March 3, 2014
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IOWA CITY, Iowa — Three University of Iowa women’s basketball players — Samantha Logic, Bethany Doolittle, and Ally Disterhoft — have received All-Big Ten recognition, the conference announced Monday.
Logic was a unanimous first team selection by the coaches, and a first team selection by the media. Doolittle garnered second team honors from both the coaches and media, and was named to the All-Defensive team. Disterhoft was one of five league rookies named to the All-Freshman team, while also garnering honorable mention all-league accolades. Senior Theairra Taylor earned Iowa’s Sportsmanship Award nomination.
Logic becomes the 18th Iowa player to garner first-team All-Big Ten honors, marking the most of any Big Ten program. Kachine Alexander was the last Hawkeye to earn first team honors (2010, 2011).
Logic (5-foot-9), the Big Ten leader in assists, is the only player in the nation to average 13 or more points (14.1), six or more rebounds (6.6), and seven or more assists (7.5). She leads the Big Ten in league play in assists (8.0) and steals (3.0). Logic has been named Big Ten Player of the Week three times this season, while also being named to the Big Ten Player of the Week Honor Roll four other times. A third-team All-Big Ten selection last season, Logic has been named 1-of-22 finalists for the 2014 Nancy Lieberman Award (nation’s top point guard). She was a unanimous selection to the Big Ten All-Freshmen Team during her rookie campaign.
Logic, who ranks third nationally in assists, has notched three triple-doubles this season, becoming the first Big Ten player to record three triple-doubles in a single season. Logic is second nationally in triple-doubles; Alyssa Thomas of Maryland has four this season. Entering the 2013-14 campaign, there had only been 11 seasons in NCAA history in which a player registered three or more triple-doubles. Logic has four career triple-doubles, the second most in Big Ten history, and the most while competing in the Big Ten (Suzie McConnell of Penn State registered seven from 1985-88).
Logic, 1-of-2 conference juniors named preseason All-Big Ten, surpassed Cara Consuegra (1997-2001) as Iowa’s all-time assists leader (576) in Iowa’s regular season finale at Illinois on Sunday, finishing with 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists. In Iowa’s 74-70 win at Michigan on Feb. 22, the Racine, Wis., native notched a game-high 19 points, becoming the 31st 1,000-point scorer in program history. She leads Iowa in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, and minutes played.
“I am happy that everyone else recognizes the impact Sam has on the game, our program, and this conference,” said UI head coach Lisa Bluder. “For her to be a unanimous selection by the coaches is very telling how the coaches feel about her and her contributions.”
Doolittle (6-4), a junior center from Oakdale, Minn., earns her first All-Big Ten recognition. She is the only Big Ten player leading the league in two major statistical categories in all games: field goal percentage (.557) and blocks (3.3). Doolittle has 98 blocks this season, marking the most in a single-season in program history. She has tallied three or more blocks in 19 games, and tallied at least one block in all but one this season while starting all 30 contests. Doolittle ranks ninth nationally in blocked shots and 25th in field goal percentage.
“These are great honors for Beth,” said Bluder. “I am not even sure if Beth knew she was capable of these honors. She had solid campaigns during her first two seasons, but this year she has blossomed. She is one of the best shooters in the conference in terms of field goal percentage, and the leading shot blocker. For her to receive two honors shows her versatility.”
Disterhoft (6-0), a freshman from Iowa City, is Iowa’s third-leading scorer in conference play (13.7), ranking 15th in the Big Ten, and fourth among league freshmen. She has started the last 11 contests, scoring in double figures 10 times, and Iowa is 9-2 during the stretch. The former West High School standout has led Iowa in rebounding in 13 games, and tallied six or more rebounds in 19-of-30 contests. She has played in all 30 games, scoring in double figures 22 times, including 12 of the last 13 games.
“This is the best class of freshman I have seen in 14 years in the Big Ten,” said Bluder. “That speaks volumes for the future of our conference, and I am glad we have one of the five named to the All-Freshman team. Ally is very deserving. She has done well since moving to the starting lineup. To earn honorable mention All-Big Ten honors while not starting the entire league slate is a special honor.”
Bluder has now coached 18 players to 40 All-Big Ten honors, including 11 first team picks, 11 second, 10 third and eight honorable mention selections. She has also coached two Big Ten Freshman of the Year award winners, two Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year recipients, six members of the Big Ten All-Freshman team and three players named to the Big Ten All-Defensive team.
No. 23 Iowa concluded the regular season at 23-7 overall and 11-5 in Big Ten play. Iowa’s 23 wins equal the highest total under Bluder. The Hawkeyes won 23 games in 2004-05. Iowa has won 20 or more games in six of the last seven seasons (the Hawkeyes won 19 in 2011-12).
“The season has gone by fast because this team enjoys being around each other so much,” said Bluder. “The sky is the limit for this team. I love our balance and leadership. This is a great group.”
The Hawkeyes finished in a tie for fourth place in the Big Ten with Purdue. Iowa will be the No. 5 seed in the Big Ten Tournament and play Illinois (9-20, 2-14), the No. 12 seed, for a third time this season on Thursday in the second game of the opening day. Tip-off is set for approximately 1:30 p.m. (CT) on the Big Ten Network.