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IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa women’s basketball team started the 2011-12 season Monday with its first official practice. The Hawkeyes utilized the new practice facility inside the Dale and Marilyn Howard Family Pavilion inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena for their first practice of the season.
“It was great to get on the court for the first official practice of the year,” Head Coach Lisa Bluder said. “We have been doing individual workouts and shorter team sessions since classes started, but it’s always exciting when the season actually begins. Everyone was anxious to get going this morning and practice went very well.”
Senior co-captain Kamille Wahlin thought the team was focused and ready to work during the first practice of the year.
“We were all pretty excited to get the season rolling,” Wahlin said. “Preseason workouts during the fall are great, but it’s even better to have that feeling of starting fresh when actual practices begin. This means that games and competitions are that much closer.”
The Hawkeyes return four starters from last year’s team that went 22-9 overall and finished third in the Big Ten with a 10-6 record. Iowa also added the 11th ranked recruiting class in the country, according to ESPNHoopGurlz.com.
Kathryn Reynolds, one of the five freshmen on the roster, enjoyed her first “official” practice in Hawkeye colors.
“We have done a lot of workouts together as a team but this felt different,” Reynolds said. “You could tell this was the first practice of the actual season. Everyone was excited and there was a buzz in the gym. We all can’t wait to get more involved as the season goes on.”
Iowa will take the court for the first time in an exhibition against Winona State (MN) Sunday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m.