Iowa Hosts Western Michigan on Sunday

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THIS WEEK 
The University of Iowa women’s basketball team hosts Western Michigan on Sunday. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. (CT) in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Tickets are $12 for adults, $8 for youth (18 & younger), and free for UI students.  

WATCH/FOLLOW ALONG 

  • Sunday’s contests will be streamed live on BTN Plus. To sign up for BTN Plus, or learn more about it, visit btn2go.com.
  • Live stats are available on the Iowa women’s basketball schedule page on hawkeyesports.com.

PROMOTIONS
Sunday is Cedar Rapids day. Fans that mention they are from Cedar Rapids are eligible for discounted tickets ($5 for adults, $2 for children). 

AUDIO COVERAGE

  • Rob Brooks and Jamie Cavey Lang will call the action on Hawkeye All-Access. A link to the broadcast is available on the women’s basketball schedule page on hawkeyesports.com.
  • Brooks is in his second year as the play-by-play announcer for the Iowa women’s basketball team. He has been Iowa football’s sideline announcer since 2004. He has called seven different Iowa sports on radio or television.
  • Lang enters her second year as Iowa’s color commentator. She lettered at Iowa from 2002-05. Lang finished her Hawkeye career with 1,265 points and 506 rebounds. She was a two-time All-Big Ten selection.

TICKETS 

  • Season tickets are available for purchase. Tickets are $100 for adults, $80 for seniors and UI faculty/staff, and $25 for youth (18 & younger). For more information, visit hawkeyesports.com/tickets. 
  • Single-game tickets are also available for purchase. Tickets may be ordered online at hawkeyesports.com/tickets, in person at the UI Athletics Ticket Office in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, or by calling 1-800-IA-HAWKS. 

THE CENTURY MARK 

  • For the first time in school history, Iowa has scored 100 or more points in back-to-back contests. 
  • Iowa scored 104 points in an overtime win against Western Kentucky on Nov. 11, before netting 105 against Northern Illinois on Nov. 15. 
  • Iowa’s scoring average of 97.3 ranks third in the Big Ten Conference and 13th in the nation. 

SCOUTING WESTERN MICHIGAN

  • Western Michigan enters Sunday’s contest with a 2-1 record. The Broncos have registered a pair of road victories at New Mexico State (64-55) and Loyola-Chicago (65-47). 
  • Redshirt junior Jasmyn Walker netted a career-high 20 points to lead the Broncos past Loyola. She shot 60 percent from the field (8-for-12) in the contest. 
  • Junior Breanna Mobley (12 points, 12 rebounds) and redshirt senior Marley Hill (20 points, 12 rebounds) each registered double-doubles in Western Michigan’s win over New Mexico State. 
  • Western Michigan played to a 19-13 overall record and an 8-10 mark in the Mid-American Conference last season. 
  • Western Michigan returns 11 letterwinners, including three starters from the 2016-17 season. Mobley led the Bronces in scoring, averaging 14.4 points and 9.9 rebounds. She was a third team All-MAC honoree and named to the All-MAC Defensive Team. 
  • Former Iowa standout Tangela Smith is an assistant coach for the Broncos. Smith was a letterwinner from 1994-98. The 1998 Big Ten Player of the year ranks third all-time in blocks (235), sixth in rebounding (859), and ninth in scoring (1598). 

SHARING IS CARING 

  • Iowa leads the Big Ten Conference in assists (73) and assists per game (24.3). 
  • Iowa’s 73 assists ranks fifth nationally, while it’s 24.3 assists per game ranks seventh. 
  • The Hawkeyes assisted on 29 of their 42 field goals against Northern Illinois on Nov. 15 — just three assists shy of tying the program record for assists in a game (32 at Northwestern, 1/29/15). 
  • The Hawkeyes recorded assists on 28-of-35 field goals against Western Kentucky on Nov. 11. 
  • Iowa’s three starting guards — Kathleen Doyle (7), Tania Davis (8), and Makenzie Meyer (7) — accounted for 23 of Iowa’s 28 total assists against the Hilltoppers. 
  • Meyer has set a career high in assists in each of the last two games. The sophomore recorded seven in Iowa’s win over Western Kentucky, before assisting on eight field goals in Iowa’s win over Northern Illinois. 

BALANCED ATTACK LEADS HAWKEYES PAST HUSKIES

  • Six Hawkeyes scored in double figures to lead the Hawkeyes past Northern Illinois, 105-80, on Nov. 15. 
  • Iowa shot 60 percent from the field (42-of-70) and 100 percent from the free throw line (15-of-15). 

SEVILLIAN STEPS IN 

  • In her first career start against Northern Illinois on Nov. 15, redshirt freshman Alexis Sevillian scored a career-high 15 points. 
  • Sevillian has scored in double digits in each of her first three games. 
  • The Goodrich, Michigan, native has scored at least three 3-point field goals in every game this season. 

COLEY BOUNCES BACK

  • After being held scoreless by Western Kentucky on Nov. 11, senior Chase Coley had a bounce-back performance against Northern Illinois on Nov. 15. 
  • The senior scored 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field. She also pulled down seven rebounds and dished out three assists in the contest. 
  • Coley’s 20-point performance marks the most for the senior since scoring 20 against Michigan on March 3, 2016. 

DOUBLE THE DOUBLE-DOUBLE 

  • Junior Megan Gustafson and Tania Davis each registered double-doubles in Iowa’s win over Northern Illinois on Nov. 15. 
  • Gustafson led the team with 22 points and 11 rebounds. It marked the 30th double-double of her career and her third of the season. 
  • Davis registered 12 points and a career-high 10 rebounds to record her second career double-double. Davis also chipped in seven assists in the contest. 

700 CLUB

  • Head coach Lisa Bluder collected her 700th victory on Nov. 10 against Quinnipiac. 
  • Bluder is one-of-10 active Division I head coaches with 700 or more victories and one-of-29 women’s coaches to ever accomplish the feat. Bluder is one of 80 coaches (men or women) to win 700 or more contests.
  • Bluder is in her 34th season as a head coach and her 18th at the helm of the Hawkeyes.
  • In her 18 seasons in Iowa City, Bluder — Iowa’s all-time winningest coach — has accumulated 346 wins.
  • Bluder has collected 10 20-win seasons as a Hawkeye.

LOCKED IN AT THE LINE

  • Iowa leads the Big Ten Conference and ranks second in the nation in free throw percentage (93.2).
  • Iowa was a perfect 15-for-15 from the line against Northern Illinois on Nov. 15.  
  • The Hawkeyes made 17-of-19 (89.5 percent) from the line against Quinnipiac, including 10-of-11 in the fourth quarter. 
  • Iowa shot 92.0 percent from the line against Western Kentucky. The Hawkeyes were a perfect 8-for-8 in the fourth quarter and overtime period.

MS. 1,000

  • Junior Megan Gustafson surpassed the 1,000 career point milestone on Saturday, Nov. 11.
  • She is the 35th Hawkeye in program history to surpass 1,000 career points.
  • Gustafson’s 1,053 points ranks 32nd all-time at Iowa. 

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE

  • Seven of Iowa’s nonconference opponents made the 2017 NCAA Tournament, including Quinnipiac, Western Kentucky, Elon, Florida State, Iowa State, Northern Iowa, and Drake. 
  • Three of Iowa’s nonconference opponents are ranked or receiving votes in the AP Top-25 Poll (Nov. 13).They include: No. 17 Florida State, Western Kentucky (24 votes), and Drake (5). 
  • Iowa received four votes in this week’s poll. 

HAWKEYES WIN OVERTIME THRILLER

  • The Hawkeyes battled back from a 10-point fourth quarter deficit to defeat Western Kentucky, 104-97, on Nov. 11.
  • Down by five with 1:05 left in the fourth quarter, Makenzie Meyer knocked down a three to bring Iowa within two. After a defensive stop, Gustafson grabbed the rebound and drew a foul. Gustafson, who finished the day 7-for-7 from the charity stripe, knocked down both shots to tie the game at 93.
  • Gustafson scored six of Iowa’s 11 points in the overtime period to lead the Hawkeyes to the Hawkeye Challenge Tournament title.
  • Iowa’s three starting guards — Tania Davis, Kathleen Doyle, and Makenzie Meyer — combined for 23 of Iowa’s 28 assists.
  • The Hawkeyes shot 92 percent (23-of-25) from the free throw line.

SEASON OPENING WIN

  • Iowa outscored Quinnipiac, 28-13, in the fourth quarter to win its season opener, 83-67, on Nov. 10 in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
  • The Hawkeyes were 15-17 from the free throw line in the second half after getting to the line just two times in the first half.
  • Iowa held a 50-29 rebounding advantage, led by Gustafson’s 15 and a career-high nine from Kathleen Doyle.
  • Hannah Stewart led the Hawkeyes with a career-best five assists.

HAWKEYE CHALLENGE ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

  • Junior Megan Gustafson was named the Hawkeye Challenge Most Valuable Player, while sophomore Kathleen Doyle was named to the all-tournament team. 
  • Gustafson averaged 25.5 points and 16.0 rebounds and shot .677 from the field to take home MVP honors. 
  • Doyle averaged 16.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. She shot .579 from the field and was a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line. 

GUSTAFSON NAMED BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK 

  • Junior Megan Gustafson was named Big Ten Women’s Basketball Player of the Week, the conference office announced Nov. 13.
  • Gustafson averaged 25.5 points and 16.0 rebounds and shot 67.7 percent from the field in a pair of season-opening wins over Quinnipiac and Western Kentucky last weekend. 
  • It marked the seventh weekly honor of Gustafson’s career. 

FOURTH QUARTER DOMINANCE 

  • Junior Megan Gustafson is averaging 7.7 points and 5.0 rebounds in the fourth quarter this season. 
  • The Port Wing, Wisconsin, native registered five points and seven of her 16 rebounds in the final frame to lead the Hawkeyes past Quinnipiac. 
  • Gustafson netted 12 points and six rebounds to help the Hawkeyes overcome a fourth-quarter deficit against Western Kentucky. 

MEYER BOUNCES BACK

  • After going 0-for-3 from 3-point range against Quinnipiac on Nov. 10, sophomore Mackenzie Meyer knocked down 50 percent of her 3-point field goal attempts against Western Kentucky on Nov. 11. 
  • Meyer’s four 3-pointers made matched a career high. She also dished out seven assists in the contest. 

DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE

  • Junior Megan Gustafson has 30 double-doubles in her Hawkeye career, including double-doubles in eight of her last 11 games. 
  • Last season, Gustafson broke a program record with 18 double doubles on the season. 
  • Gustafson leads the nation with three double-doubles this season. 

HOME SWEET HOME 

  • Iowa was 17-4 in games played in Carver-Hawkeye Arena last season. The Hawkeyes were 14-3 in games played in the regular season and 7-1 in non-conference action on their home court. 
  • Two of Iowa’s four losses at home came to top-five teams (No. 1 Notre Dame and No. 3 Maryland). 
  • Iowa shot .486 from the field and .338 from 3-point range in Carver. In true road contests, Iowa shot .440 from the field and .254 from distance. 

TANIA DAVIS — THE RETURN

  • Junior point guard Tania Davis returned to the Iowa lineup on Nov. 10 after suffering a season-ending knee injury at Michigan on Feb. 5, 2017. 
  • In 23 games last season, Davis averaged 10.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 4.3 assists. 
  • Davis is averaging 14.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and shooting 58.3 percent from 3-point range so far this season. 

EXPERIENCED SOPHOMORES 

  • Iowa’s sophomore class of Kathleen Doyle, Makenzie Meyer, and Amanda Ollinger combined for 89 games played and 52 starts last season. 
  • The class accounted for a combined 38 percent of Iowa’s total steals (88/231), 37 percent of Iowa’s assists (221/600), and 22 percent of Iowa’s total points (565/2588).  

GUSTAFSON EARNS PRESEASON HONOR 
Junior Megan Gustafson was named Preseason All-Big Ten by league coaches and media, the conference office announced Oct. 23. The Port Wing, Wisconsin, native was a first team All-Big Ten selection (league coaches and media) in 2016. She was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team in 2015.  

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 travel to Florida for the relocated Puerto Rico Classic from Nov. 22-25. Iowa will play three games in four days at Cardinal Gibbons High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. 
 

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