Women's Hoops Set for 3 in Cancun

Nov. 26, 2013

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Iowa Game Notes: Cancun Challenge

2013 Cancun Challenge

THE SETTING:
The University of Iowa women’s basketball team (5-1) stays on the road this week, facing USC, Boston College, and UNC Wilmington in the 2013 Cancun Challenge in Cancun, Mexico. Iowa faces USC on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. (CT), Boston College on Friday at 5 p.m., and concludes action against UNC-Wilmington on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The Hawkeyes are in the midst of a five-game road stretch. Iowa dropped a 90-87 decision at No. 16 Colorado on Nov. 20, before defeating Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls on Nov. 24, 67-60.

AUDIO COVERAGE:
Brent Balbinot and Shelley Till will call the action for the Hawkeye Radio Network. Hawkeye fans can listen to the contests on the Hawkeye All-Access page of hawkeyesports.com. Balbinot is in his 10th season as Iowa’s play-by-play voice, while Till is in her ninth providing analysis.

FOLLOW THE ACTION:
Hawkeye fans can also follow the action via a live stream at CBSSports.com, ULive, and via live stats. The links can be accessed on the women’s basketball schedule page. Follow @IowaWBB on Twitter for game updates.

IOWA HISTORY:
Iowa has played 1,138 games since beginning basketball in 1974. Iowa’s overall record is 697-441 (.612). That includes a 348-178 (.662) mark in regular season Big Ten contests and a 339-97 (.776) mark in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

NCAA STREAK LEADS THE BIG TEN:
Iowa is the only Big Ten team, and one of only 13 teams in the country, to have appeared in the last six NCAA Tournaments.

IOWA IN THE RANKINGS:
The Hawkeyes are the first team listed receiving votes in the AP Top 25 Poll and the USA Today Coaches Poll. Seven Iowa opponents are also ranked in the Associated Press/USA Today polls: Nebraska (11/10), Penn State (14/15), Colorado (16/20), Purdue (18/22), Michigan State (21/19), Iowa State (22/16) and Dayton (RV/24). In addition, Ohio State is receiving votes.

TOURNAMENT FIELD:
This year, the event features eight Division I teams representing five conferences: Arizona State (Pac-12), Arkansas State (Sun Belt), Boston College (ACC), Illinois (Big Ten), Iowa (Big Ten), North Carolina (ACC), UNC Wilmington (Colonial), and USC (Pac-12).

HAWKEYES RETURN TO CANCUN:
Both Arizona State (2007 and 2005) and Iowa (2010 and 2008) are making their third appearance in the event. The Hawkeyes are 3-1 all-time in Cancun Challenge action. Iowa last traveled to Cancun in 2010, downing James Madison and Virginia Tech. The Big Ten Conference is 11-6 all-time at the Challenge, marking the most wins of any conference.

ALL-TIME SERIES:
The Hawkeyes are 3-1 all-time against USC. The two teams have split two neutral site games. Iowa dropped its only meeting against Boston College, 72-67, on Dec. 2, 2009, in Iowa City in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The Hawkeyes have never faced UNC Wilmington.

SCOUTING USC:
USC is 3-1 overall following an 82-51 loss at No. 20 Oklahoma State on Nov. 22. The Trojans face South Carolina on Monday night. USC, led by first-year head coach Cynthia Cooper, finished 11-20 overall last season, with an 11-7 mark in Pac-12 play. The Trojans returned four starters from last year’s squad.

SCOUTING BOSTON COLLEGE:
Boston College is 2-2, with wins against Hofstra and Florida International, and losses to Stanford and BYU. Boston College is led by head coach Erik Johnson. Johnson led the team to a 12-19 overall record and 5-13 conference mark last year in his first season.

SCOUTING UNC-WILMINGTON:
The Seahawks are 1-4 overall. UNC-Wilmington, coached by Adell Harris (fifth season), finished 5-26 last season with a 3-15 conference mark.

BALANCED ATTACK:
Three Hawkeyes are averaging double figures, and five players are averaging at least 9.7 points per contest: Samantha Logic (15.8 ppg), Bethany Doolittle (12.8), Ally Disterhoft (12.8), Theairra Taylor (9.8), and Melissa Dixon (9.7). Six Hawkeyes scored in double figures in Iowa’s overtime win against No. 14 Dayton, and Iowa has had three or more players score in double figures in each of the last four contests.

MOVING UP CAREER CHARTS:
? Samantha Logic is sixth in career assists (392). She needs 21 more assists to move past Kristi Smith and Jaime Printy for fourth place.
? Melissa Dixon ranks 10th in career 3-pointers (120). She needs six more 3-pointers to move past Johanna Solverson for ninth place.
? Bethany Doolittle is seventh all-time with 98 career blocks. She needs 17 blocks to move past Jennie Lillis for fifth place.

CLIMBING TO THE TOP:
Lisa Bluder needs 14 wins to surpass Hall of Famer C. Vivian Stringer (269 wins) as Iowa’s all-time winningest coach. Bluder is 255-158 all-time as the Hawkeye head coach.

IOWA RETURNS TO WIN COLUMN AT NORTHERN IOWA:
Riding a double-double by point guard Samantha Logic, Iowa returned to the win column with a 67-60 road victory at Northern Iowa on Nov. 24 in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Logic scored 17 points with 10 rebounds to pace the Hawkeyes (5-1 overall), who bounced back from their first road loss of the season Nov. 20 at No. 16 Colorado. The contest is the first for the mythical Iowa state championship. Iowa plays at Iowa State on Dec. 12 and hosts Drake on Dec. 21. Ally Disterhoft scored 14 points with seven rebounds for the Hawkeyes and Bethany Doolittle added 11 points, eight rebounds, and three steals.

FOLLOW THE HAWKEYES:
Check out the Iowa women’s basketball Facebook page or the University of Iowa Athletics Facebook page (/iowawomenshoops). Fans can also follow @IowaWBB or @TheIowaHawkeyes on Twitter.

UP NEXT:
The Hawkeyes return home to host Syracuse in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge on Dec. 5 in Iowa City. Tip is set for 6 p.m. (CT). The contest will be televised live on the Big Ten Network.