Women's Hoops Hosts North Dakota Saturday

Dec. 26, 2013

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Iowa Game Notes: North Dakota

THE SETTING:
The 21st-ranked University of Iowa women’s basketball team (11-2) hosts North Dakota (6-3) on Saturday at 2:05 p.m. (CT) on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

The Hawkeyes — 7-0 at home this season — have won 7-of-8 overall. Iowa is one of 17 teams nationally with 11 or more wins, and is tied for the second-highest win total in the country this season.

Tickets are $10 for adults. Youth — high school-aged and younger — are admitted free to all weekday games, while weekend games are $6. Youth — five years old and younger — are admitted free to all games, and UI students are admitted free. Tickets can be purchased online at hawkeyesports.com, over the phone at 1-800 IA-HAWKS, and at the UI Athletics Ticket Office in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

QUICK HITS:
? Iowa’s 11 wins prior to the start of conference play equal the second-most in a season under head coach Lisa Bluder. The Hawkeyes were 11-3 prior to the start of league play last season, and 11-0 in 2004-05. Iowa finished 12-1 in its pre-conference slate during the 2010-11 campaign.
? Iowa is averaging 82.2 points and 19.7 assists per contest, leading the Big Ten in both categories. In addition, the Hawkeyes are seventh nationally in assists per game.
? Iowa has had three or more players score in double figures in each of the last 11 contests, including three in the win over Drake last time out (Dixon 13, Logic 12, Disterhoft 17).
? Five Hawkeyes are averaging double figures (Dixon, Logic, Doolittle, Disterhoft, Taylor).
? Junior guard Samantha Logic — the Big Ten leader in assists — recorded her second career triple-double last time out in Iowa’s win over Drake (Dec. 21), tallying 12 points, 10 assists and 17 rebounds.

AUDIO COVERAGE:
Brent Balbinot and Shelley Till will call the action for the Hawkeye Radio Network. Hawkeye fans can listen to the contest on AM-800 KXIC in Iowa City, AM-1360 KMJM in Cedar Rapids, AM-1040 WHO in Des Moines or 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:
Fans can watch live on the Big Ten Digital Network (video.BTN.com). Fans can also follow the action via live stats (Gametracker). The “GT” link can be accessed under the “Calendar” tab on the front page of hawkeyesports.com or on the women’s basketball schedule page. Follow @IowaWBB on Twitter for game updates.

IOWA HISTORY:
Iowa has played 1,145 games since beginning basketball in 1974. Iowa’s overall record is 703-442 (.613). That includes a 348-178 (.662) mark in regular season Big Ten contests and a 342-97 (.776) mark in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

IOWA-NORTH DAKOTA NOTES:
? Saturday’s contest marks the first meeting between Iowa and North Dakota.
? North Dakota is 6-3 overall, and 1-0 in conference play, with wins over South Dakota, Jamestown, Milwaukee, North Dakota State, Mayville State and Northern Colorado.
? UND is coached by Travis Brewster. He is in his second season at the helm of the program.
? North Dakota is led in scoring by Madi Buck (17.4) and Mia Loyd (13.4).

LOGIC NAMED B1G PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Iowa junior guard Samantha Logic was named Big Ten Player of Week on Monday following her second career triple-double in Iowa’s 73-51 win over Drake on Dec. 21. Logic (5-foot-9) — the Big Ten leader in assists — tallied 12 points, 10 assists and 17 rebounds, while shooting 85.7 percent from the field on 6-of-7 shooting and added two steals. She last accomplished the feat on Feb. 26, 2012, against Michigan (13 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists). Logic, the only current Big Ten player with two career triple-doubles, has two of the five triple-doubles in program history — Cara Consuegra, Kachine Alexander (twice).

The Racine, Wis., native, who has 15 career double-doubles, is second in career assists (441). She surpassed Michelle Edwards (431) during Iowa’s win over the Bulldogs. Logic, 1-of-2 conference juniors named preseason All-Big Ten, has nine career games with double-digit assists, equaling Cara Consuegra for the most in program history. The award marks Logic’s fourth career Player of the Week honor, and second this season (Nov. 12).

IOWA WINS 12TH-STRAIGHT VS. DRAKE:
? Iowa defeated Drake last time out, 73-51, on Dec. 21 inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
? Iowa has had three or more players score in double figures in each of the last 11 contests, including three in the win over Drake (Dixon 13, Logic 12, Disterhoft 17).
? Iowa has won the last 12 meetings against Drake, including the last six in Iowa City.
? Iowa outscored Drake, 45-27, in the second half. The Hawkeyes also outscored the Bulldogs in the paint (46-16) and off turnovers (31-3).
? Junior center Bethany Doolittle registered a career-best seven blocks, one shy of the school record. Doolittle has 117 career blocks. She surpassed former Hawkeye and current Drake head coach Jennie (Lillis) Baranczyk (114) during the victory over the Bulldogs.

IN THE RANKINGS:
Iowa is ranked 21st in The Associated Press Top 25 poll this week, and sits 25th in the USA Today Coaches Poll. Six Iowa opponents are also ranked in the Associated Press/USA Today polls: Colorado (12/14), Iowa State (14/10), Penn State (15/17), Purdue (17/19), Nebraska (18/15), and Syracuse (20/23), In addition, Dayton and Indiana are receiving votes.

BALANCED ATTACK:
Five Hawkeyes are averaging double figures: Melissa Dixon (15.4), Samantha Logic (13.7), Bethany Doolittle (13.5), Ally Disterhoft (11.8), and Theairra Taylor (10.1). 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 11 contests.

CLIMBING TO THE TOP:
Lisa Bluder needs eight wins to surpass Hall of Famer C. Vivian Stringer (269) as Iowa’s all-time winningest coach. Bluder — one of 13 active Division I coaches with 600 or more wins — is 262-159 all-time as the Hawkeye head coach.

MOVING UP CAREER CHARTS:
? Samantha Logic is second in career assists (441). Cara Consuegra (1997-2001) is Iowa’s all-time assists leader (576).
? Melissa Dixon has 153 career 3-pointers, and needs four to surpass Leah Magner for seventh (156) on Iowa’s all-time list.
? Bethany Doolittle is fifth all-time with 117 career blocks.

DIXON CATCHING FIRE:
? Junior guard Melissa Dixon finished with six 3-point field goals in Iowa’s win over Idaho State on Dec. 7 – one shy of her personal record and the school record (seven – accomplished five times, twice by Dixon).
? After converting seven 3-pointers total during the first six games of the season (7-of-46), Dixon has made 33 over the last seven games (33-of-70).
? Prior to the Cancun Challenge, Dixon was averaging 9.7 points per game. She is now Iowa’s leading scorer, averaging 15.4 points per outing.

HAWKEYES LIKE TO SHARE:
? The Hawkeyes lead the Big Ten in assists, averaging 19.7 per contest. Iowa also leads the league in assist/turnover ratio (1.4).
? Samantha Logic leads the league in assists, averaging 6.8 a game.
? Iowa tallied 28 assists on 31 made field goals on Dec. 7 in its win over Idaho State. The Hawkeyes have tallied 28 or more assists in three of their last five games (30, 28, 28), and 28 or more four times this season. The school record for assists in a game is 31.
? Iowa broke the school record for single-season assists last year in the win over Miami (March 24). The previous record of 514 was set in 2011-12. Iowa finished with 531 assists. Iowa finished second in the Big Ten and 26th in the NCAA with 15.7 assists per game. Iowa recorded at least 17 assists in 15 games, including five games with 20 or more.

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 open Big Ten play Jan. 2 at Indiana. Tip is set for 6 p.m. (CT).