Iowa Hosts Rutgers on Thursday

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THE SETTING
The University of Iowa women’s basketball team returns to Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Thursday when it hosts Rutgers at 7 p.m. (CT). Tickets are $12 for adults and free for kids and UI students.

NATIONAL GIRLS & WOMEN IN SPORTS DAY

• The Hawkeyes are celebrating National Girls and Women in Sports Day on Thursday.
• All kids will receive free admission.
• There will be free rally towels and tshirts beginning at 6 p.m. (CT) on the concourse.
• Representatives from every Iowa female sport will sign autographs prior to the game.
• All girls in attendance will be invited to sit with female student-athletes in the student section.

WATCH/LISTEN

• Thursday’s contest 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.

SCOUTING RUTGERS

• Rutgers enters Thursday’s contest with a 6-16 overall record and a 3-6 mark in Big Ten play.
• Junior guard Shrita Parker leads the team, averaging 11.4 points per game.
• Desiree Keeling leads the team on the boards. The sophomore averages 6.8 per contest.
• Sophomore guard Khadaizha Sanders ranks 30th nationally in minutes played (773:00) and steals and 47th in steals per game (2.55).
• Rutgers ranks second in the conference in steals (202) and steals per game (9.2) and third in scoring defense (60.6).
• The Scarlet Knights are coached by C. Vivian Stringer. Stringer coached at Iowa from 1983-1995.

THE SERIES

• Iowa leads the all-time series, 4-2.
• The Hawkeyes have won all three meetings since the Scarlet Knights joined the Big Ten Conference.
• Rutgers won the fi rst two meetings of the series, 57-51 in 2005-06 and 70-53 in 2006-07.
• Iowa has won the last four contests, 70-63 in 2009-10, 79-72 in 2014-15, 69-65 in 2015-16, and 71-59 on Jan. 17.

HOME SWEET HOME

• The Hawkeyes are 10-3 when playing in Carver-Hawkeye Arena this season.
• Two of Iowa’s three losses at home came to top-5 teams (No. 1 Notre Dame and No. 3 Maryland).
• Iowa is shooting .491 from the fi eld and .355 from 3-point range in games played in Carver. In true road contests, Iowa is shooting .448 from the fi eld and .257 from 3-point range.
• The Hawkeyes average 43.5 rebounds per game on their home court and 34.2 in true road contests.

DOYLE HAS CAREER DAY

• Freshman Kathleen Doyle set career highs in points (21), fi eld goals made (8), and 3-point field goals made (3) against Maryland on Jan. 29.
• Doyle also registered a team-high three steals and dished out fi ve assists in the contest.
• In eight conference games this season, Doyle is averaging 11.4 points, 2.9 assists, and 2.3 steals per game. She’s also shooting .440 (33-of-75) from the fi eld and .391 (16-of-25) from behind the arc.

FLASHBACK

• The Hawkeyes notched their first Big Ten road win of the season with a, 71-59, victory over Rutgers on Jan. 17. 
• Iowa shot a season-high .625 (25-of-40) from the field in the contest. 
• The Hawkeyes did not miss a field goal in the third quarter (7-for-7). 
• Junior Megan Gustafson (7-for-7) and freshman Makenzie Meyer (4-for-4) were perfect from the field in the contest, while junior Chase Coley went 4-for-5 on the evening. 
• Gustafson (19 points), sophomore Tania Davis (15 points), and Meyer (10 points) each scored in double figures for the Hawkeyes, while Coley and sophomore Hannah Stewart scored eight points apiece. 

BENCH PRODUCTION AT RUTGERS

• Junior Chase Coley and sophomore Hannah Stewart notched quality minutes off the bench in Iowa’s win over Rutgers on Jan. 17. 
• The duo combined to score 16 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field in Iowa’s first Big Ten road win of the season. 
• Coley and Stewart combined for 16 of Iowa’s 18 total bench points. 

BACK-TO-BACK

• The Hawkeyes registered their second straight Big Ten Conference win with an 80-65 victory over Minnesota on Jan. 21 after defeating Rutgers on the road on Jan. 17. 
• After trailing by seven points in the first half and 36-35 at the break, the Hawkeyes used a 45-29 second half run to grab the lead for good against the Golden Gophers. 
• Sophomore Megan Gustafson led the team with 19 points and 12 rebounds. It marked her 10th double-double of the season and the 19th of her career. Senior Ally Disterhoft added 17 points, while freshman Kathleen Doyle and sophomore Tania Davis netted 11 and 10, respectively. 
• Iowa recorded 24 assists on 31 made field goals. Davis’ eight assists led the team, while Doyle added five and Disterhoft dished out four. 
• The Hawkeyes committed a season-low 11 turnovers. 

GUSTAFSON NAMED TO B1G HONOR ROLL… AGAIN

• Sophomore Megan Gustafson was named to the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Player of the Week Honor Roll by the league office on Jan. 23. 
• It marked the fifth weekly honor of Gustafson’s career and her fourth of the season. 
• Gustafson shot .750 (15-of-20) from the field to help Iowa to a pair of Big Ten Conference wins against Rutgers and Minnesota last week. She averaged 19.0 points and 7.5 rebounds in 62 minutes of action. 
• The Port Wing, Wisconsin, native scored a team-high 19 points on a perfect 7-of-7 shooting performance to lead Iowa to is first Big Ten Conference road win of the season at Rutgers on Jan. 17. Four days later, Gustafson registered a team-leading 19 points and 12 rebounds against the Golden Gophers. It marked her 10th double-double of the season and the 19th of her career. 
• Gustafson earned Big Ten Player of the Week accolades on Nov. 14 before being named to the Honor Roll on Dec. 26 and Jan. 2. She garnered Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors on Feb. 22, 2016. 

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. 

UNSELFISH BASKETBALL 

• The Hawkeyes rank second in the Big Ten and 10th nationally in assists per game (18.3)  
• Iowa also ranks third in the conference and 16th in the NCAA in total assists (384).
• Seven Hawkeyes have dished out 20 or more assists on the season. Sophomore Tania Davis leads the team with 90 She is joined by freshman Kathleen Doyle (84), senior Ally Disterhoft (56), freshmen Makenzie Meyer (34) and Bre Cera (25), junior Chase Coley (24) and senior Alexa Kastanek (23). 
• Davis dished out a season-high eight assists in Iowa’s win over Minnesota on Jan. 21. 
• Doyle registered a career-high seven assists against No. 3 Maryland on Jan. 14. She also led the team with five against Rutgers on Jan. 17. 

I’LL TAKE THAT, PLEASE

• Freshman Kathleen Doyle leads the team with 43 steals on the season. 
• The LaGrange Park, Illinois, native ranks sixth in the Big Ten Conference, averaging 2.05 steals per game. 
• Doyle’s 2.0 steals per game average is the highest among all Big Ten freshmen. 
• In eight conference games this season, Doyle is averaging 2.3 steals — tied for the fifth-highest total in the Big Ten. 

MOVIN’ ON UP 

• Senior Ally Disterhoft now ranks third on Iowa’s all-time career scoring list. 
• Disterhoft has 1,876 career points and is 183 points from tying Iowa’s all-time scoring record of 2,059 set by Cindy Haugejorde (1976-80). 
• Disterhoft also ranks ninth all-time in 3-point field goals (146), 13th in career blocks (64), and 13th in rebounds (717). 

DYNAMIC DUO

• Sophomore Megan Gustafson has scored in double figures in every game this season, while senior Ally Disterhoft has netted double digits in 19-of-21 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 33.1 points per game.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE

• Sophomore Megan Gustafson registered the 19th double-double of her career against Minnesota on Jan. 21. It was her 10th double-double of the season.
• Gustafson is one of 34 NCAA student-athletes to record nine or more double-doubles this season. 
• Gustafson has led Iowa in boards in 19-of-21 games this season. 
• Gustafson has netted 20 or more points nine times this year. 
• The Port Wing, Wisconsin, native ranks fifth nationally in field goal percentage (.655), 24th in double-doubles (10), 26th in field goals made (150), 35th in rebounds (202), and 42nd in rebounds per game (9.6). 

FAST FACTS 

• The Hawkeyes are 12-1 when leading at the half. 
• Iowa is 13-2 when scoring 70 points or more. 
• Iowa is ranked seventh nationally in field goal percentage, shooting .476 on the season. 
• Sophomore Megan Gustafson is one of 34 student-athletes to record 10 or more double-doubles on the season. 
• The Hawkeyes rank 15th nationally in total attendance (59,850) and 18th in attendance average (4,604). Iowa’s largest crowd of the season (7,191) came against Minnesota on Jan. 21. 

IN THE POLLS

• Two Big Ten teams are included in the week 13 (Jan. 30) Associated Press Top 25. They include: No. 3 Maryland and No. 14 Ohio State. Michigan (32) and Northwestern (3) are both receiving votes. 
• Maryland (No. 3) and Ohio State (No. 14) are also included in the week 13 USA TODAY Coaches Poll (Jan. 31). Michigan (62)  and Northwestern (12) are receiving votes. 

CALL ON ME

• Senior Ally Disterhoft has netted double figures in 97 of her 105 career starts, including 52 of her last 54 games. 
• The Iowa City, Iowa, native has started 105 consecutive games and appeared in every game of her Hawkeye career (123). 
• Disterhoft has 1,876 career points and is 183 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

• Iowa is ranked seventh nationally in field goal percentage, shooting .476 on the season. 
• The Hawkeyes rank 10th nationally, averaging 18.3 assists per game. 
• Iowa’s 384 total assists rank 16th nationally. 
• The Hawkeyes also rank 21st in scoring offense (76.6) and 30th in defensive rebounds per game (29). 
• Sophomore Megan Gustafson ranks fifth nationally in field goal percentage (.655), 24th in double-doubles (10), 26th in field goals made (150), 35th in rebounds (202), and 42nd in rebounds per game (9.6). 
• Sophomore Tania Davis is 34th nationally in free throw percentage (.865). 

AROUND THE LEAGUE 

• Iowa ranks second in the Big Ten, averaging 18.3 assists per game. 
• The Hawkeyes also rank third in field goal percentage (.476) and 3-point field goal percentage defense (.295) and fourth in defensive rebounds (28.7). 
• Two Hawkeyes rank within the top-15 in field goal percentage. They include: Megan Gustafson (.655; 3rd) and Ally Disterhoft (.515; 11th). 
• Gustafson ranks third in field goal percentage (.655), double-doubles (10), and offensive rebounds (3.3), fourth in defensive rebounds (6.3), fifth in rebounding (9.6), and 10th in scoring (17.2). 
• Sophomore Tania Davis is shooting .865 from the free throw line — the third-highest total in the conference. She also ranks 12th in assists, averaging 4.3 per game. 
• Freshman Kathleen Doyle is  sixth in the conference in steals (2.0) and tied 12th in assist to turnover ratio (1.8) and 13th in assists (4.0). 
• Disterhoft ranks 11th in field goal percentage (.515) and 13th in scoring (15.9). 

HISTORICALLY GOOD DEFENSE

• Iowa currently ranks third in the Big Ten Conference in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.295). 
• 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. 

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.
• Gustafson was also named Big Ten Player of the Week on Nov. 14.  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.

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. 

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 336-196 (.632) overall record and a 164-110 Big Ten record at Iowa. In her 32 seasons as a head coach, Bluder is 692-338 (.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 (164) 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 164 conference victories.

UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes travel to Ann Arbor, Michigan for a contest against the Wolverines on Sunday, Feb. 5. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. (CT).