Iowa, Nebraska Meet Monday in Lincoln

Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | Hawk Talk Monthly — February | Game Notes (PDF)

THIS WEEK 

The No. 10/10 University of Iowa women’s basketball team travels to Lincoln, Nebraska, for a Monday night matchup with the Huskers Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m. (CT) in Pinnacle Bank Arena.

WATCH/FOLLOW ALONG 

• Monday’s contest will air live on BTN. Mike Monaco (play-by-play) and Christy Winters Scott (analyst) will have the call from Pinnacle Bank Arena. Links to the broadcast are available on the women’s basketball schedule page on hawkeyesports.com. 
• Live stats are available on the women’s basketball schedule page on hawkeyesports.com. 

AUDIO COVERAGE

• Rob Brooks and Jamie Cavey Lang will call the action on the Hawkeye Radio Network. A link to the broadcast is available on the women’s basketball schedule page on hawkeyesports.com.
• Brooks is in his third 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 is in her third 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.

WELCOME TO THE TOP-10 

• Iowa is ranked No. 10 in both the AP and Coaches Poll this week.  
• The Hawkeyes are in the AP top-10 for the first time since Dec. 2, 1996. It is their first appearance in the USA Today Coaches Poll top-10 since Dec. 3, 1996. 
• Iowa is one of five conference teams that are ranked or receiving votes in the AP Poll. No. 8 Maryland, No. 10 Iowa are ranked within the top-25, while Rutgers (29), Minnesota (11), and Michigan State (7) are receiving votes. 
• The Hawkeyes are one of four Big Ten teams ranked in the USA Today Coaches Poll. They include: No. 9 Maryland, No. 10 Iowa, Rutgers (24 votes), and Michigan State (11 votes). 

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE

• Iowa faces 10 teams who made the 2018 NCAA Tournament, including four nonconference opponents and six Big Ten foes. 
• As of Feb. 22, Iowa’s RPI is eight. Iowa’s strength of schedule ranks 11th nationally (Feb. 22). 
• The Hawkeyes have registered five wins over ranked opponents this season (No. 25/20 West Virginia, No. 23/20 Minnesota, No. 14/18 Rutgers, No. 23/21 Michigan State, and No. 7/8 Maryland). 
• On Feb. 11, the NCAA women’s basketball selection committee released its first top-16 reveal of the season. Iowa was a No. 3 seed in the Portland Regional. The Hawkeyes were the No. 10 overall seed. 

SCOUTING NEBRASKA

• Nebraska is 13-14 overall and 8-8 in Big Ten Conference play. 
• The Huskers are 8-5 when playing in Pinnacle Bank Arena this season. 
• Nebraska has won three of its last four contests, including wins over Purdue, Michigan, and Northwestern. 
• Junior guard Hannah Whitish leads the team, averaging 10.4 points per game. Eight Huskers are averaging 7.0 or more points per contest. 
• Sophomore center Kate Cain leads the team on the board, averaging 5.9 rebounds per game. 
• Kate Cain ranks fifth nationally and second in the Big Ten in blocked shots (73) and ninth nationally in blocks per game (2.7). 
• As a team, the Huskers are ranked 14th nationally and second in the Big Ten in blocked shots (141) and 16th nationally in blocks per game (5.2). 

THE SERIES 

• Nebraska leads the all-time series, 14-13.
• Iowa won the first meeting, 77-71, in Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Jan. 3. 
• Four Hawkeyes scored in double figures, including seniors Megan Gustafson (28), Hannah Stewart (14), and Tania Davis (11), and junior Kathleen Doyle (11). 
• Gustafson also pulled down 17 rebounds, denied five shots, dished out two assists, and registered a steal in the win. 
• Doyle was one assist shy of a double-double. She also registered four steals.

DOWN GOES NO. 7 

• Iowa improved to 21-5 overall and 12-3 in the Big Ten with an 86-73 win over No. 7/8 Maryland on Feb. 17. 
• Four Hawkeyes scored in double figures, including seniors Megan Gustafson (31), Tania Davis (13), and Hannah Stewart (12), and junior Kathleen Doyle (12). 
• Gustafson scored 24 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in the second half. She made 10-of-11 free throws over the final 20 minutes. 
• Seven Hawkeyes combined to make 27-of-29 free throws. 
• It marked Iowa’s fifth win over a ranked opponent this season and its first over a top-10 team. 

SEVILLIAN’S DAGGER

• With Iowa leading Maryland 72-69 with 2:31 remaining, redshirt sophomore Alexis Sevillian made a 3-pointer to give Iowa a six point lead. Junior Makenzie Meyer was credited with the assist.
• It marked Sevillian’s first 3-pointer of the game. The bucket was one of two second half 3-pointers for the Hawkeyes. 
• Senior Tania Davis, Meyer, and Stewart went on to sink 7-of-8 free throws to seal the win over the nationally ranked Terrapins. 

THEY SEE US ROLLIN’

• The Hawkeyes have won five of their last six Big Ten contests. 
• Two of Iowa’s last five wins have come against top-25 teams, including No. 21 Michigan State and No. 7 Maryland. 
• Two of Iowa’s last five wins have come on the road (at Penn State, at Ohio State). 
• In the last six games, senior Megan Gustafson is averaging 30.7 points, 14.5 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks. She is shooting 70.9 percent from the field and 84.4 percent from the free throw line. 
• Junior Kathleen Doyle is averaging 14.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 2.3 assists over the last six games. 
• As a team, the Hawkeyes are averaging 82.0 points and holding opponents to 66.3 points. Iowa is shooting 50.7 percent from the field and holding opponents to a 38.1 shooting percentage. 
• Iowa is off to its best start in Big Ten play since 2014-15, when they also opened the conference season at 12-3. The Hawkeyes finished the 2014-15 season 26-8 overall, 14-4 in the Big Ten, and made a trip to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen. 

20-WIN CLUB

• The Hawkeyes collected their 20th win of the season with an 88-66 victory over Illinois on Feb. 14. 
• Iowa has registered 20 or more wins 10 times in the last 12 seasons. 
• The Hawkeyes have 12, 20-win seasons under head coach Lisa Bluder. 

SHARING IS CARING 

• Through 27 games this season, the Hawkeyes are averaging 21.9 assists per contest — the third-best mark in the NCAA. 
• Seven Hawkeyes have dished out 20 or more assists this season, while six have dished out 45 or more. Senior Tania Davis leads the team with 126 (4.8 per game). 
• In 16 conference games, junior Kathleen Doyle is averaging 6.2 assists — the best mark in the Big Ten. 
• The Hawkeyes set new school assist records in back-to-back games. Iowa dished out 34 assists against Western Kentucky on Nov. 13, before besting that mark with 36 against North Carolina Central on Nov. 17. 

(AS)SISTER SISTER 

• Junior Kathleen Doyle has recorded five or more assists in 15 of her 20 games.
• Doyle finished one assist shy of her fifth career double-double at Indiana on Feb. 21. 
• In 20 games this season, Doyle is averaging 5.9 assists per game. 
• In 16 Big Ten games, Doyle is averaging 6.2 assists per game — the best mark in the conference.

OOPS, SHE DID IT AGAIN

• Senior Megan Gustafson recorded her 80th career double-double with 26 points and 12 rebounds at Indiana on Feb. 21. 
• Gustafson broke the Big Ten record for double-doubles in a career against Illinois on Feb. 14. Jantel Lavender (2007-11) previously held the record of 77. 
• Gustafson’s 25 double-doubles this season ranks second nationally. 
• She broke the program record (men or women) with her 49th career double-double (25 points, 15 rebounds) against Minnesota on Feb. 4, 2018. Gustafson surpassed former Iowa men’s basketball player Kevin Kunnert’s career total of 48 set in 1971-73. 
• The Port Wing, Wisconsin, native had 28 double-doubles last season — the second most in the NCAA. 
• She has registered a double-double in 57 of her last 66 games, including 21 of her last 22 games. 

HIGH-POWERED OFFENSE 

• Iowa’s 51.9 field goal percentage leads the nation.  
• The Hawkeyes have shot 50.0 percent or better from the field in nine of their last 11 contests. 
• Through 27 games this season, Iowa is averaging 80.6 points per game, a mark that ranks first in the Big Ten and 11th nationally. 
• Iowa scored 106 points in its win over North Carolina Central on Nov. 17. It marked the second-highest point total in program history. 

SOMEBODY CALL 9-1-1, WE’D LIKE TO REPORT A THEFT 

• In just 20 games this season, junior Kathleen Doyle has registered a team-high 49 steals (2.5 per game). 
• She recorded a career-high six steals in 29 minutes of game action at Michigan on Feb. 1. 
• The LaGrange Park, Illinois, native is averaging 2.5 steals in 16 conference games this season — the second-highest average in the Big Ten. 

THE MEGAN GUSTAFSON AWARD 

• For the 12th time this season, senior Megan Gustafson was named the Big Ten Player of the Week, the conference office announced Feb 18.
• It is the 22nd Big Ten Player of the Week Award of Gustafson’s career. She now owns the conference record for career weekly awards, besting Jantel Lavender’s (Ohio State) previous mark of 19. 
• Gustafson also bested her own single-season record with her 12th honor this season.
• The Port Wing, Wisconsin, native averaged 29.0 points, 17.0 rebounds, and shot 65.5 percent from the field and 87.0 percent from the free throw line in a pair of Iowa wins last week.
• Gustafson has been honored by the conference every week this season, including 12 Player of the Week awards and three Honor Roll mentions.

OH MY, 40 

• Senior Megan Gustafson netted 41 points in Iowa’s win over No. 21 Michigan State on Feb. 7. It marks the second time she’s scored 40 or more points this season (Drake, 12/21). 
• Gustafson has surpassed 30 points nine times this season — a mark that leads the NCAA. 
• She’s netted 20 or more points in 24 of Iowa’s 27 contests, including 14 Big Ten games.

WELCOME BACK, MAK

• Junior Makenzie Meyer returned to the court on Feb. 14.  She returned to the starting lineup against Maryland on Feb. 17. 
• Meyer missed two contests with a hyperextended left knee suffered late in the third quarter at Penn State on Feb. 3.
• On Feb. 14 against Illinois, Meyer scored 10 points on 4-for-6 shooting from the field, including a 2-for-3 performance from distance in 17 minutes.

STEWEY THE STAT STUFFER 

• Senior Hannah Stewart has started all 27 games for the Hawkeyes — the first 27 starts of her career. 
• Stewart is averaging 11.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. 
• The Minot, North Dakota, native has scored 10 or more points in 18 of Iowa’s 27 games this season. 
• In Iowa’s win over No. 7 Maryland, Stewart recorded 12 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and a steal. 

SENIOR CLASS AWARD

• Senior Megan Gustafson was named 1-of-10 finalists for the Senior Class Award on Feb. 6. 
• The finalists were chosen from a list of 30 candidates announced earlier this season. 
• To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in the community, classroom, character and competition. 
• Nationwide fan voting begins immediately to help select the winner, and fans are encouraged to submit votes online at the Senior CLASS Award website through March 25.

EFFECTIVE & EFFICIENT

• Senior Megan Gustafson ranks first nationally in field goal percentage, shooting 70.4 percent. She has made an NCAA-best 305 field goals.
• According to Her Hoop Stats, Gustafson averages 1.35 points per possession this season — the best rate in the country. Gustafson also ranks first in points per scoring attempt at 1.45. 

HISTORY MADE 

• Senior Megan Gustafson became the University of Iowa’s all-time leading scorer on Dec. 30, surpassing both the men’s and women’s records. 
• Ally Disterhoft (2013-17) set the previous women’s record of 2,102 in 2017. 
• Roy Marble held the men’s record of 2,116 since 1989. 
• Gustafson has 2,542 career points.
• Gustafson also broke Iowa’s program record for career rebounds against Iowa State on Dec. 5. 
• Gustafson has 1,342 rebounds in her career. She bested the previous record of 1,067 set by Cindy Haugejorde in 1980. Gustafson registered her 1,000th career rebound at Western Kentucky (11/13). 

ALL EYES ON GUSTAFSON

• On Feb. 5, Gustafson was named to the midseason Wade Watch List. She is one of 35 student-athletes on the list for the WBCA’s Wade Trophy. 
• Gustafson was one of 20 student-athletes included on the John R. Wooden Award Late Season Watch List, ESPNW announced Feb. 4. 
• On Feb. 19, Gustafson was named one of 10 semifinalist for the Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year Award. 
• The Port Wing, Wisconsin, native was one of 30 athletes included on the Naismith Trophy Midseason Team.  
• Gustafson was named one of 10 finalists for the 2019 Lisa Leslie Award on Feb. 15. The award recognizes the top centers in women’s basketball. 

UP NEXT 

Iowa returns to Carver-Hawkeye Arena for its regular season finale against Northwestern on March 3. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. (CT) on BTN. The Hawkeyes will honor their three seniors — Tania Davis, Megan Gustafson, and Hannah Stewart — following the game.