked,%20in%202005-06,%20to%20step-up%20and%20make%20an%20immediate%20impact%20when%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20they%20were%20freshmen.%20Iowa's%20freshman%20class%20this%20year%20will,%20again,%20be%20asked%20to%20provide%20depth%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20and%20will%20likely%20play%20a%20pivotal%20role%20in%20the%20team's%20success.%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%3Cem%3EDISTRIBUTING%20THE%20BALL%3C/em%3E%3C/strong%3E%3Cbr%3E%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Ca%20href="/roster.aspx?rp_id=3337" class="imported_story_link" oldlink="/sports/w-baskbl/mtt/alexander_kachine00.html">Kachine Alexander has been putting up big assist numbers. 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 10 dimes vs. Penn State (Feb. 1). Alexander ranks second in assists (4.8), in conference play. 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 7-0 this season when Alexander has five assists or more, and only 2-6 with two assists or fewer.
IOWA FAST BREAKS
? Senior Nicole VanderPol will not play the rest of the year, due to injury. VanderPol only played in the first two games of the season.
? Kristi Smith ranks 27th nationally in 3-point field goal percentage (.422), while Megan Skouby ranks 34th in free throw percentage (.847). As a team, Iowa ranks sixth in free throw percentage (.790) and 28th in assists (15.5).
? Iowa has only two wins this season when trailing at the half: both coming against Penn State. The Hawkeyes were behind by two (36-34) at intermission vs. Penn State Feb. 1. The Black and Gold also trailed the Lady Lions 41-23 Feb. 15 on the road. Iowa rallied from 12 points down in the first half against the Lady Lions (Feb. 1) and a school-record 20 points in the second half (Feb. 15) at Penn State.
? Iowa is 135-18 when leading at the half in nine years under Coach Bluder, including 14-1 this season. The Hawkeyes are 114-26 when holding opponents to 69 points or less, including a 56-4 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).
? Wendy Ausademore’s 14 three-point attempts vs. Penn State (Feb. 1) tied a school single-game record. Crystal Smith attempted 14 triples at Louisiana Tech, while Lindsey Meder shot 14 treys vs. Colorado and Ohio State.
? 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 is 3-0 in bus trips this season (Drake, Wisconsin and Illinois). The Hawkeyes have one bus trip remaining (at Northwestern).
HAWKEYES RANK WELL IN BIG TEN STATISTICS
The Iowa Hawkeyes rank first in seven statistical Big Ten games only categories: scoring (68.6), free throw percentage (.782), field goal percentage (.428), 3-pointers made (7.21), 3-point field goal percentage (.393), assist/turnover ratio (1.12) and assists (16.43). Individually, Kachine Alexander ranks second in assists (4.64) and defeinsive rebounding (7.21), and third in assist/turnover ratio (1.59) and rebounding (9.6). Kristi Smith ranks first in 3-pointers made (2.79), third in minutes played (37.14) and 3-point field goal percentage (.443), and fourth in scoring (15.6). Megan Skouby rates sixth in blocked shots (1.57) and 11th in field goal percentage (.442). Kamille Wahlin ranks first in assist/turnover ratio (2.26), and 12th in assists (3.0) and field goal percentage (.442). Wendy Ausdemore ranks third in 3-pointers (2.14).
HAWKEYES-LADY LIONS MAKE BIG TEN HISTORY
The Iowa-Penn State triple overtime game on Feb. 1, in Iowa City, made Big Ten history. Iowa became the first Big Ten school to win a triple overtime conference game, since league play officially began in 1982-83.
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.
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).
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.
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.
“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.
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
Iowa travels to Ann Arbor, MI, to face the Michigan Wolverines Sunday. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. (CST) in Crisler Arena. The Hawkeyes will play their regular season home finale, Thursday, Feb. 26 when they entertain the Illinois Fighting Illini at 8:05 p.m. in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.