Indiana University Athletics
IU Hosts Iowa in Big Ten Opener
12/28/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 28, 2005
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HOOSIER HEADLINES
• Indiana (6-5) breaks into the Big Ten portion of its schedule when it hosts Iowa (7-4) on Thursday, Dec. 29 at the Branch McCracken court at Assembly Hall. Tipoff time is set for 7 p.m. (EST). The game can be heard locally on WHCC-FM 105.1 with Jeremy Gray calling all the action. Fans can also follow the game on Gametracker at IUHOOSIERS.com
• IU is 9-14 in Big Ten openers, and has not won a conference-opener since the 2001-02 season when it defeated Ohio State, 64-52 on Dec. 28, 2001.
• The Hawkeyes got the best of the Hoosiers last season claiming a pair of victories (61-52 on Dec. 30 in Iowa City and 56-53 on Feb. 27 in Bloomington). Iowa leads the all-time series, 35-12, and has won the last four-straight meetings between the two teams.
SCOUTING IOWA
Iowa carries a 7-4 overall record heading into its Big Ten opener with IU on Thursday. The Hawkeyes participated in the 2005 WNIT and finished the 2004-05 season with an overall record of 23-10. With an 8-8 mark in Big Ten play, Iowa finished sixth in the conference.
The Big Ten's second leading scorer, senior guard Crystal Smith leads the way for Iowa with an average of 20.2 points per game. She also ranks fifth in steals with 2.3 per game. Sophomore forward Krista Vandeventer is second on the team in scoring and first in rebounding with 9.5 points per game and 8.7 rebounds per game, respectively. Two of Iowa's top players (Lindsay Richards and Johanna Solverson) are redshirting the 2005-06 season due to injury.
In the Big Ten, the Hawkeyes rank first in field goal percentage (.477) and three-point field goal percentage (.384), and second in scoring offense (75.6) and assists (18.00). Additionally, they rank 12th in the nation in field goal percentage.
Lisa Bluder is in the midst of her sixth season as the head basketball coach at the University of Iowa. Under Bluder's direction, the Hawkeyes have advanced to five consecutive post-season appearances (3 NCAA and 2 WNIT). She has posted a 103-63 record at Iowa and her 21-year record stands at 459-205. Bluder had stints at Drake (1990-2000) and NAIA school St. Ambrose (1984-1990) prior to taking over the Hawkeye program.
WHAT IT MEANS
An Indiana win would...
Mark its first Big Ten opening win since the 2001-02 season
Snap a four-game losing streak against the Hawkeyes
Be its second-straight win at home
THE STREAK STARTS AGAIN
Already the school record holder (men or women) for consecutive free throws made (48), senior Cyndi Valentin is at it again, as she has made 37-straight shots from the foul line this season, which currently ranks second in the record books. Most recently, she went 11-for-11 from the line against Boston University on Dec. 10, which is the second-highest effort for the senior guard. Valentin went 12-for-12 last year against Maine on Dec. 10, 2004. The Bloomington, Ind., native ranks seventh in the nation in free throw percentage with an average of .964 (53-for-55).
MOVING ON UP
Seniors Jenny DeMuth, Angela Hawkins, Cyndi Valentin and junior Sarah McKay have already etched their names and are on the rise in the IU record books this season.
Valentin, who already holds the school and Big Ten record for career free-throw percentage (.885), is also on track to finish her career among the top-five scorers in IU history. The Bloomington, Ind., native currently sits at ninth overall in the all-time scoring list with 1,362 points.
DeMuth is not too far behind her, sitting in at No. 12 with 1,246 career points. DeMuth also sits at second in free throw attempts (570), second in free-throws made (427), third in steals (182) and eighth in blocked shots (70). The Highland, Ind., native needs just 17 free throws to become IU's all-time leader in career free-throws made.
In addition, Hawkins and McKay are up and coming on Indiana's all-time blocked shot lists with 101 and 81, respectively. Hawkins also ranks seventh in career rebounding (677).
IT FEELS GOOD TO BE HOME
After six games away from home, the Hoosiers are happy to be back playing on their home court again. In IU's first four Big Ten games, three of them are home, starting with Iowa on Dec. 29, followed by Purdue on Jan. 5, and Minnesota on Jan. 9.
DEMUTH NEARS SCHOOL RECORD
Highland, Ind., native Jenny DeMuth is just 17 free throws shy of breaking the school record in career-free throws. She has 427 made during her career. The current record (443) is held by Denise Jackson, who played for the Hoosiers from 1981-84.
NEXT GAME
Indiana travels to State College, Pa., to bring in the New Year with a game against Penn State on Sunday, Jan. 1. Tipoff with the Lady Lions is set for 2 p.m. and can be heard locally on WHCC FM 105.1, with Jeremy Gray calling all the action. Fans can also follow the game on Gametracker on IUHOOSIERS.com.
