Bluder’s Bunch reaches 20 wins (again)

March 1, 2009

Box Score

EVANSTON, Ill. — An 86-79 victory over Northwestern on Sunday in Welsh-Ryan Arena has Bluder’s Bunch seeing 20/20/20/20.

For the fourth time in nine seasons under head coach Lisa Bluder, the University of Iowa women’s basketball program has reached the 20-win plateau. The 2008-09 Hawkeyes — winners of six straight — head to the Big Ten Tournament with a record of 20-9 overall, 13-5 in the Big Ten Conference.

Iowa also reached 20 wins last season (21), in 2004-05 (23) and 2000-01 (21). In the process, the Hawkeyes almost certainly guaranteed their third trip to the NCAA Tournament in four seasons.

“It feels good,” UI head coach Lisa Bluder said. “We’re excited to get home and prepare for the Big Ten Tournament.”

The 86 points are the second-highest offensive output by Iowa in regulation since a season-opening 87-45 victory over Texas State. The Hawkeyes defeated Penn State 97-89 in triple overtime exactly one month ago (Feb. 1).

Iowa led by as many as 16 points in the second half (66-50) against Northwestern. Iowa has now won 12 of its last 14 games, while Northwestern (7-22, 3-15) has lost 12 of its last 14. Today’s Hawkeye victory, coupled with Michigan State beating Purdue, places the Hawkeyes in a three-way tie with Michigan State and Purdue for second in the final regular season Big Ten standings. Iowa has recorded a second-place Big Ten finish for the second time under Bluder and five times overall. Although Iowa tied for second, the Hawkeyes lost the tiebreakers and will be the No. 4 seed in next week’s Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis. The Hawkeyes meet fifth-seeded Minnesota (19-10, 11-7) Friday at approximately 7:15 p.m. (Iowa time).

With Iowa up by only four points (78-74), Megan Skouby had a huge bucket and was fouled on the play with 1:02 left. The senior drained the free throw to extend Iowa’s advantage to seven at 81-74.

“We played a very good Northwestern team,” Bluder said. “In my mind they’re the most improved team in the Big Ten.”

Skouby and Kristi Smith led five Hawkeyes in double figures with 19 points. Skouby made 7 of 9 field goals and all five free throws. Smith made 10 of 11 free throws. Kamille Wahlin added 16 points by making 6 of 9 field goals (3 of 6 from three-point range). Kachine Alexander and Wendy Ausdemore added 13 and 11 points. Alexander pulled down eight rebounds.

Iowa shot 50 percent from the field (30 of 60) and 84 percent from the line (21 of 25). Northwestern made 55.8-percent of its field goals (29 of 62) and held a slight edge in rebounding (29 to 28). A big key was in turnovers, where Iowa had eight and the Wildcats had 14.

“We did a good job on turnovers and I love to see that,” Bluder said.

Iowa closed the final three minutes of the first half on an 8-0 run to secure a 36-29 lead at the break. After Northwestern’s Kristin Cartwright made two free throws to give the Wildcats a 29-28 edge, the Hawkeyes went on a roll with two free throws and a layup by Smith and two layups by JoAnn Hamlin to close the first 20 minutes.

Six Iowa players reached the balanced scoring column. Hamlin and Skouby scored eight points apiece, followed by Ausdemore with seven, Alexander with six, Smith with four and Wahlin with three. The Hawkeyes made 14 of 31 field goals (45.2) in a first half that was very close statistically. Iowa was plus-4 in turnovers, forcing nine Northwestern miscues.

Ausdemore went coast-to-coast after a steal and put the Hawkeyes up 45-33 with a fast-break layup at the 17:45 mark of the second half. The layup gave the Iowa senior trio of Ausdemore, Skouby and Smith 4,110 career points to tie the Big Ten scoring record for three players from the same school and the same class. Moments later Skouby drained a 17-foot jumper from the top of the key to break the record at the 15:12 mark.

“It just shows you the quality of these players and what they’ve done for us in their careers,” Bluder said. “All three are tremendous players.”

The Hawkeyes — the hottest team in the league — look to continue their winning ways in the postseason.

“It’s been a great season, but we want to play a lot more basketball and have a good run in the Big Ten Tournament,” Bluder said. “We’re hoping to have a lot of basketball to play yet.”