Iowa, Drake Meet Sunday in Des Moines

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THE SETTING
The University of Iowa women’s basketball team (8-3) travels to Des Moines, Iowa, to take on in-state rival Drake (5-3) on Sunday. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. (CT) from the Knapp Center. 

WATCH/LISTEN

• Mediacom will air Sunday’s contest on channel MC22. The game will also be streamed online via ESPN3. 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 DRAKE

• Drake enters Sunday’s game with a 5-3 overall record.
• Senior forward Lizzy Wendell leads the Bulldogs, averaging 22.0 points per game. Sophomore forward Sara Rhine (11.6), senior guard Caitlin Ingle (10.8), sophomore Sammie Bachrodt (10.8), and freshman guard Becca Hittner (10.8) are also averaging double figures. 
• Rhine leads the Bulldogs with 6.0 rebounds per game. 
• Drake averages 21.6 assists per game – the second highest total in the NCAA. The Bulldogs are also ranked 10th in free throw percentage (.790) and 21st in scoring offense (81.4). 

THE SERIES

• The all-time series is knotted, 24-24, entering Sunday’s bout. 
• The Hawkeyes have won the last 14 meetings, dating back to 2003. 
• In the Lisa Bluder era, which began in 2001-02, the Hawkeyes have a 14-1 record in games played against the Bulldogs. 
• Iowa defeated the Bulldogs, 89-76, last season. Six Hawkeyes scored in double figures in the contest, including returners Ally Disterhoft (20), Megan Gustafson (16), Alexa Kastanek (15), Chase Coley (11), and Tania Davis (10). 

CROSS COURT CONNECTIONS

• UI head coach Lisa Blulder spent 10 seasons as Drake’s head coach before coming to Iowa. She compiled a record of 187-106 (.659). 
• Assocatie head coach Jan Jensen played collegiately at Drake, graduating in 1991 with a public relations degree. As a senior, she led the nation in scoring with 29.6 points per game and was a Gateway Conference Most Valuable Player. Jensen was also Bluder’s first assistant and recruiting coordinator at Drake. 
• Assistant coach Jenni Fitzgerald also played collegiately at Drake, graduating in 1990 with a business administration/management degree. She was the starting point guard for the Bulldogs, and was named team captain and All-Gateway first team as a senior. Fitzgerald also coached at Drake with Bluder, working with the guards, directing summer camps, and handling administrative duties for the program. 
• Drake head coach Jennie (Lillis) Baranczyk was a standout player for Bluder at Iowa from 2000-04. She was a three-time captain, three-time All-Big Ten selection, and an All-American. She is one of two Hawkeyes to score 1,700 points and pull down 800 rebounds in her career. 
• Senior Ally Disterhoft’s mother, Missy, was a basketball teammate of Jensen and Fitzgerald at Drake. She also played softball for the Bulldogs. 

LOOKING FOR A STATE SWEEP

• The Hawkeyes are 2-0 this season against in-state rivals. 
• Iowa defeated UNI, 88-39, in Iowa City on Dec. 4. 
• The Hawkeyes downed Iowa State, 88-76, in Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Dec. 7. 
• Iowa has clinched the state sweep four times in the last eight seasons. 

MARGIN OF VICTORY 

• Iowa has won by 20 or more points five times this season, including wins against Oral Roberts (96-76), Hampton (84-51), Massachusetts (71-30), Northern Iowa (88-39), and Robert Morris (81-60). 
• The Hawkeyes are averaging 78.2 points per game and holding their opponents to 62.2 (+16.0). 

IN THE LAST 3 GAMES… 

• The Hawkeyes are shooting .548 from the field (91-for-166) and .518 (29-for-56) from 3-point range.
• Sophomore Megan Gustafson has pulled down 39 boards. 
• Senior Ally Disterhoft is shooting .667 (8-of-12) from 3-point range. 
• Sophomore Tania Davis is shooting .545 (6-for-11) from behind the arc. 

DAVIS NAMED MADNESS B1G PLAYER OF THE WEEK 

• Sophomore Tania Davis was named the Madness Big Ten Women’s Basketball Player of the Week, College Sports Madness announced Monday. 
• Davis averaged a team-high 18.5 points, shot .526 from the field (10-of-19), .600 from 3-point range (6-for-10) and a perfect 1.000 (11-for-11) from the free throw line to lead Iowa to a pair of wins over Iowa State and Robert Morris. 
• The Flint, Michigan, native registered career highs in points (23), 3-pointers made (5) and field goals made (7) to guide the Hawkeyes past in-state rival Iowa State (88-76) on Wednesday. 
• Two days later, Davis netted 14 points and was a perfect 7-for-7 from the charity stripe to help the Hawkeyes to an 81-60 win over Robert Morris. 

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 18 NCAA student-athletes to record six or more double-doubles this season. 
• The Port Wing, Wisconsin, native ranks fifth in double-doubles (6), sixth in rebounds (115), ninth in field goal percentage (.667), 17th in field goals made (76), and 19th in defensive rebounds per game (7.0). 

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). 

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 33.3 points per game. 

DISTERHOFT FROM DOWNTOWN

• After starting the season 1-for-9 from 3-point range, senior Ally Disterhoft has netted 15 of her last 23 (.652) shots from downtown. 
• Disterhoft leads the team, shooting .500 (16-of-32) from 3-point range this season. 

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 9.3 points, 3.2 assists, and 2.3 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 sixth in the conference in steals (24) and steals per game (2.18). 

MOVIN’ ON UP 

• Senior Ally Disterhoft now ranks seventh on Iowa’s all-time career scoring list. 
• Disterhoft has 1,732 career points and is 327 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 (132), 13th in career blocks (58), and 14th in rebounds (666). 

IN THE POLLS

• Two Big Ten teams are included in the week six Associated Press Top 25. They include: No. 4 Maryland and No. 12 Ohio State. Northwestern (10) and Michigan State (1) are both receiving votes.  
• Maryland (No. 3) and Ohio State (No. 13) are also included in the week five USA TODAY Coaches Poll, while Michigan State (26), Northwestern (9), Michigan (7), and Penn State (1) are receiving votes.  

AROUND THE NATION

• The Hawkeyes rank seventh in the nation in assists with 201 on the season. 
• Iowa also ranks eighth in field goal percentage (.493), 12th in defensive rebounds per game (31), 13th in rebounds (470), 19th in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.251), and 20th in assists per game (18.3). 
• Sophomore Megan Gustafson ranks fifth in double-doubles (6), sixth in rebounds (115), ninth in field goal percentage (.667), 17th in field goals made (76), and 19th in defensive rebounds per game (7.0).
• Senior Ally Disterhoft ranks 17th in the NCAA in field goal percentage (60.4), and 29th in points (190) and free throw attempts (62). 

AROUND THE LEAGUE 

• Iowa leads the Big Ten Conference in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.251). The Hawkeyes also rank second in field goal percentage defense (.347) and field goal percentage (.493). 
• Three Hawkeyes rank within the top-10 in field goal percentage. They include: Megan Gustafson (.667; 2nd), Ally Disterhoft (.604; 6th), and Hannah Stewart (.581; 8th). 
• Gustafson leads the league with six double-doubles on the season. She also ranks third in rebounding (10.5) and defensive rebounds (7.2), fifth in offensive rebounds (3.3), and eighth in blocked shots (1.4). 
• Disterhoft leads the Big Ten with a .500 3-point field goal percentage. She also ranks ninth in scoring, averaging 17.3 points per game. 
• Sophomore Tania Davis leads the league with a .903 free throw percentage. She also ranks seventh in 3-point field goal percentage (.429).
• Freshman Kathleen Doyle is tied for fifth in the conference with 2.2 steals per game.  

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 89 of her 95 career starts, including her last 44 straight games. 
• The Iowa City, Iowa, native has started 95 consecutive games and appeared in every game of her Hawkeye career (114). 
• 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 1,732 career points and is 327 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 331-191 (.634) overall record and a 160-106 Big Ten record at Iowa. In her 32 seasons as a head coach, Bluder is 687-333 (.674).
• 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.

UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes return to Carver-Hawkeye Arena next week, hosting Kent State on Dec. 20. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. on Mediacom Court.