Iowa, Rutgers Meet Tuesday in New Jersey

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THE SETTING
The University of Iowa women’s basketball continues Big Ten action this week, traveling to Rutgers on Tuesday, Jan. 17. Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m. (CT) from the Rutgers Athletic Center (RAC) in Piscataway, New Jersey. 

WATCH/LISTEN

• Tuesday’s contest will air 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.

SCOUTING RUTGERS

• Rutgers enters Tuesday’s contest with a 6-13 overall record and a 3-3 mark in Big Ten play. 
• The Scarlet Knights are undefeated at home in Big Ten play with wins over Penn State (61-45), Wisconsin (68-52), and Michigan State (62-58). 
• Junior guard Shrita Parker leads the team, averaging 10.8 points per game. Junior Kandiss Barber is also averaging double figures (10.0). 
• Desiree Keeling leads the team on the boards. The sophomore averages 6.7 per contest. 
• Sophomore guard Khadaizha Sanders ranks eighth nationally in minutes played (667.00) and 35th in steals with 46. 
• The Scarlet Knights are coached by C. Vivian Stringer. Stringer coached at Iowa from 1983-1995. 

THE SERIES

• Iowa leads the all-time series, 3-2. 
• The Hawkeyes have won both meetings since the Scarlet Knights joined the Big Ten Conference. 
• Rutgers won the first two meetings of the series, 57-51 in 2005-06 and 70-53 in 2006-07. 
• Iowa has won the last three meetings, 70-63 in 2009-10, 79-72 in 2014-15, and 69-65 in 2015-16. 

HAVE A DAY, TANIA 

• Tania Davis netted a career-high 25 points against No. 3 Maryland on Jan. 14. 
• It marked the second time this season the sophomore has registered 20 or more points. 
• Davis also matched her career high with seven field goals made. 

MARGIN OF VICTORY 

• Iowa has won by 20 or more points seven times this season, including wins against Oral Roberts (96-76), Hampton (84-51), Massachusetts (71-30), Northern Iowa (88-39), Robert Morris (81-60), Kent State (83-48) and Illinois (78-58).
• The Hawkeyes are averaging 76.5 points per game and holding their opponents to 65.7 (+10.8). 

UNSELFISH BASKETBALL 

• The Hawkeyes rank second in the Big Ten and 13th nationally in assists per game (18.1). 
• Iowa also ranks third in the conference and 13th in the NCAA in total assists (326). 
• Seven Hawkeyes have dished out 20 or more assists on the season. Sophomore Tania Davis leads the team with 72. She is joined by freshman Kathleen Doyle (69), senior Ally Disterhoft (48), freshman Makenzie Meyer (29) and Bre Cera (22), junior Chase Coley (21) and senior Alexa Kastanek (21). 
• Doyle registered a career-high seven assists against No. 3 Maryland on Jan. 14. 

I’LL TAKE THAT, PLEASE

• Freshman Kathleen Doyle leads the team with 36 steals on the season. 
• The LaGrange Park, Illinois, native is tied for seventh in the Big Ten Conference, averaging 2.0 steals per game. 
• In five conference games this season, Doyle is averaging 2.2 steals — the second-highest total in the Big Ten. 
• Doyle’s 2.1 steals per game average is the highest among all Big Ten freshmen. 

DYNAMIC DUO

• Sophomore Megan Gustafson has scored in double figures in every game this season, while senior Ally Disterhoft has netted double digits in 17-of-18 games. 
• Gustafson has netted 20 or more points nine times this year, while Disterhoft has accomplished the feat four times. Both Hawkeyes have scored 20 or more points in games against Oral Roberts, James Madison, and Drake. 
• Together, the pair averages 33.8 points per game.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE

• Sophomore Megan Gustafson registered the 18th double-double of her career against Illinois on Jan. 12. It was her ninth double-double of the season.
• Gustafson is one of 25 NCAA student-athletes to record nine or more double-doubles this season. 
• Gustafson has led Iowa in boards in 17-of-18 games this season. 
• Gustafson has netted 20 or more points in six of the lasts seven games.  
• The Port Wing, Wisconsin, native ranks sixth nationally in field goal percentage (.663), 12th in field goals made (132), 20th in double-doubles (9) and rebounds (181), and 30th in rebounds per game (10.1). 

MOVIN’ ON UP 

• Senior Ally Disterhoft now ranks fourth on Iowa’s all-time career scoring list. 
• Disterhoft has 1,837 career points and is 222 points from tying Iowa’s all-time scoring record of 2,059 set by Cindy Haugejorde (1976-80). 
• The Iowa City, Iowa, native needs just four points to tie former Hawkeye Jaime Printy (2010-13) and move into third place on the all-time scoring list. 
• Disterhoft also ranks ninth all-time in 3-point field goals (141), 13th in career blocks (63), and 13th in rebounds (706). 

FAST FACTS 

• The Hawkeyes are 11-1 when leading at the half. 
• Iowa is 11-1 when scoring 70 points or more. 
• Sophomore Megan Gustafson is one of 25 student-athletes to record nine or more double-doubles on the season. 
• The Hawkeyes rank 11th nationally in total attendance (52,659). Iowa’s largest crowd of the season (7,043) came against No. 3 Maryland on Jan. 14. 

IN THE POLLS

• Two Big Ten teams are included in the week 10 (Jan. 16) Associated Press Top 25. They include: No. 3 Maryland and No. 16 Ohio State. Michigan (12) and Northwestern (2) are both receiving votes. 
• Maryland (No. 3) and Ohio State (No. 11) are also included in the week 10 USA TODAY Coaches Poll (Jan. 10). Michigan (8), Michigan State (7), and Northwestern (3) are receiving votes. 

CALL ON ME

• Senior Ally Disterhoft has netted double figures in 95 of her 102 career starts, including 50 of her last 51 games. 
• The Iowa City, Iowa, native has started 102 consecutive games and appeared in every game of her Hawkeye career (120). 
• Disterhoft has 1,837 career points and is 222 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 four 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. 

AROUND THE NATION

• The Hawkeyes rank 13th nationally, averaging 18.1 assists per game. 
• Iowa’s 326 total assists on the season ranks 14th in the NCAA. 
• Iowa also ranks 12th in field goal percentage (.472), 20th in defensive rebounds per game (30), 26th in scoring offense (76.5), 37th in rebounds (746). 
• Sophomore Megan Gustafson ranks sixth nationally in field goal percentage (.663), 12th in field goals made (132), 20th in double-doubles (9) and rebounds (181), and 30th in rebounds per game (10.1). 
• Sophomore Tania Davis is 27th nationally in free throw percentage (.875). 

AROUND THE LEAGUE 

• Iowa leads the Big Ten Conference in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.279) and ranks third in field goal percentage defense (.371). 
• The Hawkeyes also rank second in assists (18.1), third in defensive rebounds (29.5), and fourth in field goal percentage (.472). 
• Two Hawkeyes rank within the top-10 in field goal percentage. They include: Megan Gustafson (.663; 2nd) and Ally Disterhoft (.530; 9th). 
• Gustafson ranks second in the league in field goal percentage (.635), third in offensive rebounds (3.5), fourth in defensive rebounds (6.6), and fifth in rebounding (10.1). 
• Sophomore Tania Davis is shooting .875 from the free throw line — the fourth-highest total in the conference. She also ranks 13th in assists, averaging 4.0 per game. 
• Freshman Kathleen Doyle is tied for seventh in the conference in steals (2.0) and ranks 16th in assists. 
• Disterhoft ranks ninth in field goal percentage (.530) and 13th in scoring (16.4). 

RUNNIN’ RUNNIN’

• After trailing by 14 in the first quarter, the Hawkeyes went on a 25-9 run over a span of 8:09 in the second quarter to head into halftime with a 47-43 advantage over No. 3 Maryland. 
• The Hawkeyes scored a season-high 31 points in the second quarter against the nationally-ranked Terrapins. 
• Down 11-2 in the first quarter to Kent State, the Hawkeyes used a 40-5 run over a 12-minute span to ultimately defeat Kent State, 83-48, on Dec. 20. 
• Iowa made 12-of-18 field goals in the second quarter and held Kent State to 3-of-16 shooting. Iowa also dominated the boards in the second frame, 18-3. 
• Megan Gustafson (20 points), Ally Disterhoft (18 points), and Makenzie Meyer (12 points) all scored in double figures for the Hawkeyes. 
• Junior Christina Buttenham registered her first career start in the contest. She netted five points and pulled-down a career-high six boards in 18 minutes of action. 

GUSTAFSON EARNS 2ND STRAIGHT B1G HONOR ROLL PLAUDIT

• For the second straight week, sophomore Megan Gustafson was named to the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Player of the Week Honor Roll, the conference office announced Jan. 2. It marked the fourth weekly honor of Gustafson’s career and her third of the season.
• Gustafson averaged 21.5 points and 11.0 rebounds in a pair of Big Ten Conference games against Illinois and Nebraska last week.
• She led all scorers with 21 points, shooting 7-of-12 (.583) from the field at Illinois. Gustafson pulled down 13 boards (6 offensive) to register her eighth double-double of the season. She also dished out three assists and went 7-for-8 from the free throw line against the Illini.
• The Port Wing, Wisconsin, native recorded a team-high 22 points and a team-leading nine rebounds to lead Iowa to its first Big Ten victory of the season. She shot an impressive .750 from the field (9-for-12) and added two blocks and a pair of steals.
• On the season, Gustafson is averaging 17.5 points and 9.9 rebounds. She’s shooting .669 (117-of-175) from the field — a mark that ranks second in the Big Ten and sixth nationally. 
• Gustafson earned Big Ten Player of the Week accolades on Nov. 14 before being named to the Honor Roll on Dec. 26. She garnered Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors on Feb. 22, 2016. 

DOUBLE THE DOUBLE-DOUBLE

• Sophomore Megan Gustafson and senior Ally Disterhoft each registered double-doubles against Illinois on Dec. 28. 
• Gustafson led all scorers with 21 points and grabbed a game-high 13 boards to register her eighth double-double of the season and the 17th of her career. 
• Disterhoft netted 11 points and a season-high 13 rebounds. It marked her first double-double of the season and the seventh of her career. 

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 second-fewest points allowed in the Big Ten this season (27, Purdue vs. North Carolina Central). 
• 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. 

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 Dec.12. 
• 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. 

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). 

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 334-195 (.632) overall record and a 162-109 Big Ten record at Iowa. In her 32 seasons as a head coach, Bluder is 690-337 (.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 (162) 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 162 conference victories.

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 host Minnesota on Saturday, Jan. 21. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. (CT) on Mediacom Court in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.