Iowa, Robert Morris Meet Friday in Carver-Hawkeye Arena

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THE SETTING
The University of Iowa women’s basketball team (7-3) hosts Robert Morris (4-5) on Friday, Dec. 9. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. (CT) in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. 

TICKETS/TOY DONATION

• Tickets are $12 for adults and free for youth ages 18 and younger. 
• Fans who bring a new toy to donate to the UI Children’s Hospital will receive a coupon for $2 off of a ticket to any home game for the remainder of the season. 

WATCH/LISTEN

• Friday’s game will be streamed live on BTN Plus. Links can be found on the Iowa women’s basketball schedule page on hawkeyesports.com. 
• Rob Brooks and Jamie Cavey Lang will have the call on the Hawkeye Radio Network. Links to the broadcast are available on the women’s basketball schedule page at hawkeyesports.com.

SEASON TICKETS 
Season tickets are on sale for the 2016-17 Iowa women’s basketball season. General public season tickets are $100. UI faculty/staff can purchase tickets for $80. Senior tickets are also $80, while youth season tickets (18 or younger) are $25. UI students are admitted free to women’s basketball games. Fans can purchase tickets by visiting the ticket office in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, calling 1-800-IA-HAWKS, or online at hawkeyesports.com. 

SCOUTING ROBERT MORRIS

• Robert Morris enters Friday’s contest with a 4-5 record. The Colonials have registered wins over Point Park, Lafayette, Kent State, and Howard this season. 
• Senior guard Anna Niki Stamolamprou leads the Colonials, averaging 14.0 points per game this season. 
• Junior forward Megan Smith is averaging a team-high 8.3 rebounds per game and 13.7 points per game. 
• Smith posted her second double-double (13 points, 10 boards) of the season in the RMU’s win over Howard on Dec. 4. 
• Stamolamprou ranks 15th in the nation in minutes played per game, averaging 37 minutes per contest. 
• The Colonials rank 45th nationally in 3-point field goals made (64) and 56th in 3-point field goal percentage (.358). 
• RMU was picked to finish second in the Northeast Conference Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll. It marked the fifth time in six seasons the Colonials were picked to finish in the top two. 
• Charlie Buscaglia is in his first season as head coach. Buscaglia has spent the previous 13 seasons on RMU’s staff, including eight seasons as an associate head coach. 

THE SERIES

• Iowa leads the all-time series, 3-0.
• The Hawkeyes have hosted the Colonials in Caver-Hawkeye Arena in each of the past three seasons. 
• Iowa won the first-ever meeting in 2013, 58-44, before defeating RMU, 85-67, in 2014. Last year, the Hawkeyes came away with a, 69-50, victory over the Colonials. 

HAWKEYES STAY HOT, DEFEAT IOWA STATE

• For the second time in as many games, the Hawkeyes shot above .600 from 3-point range to defeat in-state foe Iowa State on Wednesday. 
• The Hawkeyes went 13-of-21 (.619) and 29-of-51 from the field (.569) en route to an 88-76 victory over the Cyclones. 
• The Hawkeyes were a perfect 8-for-8 from the field in the third quarter, including a 4-for-4 effort from long distance. 
• Sophomore Tania Davis led all scorers with a career-high 23 points, while freshman Kathleen Doyle netted a career-best 17. Senior Ally Disterhoft (14), junior Christina Buttenham (10) and sophomore Megan Gustafson (10) also scored in double figures for the Hawkeyes. 
• Sophomore Megan Gustafson registered her sixth double-double of the season and her third in as many games (10 points, 13 boards). 

IN THE LAST 2 GAMES… 

• The Hawkeyes are shooting .589 from the field (63-for-107) and .649 (24-for-37) from 3-point range.
• Iowa has netted 24 of its 62 three pointers this season. 
• Sophomore Megan Gustafson has pulled down 30 boards. 
• Senior Ally Disterhoft is shooting .777 (7-of-9) from 3-point range. 
• Four Hawkeyes have registered career highs in points. Freshmen Bre Cera (7 points) and Makenzie Meyer (9 points) netted career highs against UNI, before sophomore Tania Davis (24 points) and freshman Kathleen Doyle (17 points) recorded career bests against Iowa State. 

HAVE A DAY, TANIA

• A career day by sophomore Tania Davis led the Hawkeyes past in-state foe Iowa State on Wednesday night. 
• Davis registered career highs in points (23), 3-pointers made (5), and field goals made (7). 
• The Grand Blanc, Michigan, native was 7-of-11 from the field and 5-of-6 from 3-point range in 30 minutes of action. 
• On the season, Davis is shooting  .447 (17-of-38) from long distance — the second highest percentage on the team (Disterhoft, .517). 

DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE

• Sophomore Megan Gustafson registered the 15th double-double of her career against Iowa State. It was her sixth double-double of the season and her third straight. 
• Gustafson is one of six NCAA student-athletes to record six or more double-doubles this season. 
• The Port Wing, Wisconsin, native ranks third in the nation in double-doubles (6), fifth in field goal percentage (.670) and rebounds (106), 10th in field goals made (69), 19th in defensive rebounds per game (7.0), 23rd in rebounds per game (10.6), and 32nd in points (161). 

DYNAMIC DUO

• Senior Ally Disterhoft and sophomore Megan Gustafson have each scored in double figures in every game this season. 
• Both Disterhoft and Gustafson have netted 20 or more points three times this season. They both accomplished the feat in games against Oral Roberts and James Madison. 
• Together, the pair averages 33.7 points per game. 

DISTERHOFT FROM DOWNTOWN

• After starting the season 1-for-9 from 3-point range, senior Ally Disterhoft has netted 14 of her last 20 (.700) shots from downtown. 
• Disterhoft leads the team, shooting .517 (15-of-29) from 3-point range this season. 

HOT-SHOOTING HAWKEYES ROLL PAST UNI 

• The Hawkeyes defeated UNI, 88-39, in Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Dec. 4. It marked the second time this season the Hawkeyes have held an opponent under 40 points (UMass, 30). 
• Iowa held UNI to just 39 points — the lowest point total in 22 meetings all-time. 
• Iowa’s 49-point victory marked the largest margin of victory over UNI in program history. 
• The Hawkeyes shot a season-high .607 from the field and .688 from 3-point range. 

DOYLE GETS STARTING NOD 

• Kathleen Doyle registered her first career start against No. 9 UCLA in the Cancun Challenge on Nov. 24. She has remained in the starting lineup since. 
• Since getting the starting nod, Doyle is averaging 9.0 points, 3.4 assists, and 2.2 steals per game. 
• Doyle set career highs in points (17) and field goals made (6) against Iowa State on Dec. 7.
• The LaGrange Park, Illinois, native ranks fourth in the conference in steals (21) and is tied for sixth in steals per game (2.1). 
• MOVIN’ ON UP 
• Senior Ally Disterhoft now ranks seventh on Iowa’s all-time career scoring list. Disterhoft has 1,718 career points and is 341 points from tying Iowa’s all-time scoring record of 2,059 set by Cindy Haugejorde (1976-80). Disterhoft also ranks 10th all-time in 3-point field goals (131), 13th in career blocks (58), and 14th in rebounds (664). 

IN THE POLLS

• Two Big Ten teams are included in the week four Associated Press Top 25. They include: No. 4 Maryland and No. 12 Ohio State. Michigan (48), Northwestern (17), and Michigan State (6) are receiving votes in the poll. 
• Maryland (No. 4) and Ohio State (No. 12) are also included in the week five USA TODAY Coaches Poll, while Michigan State (59), Michigan (27), and Northwestern (6) are receiving votes. 

AROUND THE NATION

• The Hawkeyes rank fourth in the nation in assists with 186 on the season. 
• Iowa also ranks eighth in field goal percentage (.495), 10th in rebounds (426), 13th in defensive rebounds per game (31), 20th in assists per game (18.6), and 24th in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.254). 
• Sophomore Megan Gustafson ranks third in the nation in double-doubles (6), fifth in field goal percentage (.670) and rebounds (106), 10th in field goals made (69), 19th in defensive rebounds per game (7.0), 23rd in rebounds per game (10.6), and 32nd in points (161). 
• Senior Ally Disterhoft ranks 16th in the NCAA in points (176), 17th in field goal percentage (.612), and 19th in field goals made (63). 

AROUND THE LEAGUE 

• Iowa leads the Big Ten Conference in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.254) and ranks second in the league in field goal percentage defense (.342).
• The Hawkeyes are also ranked third in field goal percentage (.495), 3-point field goal percentage (.360), and defensive rebounds (.313), fourth in scoring margin (+15.5) and assists (18.6), and fifth in rebounding offense (42.6) and steals (7.9). 
• Three Hawkeyes rank within the top-10 in field goal percentage. They include: Megan Gustafson (.670; 1st), Ally Disterhoft (.612; 5th), and Hannah Stewart (.552; 10th). 
• Gustafson leads the league with six double-doubles on the season. She also ranks third in defensive rebounds per game (7.3) and rebounding (10.6), fifth in offensive rebounds (3.3), and seventh in blocked shots (1.4). 
• Disterhoft leads the Big Ten with a .517 3-point field goal percentage. She also ranks ninth in scoring, averaging 17.6 points per game. 
• Freshman Kathleen Doyle ranks sixth in the conference with 2.1 steals per game. 
• Sophomore Tania Davis’ .447 3-point field goal percentage ranks 10th in the conference. 

HISTORICALLY GOOD DEFENSE

• The Hawkeyes held Massachusetts to just 30 points in the first game of the Hawkeye Challenge on Nov. 19, tying a Carver-Hawkeye Arena record for fewest points allowed. It also marked the fewest points allowed in the Big Ten this season. 
• Iowa held the Minutewomen to just 10 first half points, breaking a program record for fewest points allowed in a first half. 
• The Hawkeyes allowed just 39 points against UNI on Dec. 4. It marked the second time this season Iowa has held an opponent to under 40 points. 

CALL ON ME

• Senior Ally Disterhoft has netted double figures in 88 of her 94 career starts, including her last 43 straight games. 
• The Iowa City, Iowa, native has started 94 consecutive games and appeared in every game of her Hawkeye career (113). 
• Disterhoft led the team with a career-high 29 points in Iowa’s season opener against Oral Roberts on Nov. 11. She also registered seven boards, two blocks, an assist and a steal in 27 minutes of play. 
• Disterhoft has 1,718 career points and is 341 points from tying Iowa’s all-time scoring record of 2,059 set by Cindy Haugejorde (1976-80). 
• Disterhoft has registered 20 or more points in three of seven games this season. 
• Last season, Disterhoft became the program’s highest scoring junior, netting 565 points to break Michelle Edwards’ record of 564 points in 1986-87. 

GUSTAFSON NAMED B1G PLAYER OF THE WEEK

• Center/forward Megan Gustafson was named Big Ten Player of the Week, the conference office announced Nov. 14.  It is the second weekly honor of Gustafson’s career. 
• The Port Wing, Wisconsin, native posted back-to-back double-doubles to lead Iowa to wins overall Oral Roberts and Hampton on Nov. 11 and 13. The sophomore tied a career high in points (25) and recorded 12 rebounds, an assist and a block in 26 minutes of action against Oral Roberts on Nov. 11. Two days later, Gustafson netted 14 points and pulled down 11 boards to lead the Hawkeyes past Hampton. She also went a combined 7-for-8 from the free throw line.
• Gustafson earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors on Feb. 22, 2016. She is the first Hawkeye to win Big Ten Player of the Week since Samantha Logic won the award on March 2, 2015.  

DISTERHOFT EARNS PRESEASON HONOR 

• Senior Ally Disterhoft was named Preseason All-Big Ten by the coaches and media, the Big Ten Conference announced Oct. 24. The Iowa City, Iowa, native was a second team All-Big Ten selection in 2015 and 2016 and an honorable mention All-Big Ten honoree in 2014. She was also named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and Big Ten All-Tournament team in 2014. 
• HAWKEYES CONTINUE POSTSEASON STREAK
• Iowa made its ninth straight postseason appearance (8 NCAA, 1 WNIT) with an at-large bid to the WNIT in 2016.
• Iowa was one of six Big Ten Conference teams (Minnesota, Michigan, Nebraska, Northwestern, Rutgers) and one of three teams from Iowa (Drake, UNI) to be included in the WNIT field of 64.

RETURNING EXPERIENCE

• Iowa returns four of its five starters from last season in senior Ally Disterhoft, junior Chase Coley, and sophomores Tania Davis and Megan Gustafson. 
• Senior Ally Disterhoft garnered second team All-Big Ten accolades by coaches and media for the second consecutive season and received Iowa’s Sportsmanship Award. The preseason All-Big Ten pick by coaches and media scored in double figures in every game last season and in 78 of her 84 consecutive starts. 
• Tania Davis and Megan Gustafson were named to the 2016 Big Ten All-Freshman Team.
• Davis was one of two Big Ten freshmen to lead her team in assists per game (3.4) and average at least one steal per game (1.2) last season. She has dished out 111 assists in 33 games played, the second-highest total recorded by a freshman at Iowa (Samantha Logic; 136). 
• Gustafson was the only freshman and one of three players in the conference overall to lead her team in field goal percentage (.554), rebounds (225), and blocks (58) last season. 
• Chase Coley averaged 11.1 points per game last season — the second highest mark on the team. The junior compiled 365 points, 194 rebounds, 53 assists, 37 blocks, and 24 steals in her sophomore campaign to receive Iowa’s Most Improved Award. 

QUALITY YOUTH

• Iowa’s freshman class was ranked No. 7 nationally by Blue Star — the highest ranked recruiting class for head coach Lisa Bluder and her staff. 
• Iowa’s freshmen class consists of Bre Cera (2016 Journal Sentinel Player of the Year), Kathleen Doyle (Illinois Miss Basketball), Makenzie Meyer (Iowa Miss Basketball), Amanda Ollinger (2016 Gazette Female Athlete of the Year), and Alexis Sevellian (finalist for Michigan Miss Basketball). 
• Cera has started all seven games this season, while Meyer has started five and Doyle has started the last two. 

THE BLUDER FILE

• Head coach Lisa Bluder begins her 17th season at the helm of the Iowa women’s basketball program this season. She owns a 330-191 (.633) overall record and a 160-106 Big Ten record at Iowa. In her 32 seasons as a head coach, Bluder is 686-333 (.673).
• Bluder is one of 14 active Division I coaches to collect 675 or more career wins.
• The head Hawkeye is second in career Big Ten wins (160) and in total wins among Big Ten coaches. She trails only C. Vivian Stringer who has compiled 189 Big Ten wins and 971 career wins.
• Bluder ranks third all-time among all Big Ten coaches with 160 conference victories.

ACADEMIC PROWESS

• Ally Disterhoft was named Academic All-America of the Year for Division I women’s basketball and a CoSIDA first team Academic All-American last season. Disterhoft became the only junior to earn first team Academic All-America recognition and owned the top GPA (4.03) of all Academic All-Americans this year.
• Christina Buttenham, Ally Disterhoft, Alexa Kastanek, and Hailey Schneden, earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition following the 2015-16 season. To be eligible for Academic All-Big Ten, student-athletes must be letterwinners and be in at least their second academic year at the institution. They must also carry a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better.
• In 2014-15, Iowa was the only program to have two Academic All-Americans in Disterhoft and Samantha Logic. There were 15 total honorees.

IOWAWBB.COM 
Check out the Iowa women’s basketball team’s website, iowawbb.com, devoted to everything on and off the court surrounding the program. Iowawbb.com allows fans to go behind the scenes with the Hawkeye basketball program. The site is complete with exclusive videos, photo galleries, and content featuring the basketball program. 

UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes return to action on Sunday, Dec. 18 when they travel to Des Moines, Iowa, to take on in-state rival Drake. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. (CT).