April 21, 2010
- ‘Kash’ Alexander: All-America Candidate
- Download your Iowa Hawkeye iPhone app!
- Take the Hawkeyes With You: Iowa Podcasts
- Iowa and the Big Ten Network
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
IOWA CITY – HAWKEYES ENJOY SUCCESSFUL SEASON
The University of Iowa women’s basketball team finished the 2009-10 campaign with a 20-14 overall record, including a 10-8 mark in Big Ten play. Iowa tied for third in the Big Ten and advanced to the championship game of the Big Ten Tournament, falling by two points to top-seeded Ohio State.
The Hawkeyes were an at-large selection for the NCAA Tournament, earning a No. 8 seed in the Stanford first and second round site. Iowa defeated Rutgers and former Hawkeye Head Coach C. Vivian Stringer in the first round before falling to No. 1 seed and second-ranked Stanford on its home court. Stanford advanced to the national championship game, where it was narrowly defeated by top-ranked Connecticut.
IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 1,036 games, since beginning basketball in 1974. Iowa’s overall record is 630-406 (.608). That includes a 318-158 (.668) mark in regular season Big Ten contests and a 297-87 (.773) mark in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
SUCCESS UNDER BLUDER
This year marked the seventh time in 10 seasons under Head Coach Lisa Bluder that Iowa has been selected for the NCAA Tournament, including each of the last three seasons. The Hawkeyes have participated in post-season play in all but one season under Bluder (two WNIT appearances).
In addition, Iowa finished with a winning record for the ninth time in 10 seasons under Bluder. Iowa’s third place finish in the Big Ten is also the seventh time under Bluder the Hawkeyes recorded an upper-division finish in the conference.
Iowa also tallied its fifth 20-win season under Bluder, including each of the last three seasons.
HAWKEYES GET HOT AT THE RIGHT TIME
Iowa battled back from injuries and a tough start to the season to finish in the upper division of the Big Ten standings.
The Hawkeyes entered their contest Jan. 21 at Illinois with an 8-10 overall record and a 1-6 mark in Big Ten play. Iowa went on to win nine of its final 11 regular-season games to finish third in the conference.
HIT BY THE INJURY BUG
Senior JoAnn Hamlin, sophomore Hannah Draxten and freshman Theairra Taylor all missed the majority of the season with injuries.
Hamlin 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 (Dec. 22). Draxten played in four games, despite suffering from a herniated disc. It was announced after Iowa’s loss at Penn State that Draxten would be forced to miss the rest of the season due to the back injury.
In addition, junior Kachine Alexander missed seven games with a stress fracture in her right leg, Taylor missed an additional two games with a fractured eye socket, freshman Gabby Machado missed two with a sprained ankle and sophomore Kamille Wahlin missed one game with a concussion.
In total, six players missed a combined 98 games due to injuries.
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Junior Kachine Alexander led Iowa with 16 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. Freshman Morgan Johnson led the way with a .496 field goal percentage and 79 blocked shots. Freshman Jaime Printy had a team-best .387 three-point percentage and a .883 free throw percentage. Sophomore Kamille Wahlin had a team-high 104 assists, while junior Kelly Krei and Alexander collected a team-high 42 steals.
HAWKEYES RAKE IN AWARDS
Several Hawkeyes earned numerous awards during the 2009-10 season.
? Head Coach Lisa Bluder was named Big Ten Coach of the Year for the third time in 10 seasons at Iowa.
? Kachine Alexander was named honorable mention all-America by the Associated Press and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). Alexander was also selected all-Region by the WBCA. She also earned all-America honors by the National Strength and Conditioning Assocation (NSCA). Alexander was named first team all-Big Ten by the coaches, second team all-Big Ten by the media and was one of five players named to the Big Ten all-Defensive Team. She was also selected to the Big Ten Tournament all-tournament team, named the MVP of the KCRG-TV9 Hawkeye Challenge and was a two-time Big Ten Player of the Week.
? Jaime Printy was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year and was a unanimous pick for the Big Ten all-Freshmen team. Printy also earned second team all-conference honors from the media and third team all-league honors by the coaches. Printy was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week four times. She was named second team Freshman all-American by Full Court Press.
? Kamille Wahlin was a third team all-Big Ten selection by both the coaches and media. She was also named to the Big Ten Tournament, KCRG-TV9 Hawkeye Challenge and Nugget Classic all-tournament teams.
? Kelly Krei was named to the Big Ten Tournament all-tournament team.
? Morgan Johnson earned a Big Ten Freshman of the Week award.
KASH IN THE BANK
? As a 5-9 guard, junior Kachine Alexander ranked second in the Big Ten and 23rd nationally with 10.4 rebounds per game.
? Alexander claimed the Big Ten rebounding title, averaging 11.1 boards per game in league games.
? Alexander is the top rebounding guard in the country under 5-10, and was one of only two guards in the entire country to average a double-double (16 points, 10.4 rebounds per game). She was also one of only three Big Ten players to average a double-double, with the other two being post players.
? Alexander had 15 double-doubles this season and has 24 in her career, which ties Amy Herrig for fourth most in school history.
? Alexander scored double figures in 22 of 27 games played, including eight 20-plus point performances. She has 10 or more rebounds in 17 of those games, with an impressive 10 games with 12 or more boards.
? Alexander averaged more rebounds than nine of the 10 players selected to the Division I State Farm Coaches’ all-America Team. She averaged the same amount of rebounds (10.4) as Nebraska’s Kelsey Griffin.
? Alexander had more double-doubles than seven all-Americans, despite playing between 12 and 14 fewer games than most of the honorees.
HAWKEYES BREAK NUMEROUS INDIVIDUAL RECORDS
Members of the Iowa women’s basketball team either set or tied 16 individual records this season.
? Junior Kachine Alexander set new school records in free throws made (146) and attempted (186) in a single season. She broke Kristi Faulkner’s previous record of 145 made free throws set in 2002-03. She broke her own school mark of 176 attempts set last season.
? Alexander broke the junior rebounding record, previously held by Shanda Berry (263, 1987-88). Alexander collected 281 boards this season.
? Morgan Johnson broke both the school and freshmen record for single-season blocks. Johnson finished with 79 blocks, breaking the previous records held by Tangela Smith (73, 1994-95).
? Sophomore Kamille Wahlin tied the school record for three-pointers made in a single season (84) and set a new mark for three’s attempted (225). She tied Lindey Meder’s mark of 84 made three’s set during the 2001-02 season and broke the record for attempts (194) set by Meder during the same year.
? Wahlin also holds the record for three-pointers made by a sophomore. She broke Wendy Ausdemore’s previous record of 62 made three’s set during the 2006-07 season, Feb. 18 vs Minnesota. Wahlin made 84 three-pointers this season.
? Jaime Printy shattered the freshmen scoring record at Iowa. Printy broke the previous record (Lisa Becker, 416 points, 1983-84) against Indiana Feb. 25. She finished with 501 points.
? Printy also shattered the freshmen record for three-pointers made Feb. 4 at Ohio State. She broke Lindsey Meder’s record of 49, set during the 1998-99 season. Printy made 82 treys.
? Printy holds the freshmen assists record as well. She set the record against Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament championship game March 7. Printy finished with 99 assists, breaking Cara Consuegra’s previous record of 94 (1997-98).
? Wahlin went 7-15 from three-point range against Penn State Dec. 28, which set a new school record for three-point attempts in a game and tied the school record for three-pointers made in a single game.
? Kachine Alexander set two school records and a Big Ten mark from the free throw line Feb. 14 vs. Illinois. Alexander was 17-20 from the charity stripe, setting new school marks for makes and attempts. In addition, her 17 made free throws are the most by a single player in a Big Ten game.
? Freshman Morgan Johnson broke both the school and Carver-Hawkeye Arena record for blocks in a single game with eight against Minnesota Feb. 18. The previous record was seven, which she had already tied twice.
TEAM RECORDS FELL, TOO
The 2009-10 Hawkeyes also put their name in the team records book, as well, breaking or tying 12 records.
? Iowa shattered both the single season and Big Ten record for three-pointers made and attempted. Iowa made 269 treys and attempted 729. The previous mark for made three-pointers was 199 and attempts was 554, both set during the 2001-02 season. Both Big Ten records were held by Penn State during 2002-03 (228-660). Iowa also set a new Big Ten record for three’s made (139) and tied the record for three’s attempted (389), in conference games only. The previous conference record for three’s made was set by Iowa last season (123), while Michigan set the record for three’s attempted (389) last year as well.
? Iowa broke the team single season rebounding mark by grabbing 1,300 boards. The previous record was 1,298 set in 1995-96.
? Iowa tied the single-season assist mark of 468, set during the 2002-03 campaign.
? The Hawkeyes broke the school record for team blocks in a single game with 13 against MInnesota Feb. 18. The old mark was 12, set at Drake in 2009.
? Iowa tied the school record for three-pointers made in a game twice, by draining 12 triples Nov. 28 vs. Columbia and vs. Illinois Feb. 14. Iowa’s 34 three-point attempts at Penn State Dec. 28 also tied a school record.
? Iowa went a perfect 16-16 from the free throw line against Columbia Nov. 28, which tied the school record for team free throw percentage (1.000). In addition, Iowa set a new mark for free throw percentage (minimum 20 attempts) vs. Penn State in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament (21-22, .955).
LEADING THE LEAGUE
Several Hawkeyes led the Big Ten in different statistical categories (both overall and league games only).
? Junior Kachine Alexander claimed the Big Ten rebounding crown, averaging 11.1 boards per contest in league games. She also finished first in defensive rebounds (8.12 per game), in Big Ten games only. Alexander led the entire conference in offensive rebounds for all games (3.11).
? Sophomore Kamille Wahlin led the conference in three-pointers made per game for overall games (2.55) and league games only (2.59).
? Freshman Morgan Johnson led the Big Ten in field goal percentage, in conference games (.508).
? As a team, the Hawkeyes led the conference in free throw percentage (.771) and three-pointers made per game (7.91). In Big Ten games only, Iowa led the league in three-pointers made per game (7.72).
ROOKIES ON TOP
Freshmen Jaime Printy and Morgan Johnson wrapped the season leading Big Ten youngsters in several statistical categories.
Printy led all freshmen in scoring (14.7), free throw percentage (.883), three-pointers made per game (2.41) and minutes played (33.26) while Johnson led the way in rebounds (6.4), field goal percentage (.496) and blocks (2.32).
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 10 in the nation three of the past four seasons. Iowa finished the 2005-06 season ranked 10th (.760), ranked fifth (.788) in 2006-07 and also ranked fifth (.792) last season.
The 2009-10 campaign was no different. Iowa ranked sixth in free throw percentage across the NCAA (.771).
UNDERCLASSMEN CONTRIBUTING
Iowa’s freshman and sophomore classes are putting up big numbers for the Hawkeyes this season.
Hawkeye underclassmen are responsible for 79 percent of the teams’ points and 80 percent of the minutes played.
In addition, Iowa fielded the youngest starting lineup in the Big Ten, with two freshmen, two sophomores and one junior.
OH, SO CLOSE
Nine of Iowa’s 14 losses were 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 which 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.
? The Hawkeyes had a 72-71 lead with 4:58 left at then-No. 8 ranked Ohio State, but couldn’t hold on to the win, losing by four points.
? Iowa dropped a six-point decision at Northwestern. The Hawkeyes trailed by only two with 13 seconds remaining, but clutch free throw shooting by Northwestern dealt Iowa the loss.
? Iowa lost a two-point game against then-No. 10 ranked Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament championship.
? 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.
TOUGH SCHEDULE IN 2009-10
Iowa faced nine teams who qualified for the NCAA Tournament, including four who finished the year ranked in the Top 25 (Stanford 2nd, Iowa State 13th, Ohio State 15th, West Virginia 16th).
The Hawkeyes played 11 teams that finished in the Top 50 of the NCAA RPI. Iowa collected five Top 50 RPI victories, including four wins over Top 30 RPI teams.
LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT SEASON
Iowa’s 2010-11 schedule will include the annual KCRG-TV9 Hawkeye Challenge and a Thanksgiving Trip to the Carribean Challenge in Cancun. The Hawkeyes will play Kansas State in the innagural Big Ten/Big 12 challenge and will also have the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on their schedule. Iowa will once again face intra-state rivals Northern Iowa and Iowa State at home and travel to Drake.
The Big Ten season will see a slight change next season, as the conference will switch from 18 to 16 games. The Big Ten Tournament will once again be held in Indianapolis.
EVERYBODY BACK
Iowa returns every player who played significant minutes during the 2009-10 season. In addition, two Hawkeyes who missed the majority of the season due to injury will rejoin the team next year (Hannah Draxten and Theairra Taylor).
Draxten will be a redshirt sophomore in 2010-11. Taylor does not qualify for a medical hardship redshirt and will be a true sophomore next year.
Senior JoAnn Hamlin has also applied for a sixth year of eligibilty after missing the entire 2009-10 season due to injury. Her status at this time is also unkown.
MACHADO TO TRANSFER
University of Iowa Head Women’s Basketball Coach Lisa Bluder announced April 9 that Gabby Machado has asked for, and been granted, a release from her scholarship.
Machado, a 6-0 forward from Pontiac, MI, plans to attend an institution closer to home to be with her family. Her father is battling a serious illness.
“We are sad to hear about Gabby’s decision to return to Michigan,” Bluder said. “We certainly respect her decision to be with her family and father, as he is very ill. We are in complete support as she finds a place closer to home to continue her academic and basketball career.”
Machado played in 31 games as a freshman during the 2009-10 season, averaging 3.7 points and 3.4 rebounds. She scored a career-high 12 points in Iowa’s win over William & Mary and grabbed a career-best nine rebounds in a victory over Purdue.
SUMMER CAMP OPENINGS STILL AVAILABLE
The University of Iowa women’s basketball team will once again be hosting summer camps and spots are still available.
The Hawkeye Girls Basketball Camp will be held June 18-20. Campers will receive individual skill instruction, individual and team awards, instruction from current and former Hawkeye players and outstanding lectures by Head Coach Lisa Bluder and her staff. Campers also receive a free Nike Iowa T-shirt.
Iowa’s Elite Camp will be held June 15-16.
For more information on Iowa camps, call (319) 335-7961.