Hawkeyes Return Home To Face Northwestern

Jan. 23, 2010

IOWA CITY – THE SETTING
The Iowa Hawkeyes (9-10, 2-6) return home to face the Northwestern Wildcats (11-6, 3-4) Sunday at 4 p.m. in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Single-game tickets are $9 for adults. and $5 for youth (18 and under).

PROMOTIONS
Sunday will be “Camper Reunion” day at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Campers from the 2009 Iowa Women’s Basketball Camp will receive free admission and are entered to win free registration for the 2010 camp. Airline tickets, courtesy of Allegiant Air will also be given away, and the F/M AcroTeam will perform at halftime.

ON YOUR TELEVISION
Sunday’s game will be televised live to a local audience on KCRG-TV9. John Campbell and Amy Herrig will call the action.

ON YOUR COMPUTER
Hawkeye fans can follow the game via live stats (Gametracker). The Gametracker link can be accessed under the “Calendar” tab on the front page of hawkeyesports.com or on the women’s basketball schedule page.

Sunday’s game will also be webcast live on BigTenNetwork.com for a $2.99 fee.

ON YOUR RADIO
Brent Balbinot and Shelley Till will call Sunday’s game for the Hawkeye Radio Network. The game can be heard on AM-800 KXIC, AM-1360 KMJM, and also on the Hawkeye All-Access page of hawkeyesports.com. Balbinot is in his sixth season as Iowa’s play-by-play voice, while Till is in her fifth providing analysis.

IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 1,021 games, since beginning basketball in 1974. Iowa’s overall record is 619-402 (.606). That includes a 311-156 (.666) mark in regular season Big Ten contests and a 291-87 (.770) mark in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

ALL-TIME SERIES
Sunday will be the 55th meeting between the two schools, with Iowa holding a 42-12 advantage.

The Hawkeyes have won 16-straight in the series (all during Bluder’s tenure). The Hawkeyes hold an impressive 20-4 record against Northwestern in games played in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes lost the first two meetings to the Wildcats in Iowa City (1980 and 1981), but won the next six straight. The Hawkeyes have won the last 10 meetings against Northwestern in Iowa City, dating back to the 1994-95 season.

SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN
The Northwestern Wildcats are 12-7 overall and 3-5 in Big Ten play. In their last game, the Wildcats lost at Indiana, 61-55. Northwestern pulled to within four points with 22 seconds remaining, but couldn’t complete the comeback. Amy Jaeschke led the way with 17 points and nine rebounds. Meshia Reed added 12 points, while Brittany Orban and Kristin Cartwright each grabbed eight boards.

Amy Jaeschke is leading the team with 15.4 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. Brittany Orban is next on the team with 10.6 points per contest. Dannielle Diamant is grabbing 5.5 boards per game.

As a team, the Wildcats are shooting .418 from the field, including .326 from three-point range. Northwestern is also shooting .751 from the charity stripe.

LAST MEETING
Iowa defeated Northwestern, in Evanston, 86-79 to finish the 2008-09 regular season.

Megan Skouby and Kristi Smith led five Hawkeyes in double figures with 19 points. Skouby went 7-9 from the field and a perfect 5-5 from the free throw line. Smith was 10-11 from the line in the win. Kachine Alexander added 13 points, while Wendy Ausdemore finished with 11. Alexander also grabbed eight rebounds.

The Hawkeyes shot 50 percent from the field (30-60) and 84 percent from the line (21-25). Iowa also forced 14 Wildcat turnovers, and committed only eight.

NORTHWESTERN VS. IOWA NOTES
? Iowa Head Coach Lisa Bluder and Northwestern Head Coach Joe McKeown met twice before when McKeown was at George Washington. Bluder’s 2000-01 Iowa team lost at George Washington (78-64), and her 1994-95 Drake squad fell at George Washington in the second round of the NCAA Tournament (96-93).

HAWKEYES PICK UP ROAD WIN AT ILLINOIS
Iowa snapped a four-game losing streak, defeating Illinois, 75-64, Thursday night in Champaign.

The Hawkeyes battled through a tough first half, facing four ties and eight lead changes in the opening 20 minutes. Iowa took the lead for good off of a converted free throw by Kachine Alexander with four seconds remaining the first half at 38-37. Iowa led for the entire second half, and stretched its advantage to as many as 11 with 42 seconds remaining.

All five Hawkeye starters reached double figures, led by Jaime Printy with 22 points. Printy added four rebounds, four assists and two steals. Kelly Krei netted 13 points, while Kamille Wahlin finished with 12. Morgan Johnson had 11 points and seven boards, and Kachine Alexander notched a double-double with 10 ponts and 12 boards.

IOWA AT ILLINOIS TIP-INS
? Iowa improves to 45-16 in the all-time series. The Hawkeyes have won 42 of the last 49 meetings, including 10 of the last 11. Iowa is now 19-10 in games played at Illinois, and has won the last six matchups at Assembly Hall.

? Thursday’s game marks the first time all season that five players scored in double figures. The last time Iowa had four players in double digits was Dec. 22 against South Dakota State. Jaime Printy led the way with 18 points, Kamille Wahlin had 17, Kelly Krei added 12 and Morgan Johnson scored 11 against the Jackrabbits.

? Iowa’s shooting percentage of .510 (25-49) is the best figure for the Hawkeyes since shooting .519 (28-54) at Northern Iowa Nov. 22.

DOUBLE TROUBLE
Kachine Alexander collected her seventh double-double of the season Thursday at Illinois. Alexander scored 10 points and recorded 12 rebounds. Alexander now has 16 career double-doubles.

Thursday was Alexander’s first double-double since Jan. 7 (at Michigan).

Alexander had double-doubles in each of Iowa’s first three games, before missing the next seven games with a stress fracture. Despite missing seven games, Alexander still ranks third in the Big Ten in double-doubles, behind Illinois’ Jenna Smith (12) and Ohio State’s Jantel Lavendar (11), who are both post players.

PICKING UP THE SCORING
Kelly Krei has picked up her offensive attack over the past three games.

Krei was averaging 7.1 points and shooting .418 from the field entering Iowa’s game against Penn State Jan 14. Since the matchup with the Nittany Lions, Krei is avergaing 13 points and shooting an even .500 from the field.

Over the last three contests, Krei is Iowa’s second leading scorer behind Jaime Printy (17.7).

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF FREE THROWS
Iowa, under Head Coach Lisa Bluder, is proving to be one of the best free throw shooting teams in the country.

The Hawkeyes have ranked in the top 25 in the nation four of the past five seasons. Iowa finished the 2005-06 season ranked 10th (.760), 2006-07 ranked fifth (.788) and also ranked fifth (.792) last season.

The 2009-10 campaign is no different. Iowa currently ranks 23rd in free throw percentage across the NCAA (.751). The Hawkeyes are led by freshman Jaime Printy, who is a blistering .920 from the charity stripe. Sophomore Kamille Wahlin is also shooting an impressive .870 from the line.

CLIMBING THE RECORDS LADDER
Sophomore Kamille Wahlin and freshman Jaime Printy and Morgan Johnson are putting their names in the Hawkeye records book this season.

Printy’s 41 made three-pointers ranks second for an Iowa freshman. She trails Lindsey Meder, who made 49 treys during the 1998-99 season. Her 275 points also rank ninth among Hawkeye freshmen. She trails Johanna Solverson for eighth place, who scored 285 from 2002-03.

Johnson’s 46 blocks rank third all-time for a Hawkeye freshman. She trails Megan Skouby (47) for second place and Tangela Smith (73) for first place. Smith’s 73 blocks also rank first all-time in Iowa history.

Wahlin’s 50 made three-pointers currently ranks second in Iowa history for a sophomore. She trails Wendy Ausdemore (62) for first place.

HAWKEYES LEADING IN STAT CATEGORIES
Several of Iowa’s statistics are towards the top of the Big Ten, and measure up well across the country.

? As a team, the Hawkeyes lead the Big Ten in three-pointers made per game (7.58). Iowa also ranks second in free throw percentage (.751) and three-point field goal percentage (.356). Nationally – the Hawkeyes are 23rd in free throw percentage, 20th in three-pointers made per game and 51st in three-point percentage. ? Freshman Jaime Printy leads the Big Ten in free throw percentage (.920) and ranks second in three-pointers made per game (2.26). In league games only, Printy is third in three-pointers made per game (2.25). Among Big Ten freshmen, Printy ranks first in scoring and free-throw percentage.

? Freshman Morgan Johnson leads Big Ten freshmen in rebounding (7.1) and blocked shots (2.42). She also ranks third across the conference in blocks, second in league games only and 18th nationally.

? Sophomore Kamille Wahlin leads the league in three-pointers made per game (2.56) and is third in minutes played (35.56). In Big Ten games only, Wahlin ranks second in three-pointers made per game (2.38). Nationally, Wahiln is 52nd in three-pointers made per game.

? In Big Ten games only, Kachine Alexande rranks second in total rebounds (10.6), offensive rebounds (3.29) and defensive rebounds (7.29)

LOGGING MAJOR MINUTES
Due to injuries, Iowa’s roster has been forced to play a large amount of minutes so far.

Four players have played over 30 minutes a game. Kamille Wahlin is playing 35.3 minutes per game, Jaime Printy is playing 32.8 minutes, Kachine Alexander is at 32.5 and Kelly Krei is at 31.3.

PLAYING THEM ALL
Despite the injuries, six Hawkeyes have managed to play in all 19 games this season.

Kamille Wahlin, Jaime Printy, Morgan Johnson, Kelly Krei, Trisha Nesbitt and Kelsey Cermak have seen action in all contests. Wahlin, Printy and Johnson have started all 19 games, while Krei has started 18. Cermak has started two games for the Hawkeyes.

NEVER RIDING THE PINE
Sophomores Kelly Krei and Kamille Wahlin have both played all 40 minutes in back-to-back games this season.

Krei never left the court in consecutive games against Illinois State (Nov. 15) and Kansas (Nov. 18). Wahlin did the same against Boston College (Dec. 2) and Michigan (Dec. 6).

Wahlin also played over 40 minutes in Iowa’s two overtime games. She registered 43 minutes at Penn State (Dec. 28) and 41 minutes at Minnesota (Jan. 3).

UNDERCLASSMEN CONTRIBUTING
Iowa’s freshmen and sophomore class are putting up big numbers for the Hawkeyes this season.

Hawkeye underclassmen are responsible for 84 percent of the teams’ points (1,0791203), 83 percent of the minutes played (3,206-3,850) and 68 percent of rebounds (489-687).

OH, SO CLOSE
Six of Iowa’s 10 losses have been by six points or less, with three of those being by three points. Iowa has also lost two overtime games by a combined seven points.

? The Hawkeyes had a three-point attempt at the buzzer against West Virginia fall short, that would have sent the game to overtime.

? Against Boston College (Dec. 2), Iowa missed a three-pointer with seven seconds left that would have tied the game.

? Against Michigan (Dec. 6), Iowa missed the front-end of a one-and-one from the free throw line with both 27 and 11 seconds left, each time trailing by only one point.

? Iowa’s two overtime losses came at Penn State (Dec. 28, four point loss) and at Minnesota (Jan. 3, three point loss). In each of those games, the Hawkeyes had the potential game winning shot in regulation bounce off the iron as time expired.

? Iowa led by nine points with 9:48 remaining against Penn State (Jan. 14), but an 11-0 Lady Lion run gave them a 51-49 advantage with 7:13 left. Penn State took the lead for good with 5:36 left, as Iowa could only come within four points with 44 seconds left.

? In addition, Iowa led No. 19 Kansas by three points (54-51) with 6:41 remaining in the game, but the Jayhawks closed the contest with a 15-1 run.

HAWKEYES HIT FREE THROW MARKS
Iowa shot 20-21 (.952) from the charity stripe at Minnesota Jan. 3, which is a school record for free throw percentage (minimum 20 attempts).

Jaime Printy led the way, going 8-8, while Kachine Alexander and Trisha Nesbitt each went 4-4.

Earlier this season, Iowa tied the school record for single-game free throw percentage, converting all 16 attempts against Columbia (1.000).

Freshman Morgan Johnson led the way, going 6-6. Sophomore Kamille Wahlin and freshman Theairra Taylor each went 4-4, while freshman Gabby Machado finished 2-2.

JOHNSON TIES SCHOOL RECORD…AGAIN
Freshman Morgan Johnson has tied the school record for blocked shots in a game (7) twice this season.

Johnson first blocked seven shots at Northern Iowa Nov. 22. She repeated the accomplishment Jan. 14 against Penn State. Johnson’s seven blocks are also a career high.

Johnson holds the record with Jerica Watson (vs. Kent State, 12/8/01) and Tangela Smith (at Michigan State, 1/15/95).

WAHLIN SHOOTS HER WAY INTO RECORD BOOKS
Sophomore Kamille Wahlin went 7-15 from three-point range against Penn State Dec. 28, which set one school record, and tied another.

Wahlin’s 15 three-point attempts set a school record for long distance shots attempted in a single game. Her seven made treys also tied Lindsey Meder’s school record, set against Wisconsin Dec. 31, 2000.

STEALING AWAY FROM THE BADGERS
Sophomores Kelly Krei and Kamille Wahlin both set career highs in steals against Wisconsin Dec. 31.

Krei finished with six steals, while Wahlin swiped four. The two combined for 10 of Iowa’s 12 total steals. Krei had all six of her steals in the first half, while three of Wahlin’s four came in the second period.

THREE HAWKEYES OUT FOR SEASON
Senior JoAnn Hamlin, sophomore Hannah Draxten and freshman Theairra Taylor will all miss the season with injuries.

Hamlin has missed the entire season after having a blood clot removed in her right leg. Taylor suffered a torn ACL in Iowa’s win over South Dakota State. Draxten has played four games this season, despite suffering from a herniated disc. It was announced after Iowa’s loss at Penn State that Draxten will be forced to miss the rest of the season due to the back injury.

ALEXANDER NAMED CO-BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Junior Kachine Alexander was named co-Big Ten Player of the Week, Nov. 16, after earning MVP honors at the KCRG-TV9 Hawkeye Challenge.

Alexander recorded double-doubles in each of Iowa’s first two games. She tied a Hawkeye Challenge tournament record by grabbing 18 rebounds (nine offensive, nine defensive), along with netting 19 points in Iowa’s season-opening win over Santa Clara. Both her 19 points and 18 rebounds were game highs.

Alexander followed on Sunday with a 21 point, 12 rebound (nine offensive, three defensive) performance in the championship game against Illinois State. Alexander was clutch down the stretch at the free-throw line, making 13-16 attempts from the charity stripe.

PRINTY NAMED BIG TEN FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Jaime Printy was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week for the second time this season, Jan. 4.

Printy led the Hawkeyes in a win over Wisconsin and a tough overtime loss at Minnesota, averaging 19.0 points, 5.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game last week. The freshman contributed a career high 26 points, including a perfect 8-8 mark at the free-throw line, against the Golden Gophers on Sunday. Printy also recorded three assists and two boards in the effort. On Thursday vs. the Badgers, she tallied 12 points with seven assists and five rebounds.

Printy first earned the award after stellar games against William & Mary, West Virginia and Columbia.

Printy averaged 16.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists, as the Hawkeyes posted a 2-1 record that week. Printy recorded her first-ever 20-point game against William & Mary, adding nine rebounds with five assists. Against West Virginia in the first round of the Nugget Classic in Reno, Printy netted 16 points with four boards and five assists in the close, three-point loss. The Marion, IA, native scored Iowa’s first eight points against the Mountaineers, and made her first four shots, including a perfect 3-3 from distance.

Printy saved her best for last in Iowa’s win over Columbia. She scored 12 points with five rebounds and three assists in the thrilling win. Printy nailed a three-pointer with 52 seconds left to tie the game, giving Iowa a chance to win on its next possession.

WAHLIN ON ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAMS
Sophomore Kamille Wahlin was chosen to both the KCRG-TV9 Hawkeye Challenge and Nugget Classic all-tournament teams.

In the season-opening Hawkeye Challenge, Wahlin netted 13 points and added three rebounds.

She was clutch down the stretch in the championship against Illinois State, scoring seven points during Iowa’s crucial 12-2 run in the final three minutes of the second half to give the Hawkeyes the victory. Wahlin drained a three-pointer with 3:46 left to give Iowa a one-point lead (64-63). She then hit a jumper with 37 second left, extending Iowa’s lead to five points (70-65). Wahlin added two free throws on the next trip down the court to seal the win.

Wahlin scored 16 points, grabbed four rebounds and dished out five assists against West Virginia in the Nugget Classic. She followed with 18 points, including the game-winning three-pointer with 10 seconds left, to go along with three points and four assists against Columbia in the consolation game.

PRINTY HITS CAREER MARK AGAINST LADY LIONS
Freshman Jaime Printy tied a career high in points Jan. 14 against Penn State, finishing with 26 points.

Printy was 9-19 from the field, including 4-8 from three-ponit range and a perfect 4-4 from the charity stripe against Penn State. She aslo added two assists in 32 minutes of action.

Printy also scored 26 points in Iowa’s game at Minnesota Jan. 3. Thursday’s game marked the second time in three games Printy has gone for 26 points.

PRINTY PUTS ON A SHOW AGAINST THE JACKS
Freshman Jaime Printy came up big for Iowa in the clutch against South Dakota State Tuesday.

With the Hawkeyes ahead by one point (67-66) at the 3:34 mark in the second half, Printy ignited a 15-3 run to close the game, scoring the first seven points of the surge, and all nine of her second half points, during the crucial stretch.

Printy drained a long-distance three to put Iowa up four (70-66) at the three-minute mark. On the next two possessions, Printy sliced through the lane with the shot clock winding down, nailing layups to give Iowa a 74-66 advantage. She then scored the final two points of the game on a layup with two seconds remaining for the final count.

HOME GROWN HAWKEYES
Four Hawkeyes prepped in the state of Iowa. Those players are junior Kelsey Cermak (Norwalk), sophomore Kelly Krei (Iowa City) and freshmen Trisha Nesbitt (Ames) and Jaime Printy (Marion).

LAND OF 10,000 HAWKEYES
The 2009-10 edition of the Iowa Women’s Basketball team has four players from the state of Minnesota. They include junior Kachine Alexander (Minneapolis), sophomores Kamille Wahlin (Crookston) and Hannah Draxten (Fergus Falls) and freshman Theairra Taylor (St. Paul).

ON THE HORIZON
The Hawkeyes have their second, and final, “bye” week of the season Thursday, Jan. 28. Iowa will then host Purdue Sunday, Jan. 31 at 2 p.m. The game will be televised live on ESPN2.