THE SETTING
The Iowa Hawkeyes (17-9, 10-5) hit the road for a contest in Ann Arbor, MI, against the Michigan Wolverines (10-16, 3-12) Sunday. Tip-off is slated for 1:05 p.m. (CST) in Crisler Arena. Sunday is Michigan’s “Senior Day”. The Wolverines will say good-bye to five seniors. Iowa has won nine of its last 11 games, while Michigan has dropped 10 of its last 11.
NUMBER OF THE WEEK - - 46
Iowa’s senior trio of, Megan Skouby (1,381), Kristi Smith (1,380) and Wendy Ausdemore (1,257), have compiled a combined 4,018 points during their illustrious four-year careers. The trio is only 46 points from becoming the highest scoring trio, from one class, in Big Ten history. Purdue’s 1988 senior trio of Sharon Versyp (1.565), Christa LaCroix (1,289) and Lisa Jahner (1,209) accumulated a record 4,063 combined points.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN
Michigan will play its final home game of 2008-09 Sunday against Iowa. Michigan finishes at Purdue and at Indiana next week. The Wolverines have had some tough finishes this season, losing nine games by eight points or fewer, including five by four points or less. Michigan is 7-6 in home games this season, but have lost five of its last six. Michigan is coming off a difficult 52-27 loss at Michigan State Thursday night. The 27 points is a school-record for fewest points in a single-game and are the fewest of any Division I school this season. Veronica Hicks and Jessica Minnfield were Michigan’s leading scorers, each netting seven points. The Wolverines shot only 19.1 percent (9-47) from the field and almost had as many turnovers (23) as it did points (27). The Wolverines will recognize their five seniors before Sunday’s contest: Carly Benson, Ashley Jones, Jessica Minnfield, Melina Queen and Stephanie Skrba. The Maize and Blue are led by Minnfield and Benson. Minnfield averages a team-best 10.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 93 assists. Benson ranks second in scoring (9.0) and first in 3-pointers (53-167, .317). Forty-three percent of Michigan’s field goal attempts have come from beyond the 3-point arc. The Wolverines have sank 169 triples. Five players have made 18 or more treys. Michigan’s head coach is Kevin Borseth. Borseth is about to conclude his second season (29-30, .492) with the Wolverines. His overall records stands at 535-240 (.690) in 27 seasons as a head coach.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Sunday will be the 52nd meeting between Iowa and Michigan, with the Hawkeyes boasting a 40-11 advantage in the series. Iowa owns a 16-7 edge in games played in Ann Arbor. The Hawkeyes have won 11 of the last 12, including three of the last four contests played at Crisler Arena. The Wolverines beat Iowa 63-46 last season in Ann Arbor, Dec. 30, 2007. Iowa defeated Michigan, 77-69, on Jan. 26, 2009 earlier this season in Iowa City.
IOWA, MICHIGAN NOTES
• Sunday will be the first of three “Senior Nights” Iowa will be a part of. After Sunday, the Hawkeyes will recognize their own seniors Thursday night and then conclude the regular season in Northwestern’s final home game, next Sunday.
• Iowa’s Kamille Wahlin and Michigan’s Courtney Boylan were two prized recruits coming out of the state of Minnesota. Boylan was named Minnesota’s Miss Basketball, while Wahlin was a finalist.
• Iowa’s last three games of the season are vs. the last bottom teams in the Big Ten standings.
• Iowa boasts a perfect 10-0 record when allowing 59 points or less, are 15-2 when shooting a higher field goal percentage than its opponents and 14-1 when leading at halftime this season.
• Kachine Alexander, who stands 5-9, leads the team and ranks fifth in Big Ten rebounding, pulling down 8.7 per contest.
• Iowa’s senior trio of Megan Skouby (1,381), Kristi Smith (1,380) and Wendy Ausdemore (1,257) is the first-ever senior class of three players in Big Ten history to each have eclipsed 1,225 points.
• Iowa shoots 80 percent (56-70) from the foul line the last two minutes of games, including 88 percent (43-49) with under a minute to go.
• Kristi Smith and Wendy Ausdemore shared game-high scoring honors, both scoring 21, in the first meeting against Michigan earlier this season. Also, Kachine Alexander posted a double-double (10 points and 14 rebounds). For the Wolverines, Krista Phillips registered 16 points and nine rebounds and Veronica Hicks added 15 points. Iowa’s JoAnn Hamlin missed her first game of the season after sustaining an ankle injury in practice the week before.
• Kristi Smith, Megan Skouby and Wendy Ausdemore have had good games against Michigan in their careers. Smith averages 11.7 points, including 11-11 from the foul line, and 2.7 assists in seven starts vs. the Wolverines. Ausdemore averages 9.4 points, while Skouby averages 9.0 points and 5.3 rebounds.
• Iowa has an RPI rating of 33rd in the country and strength of schedule that ranks 25th. Iowa has five wins over teams ranked in the RPI top-50, including two ranked in the top 25. Michigan is rated 115th in the RPI and 36th in strength of schedule. The numbers are based on the report published Feb. 20.
SPECIAL GUEST IN IOWA CITY ON “SENIOR NIGHT”
Gina Glocksen, who was the ninth-place finisher in the 2007 American Idol competition will be in Iowa City for Iowa’s regular season finale vs. Illinois next Thursday. The Tinley Park, IL, native, will sing the national anthem. Glocksen is friends with Hawkeye senior Lindsey Nyenhuis.
HAWKEYES BEAT WISCONSIN THURSDAY NIGHT
Iowa used an 11-0 run to start the second half, gaining control of the game and cruising to a 72-65 win over Wisconsin Thursday night in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. For only the second time this season, five Hawkeyes scored in double figures. Kachine Alexander, Wendy Ausdemore and Megan Skouby shared game-high scoring honors with 15 points apiece. Alexander also secured a team-high 12 rebounds for her team-best sixth double-double of the season. After attempting and making only two free throws in the first half, the Hawkeyes attacked the basket the final 20 minutes and finished the game 20-24 (.833) from the foul line. Conversely, Wisconsin was only 5-9 (.556) from the charity stripe for the game.
SENIOR DUO IN THE RECORD BOOKS
Seniors Kristi Smith and Wendy Ausdemore have their names all over the Hawkeye record books for 3-point shooting. Smith is shooting at a 40.9 percent (175-428) clip from 3-point territory, while Ausdemore is shooting 40.8 percent (210-515). Smith’s career shooting accuracy from distance currently ranks second in the Big Ten and first in Hawkeye record books. Former Ohio State Buckeye Caity Matter (270-657, .411) ranks first. Ausdemore is currently slotted third, followed by former Hawkeye Lindsey Meder (261-644, .405) in fourth. Ausdemore’s 210 treys ranks second in Iowa annals behind Meder’s 261. Smith’s 175 triples rate third best. Last season, Ausdemore was 78-171 (.456), with her percentage ranking third in the nation, and first among players with over 150 attempts. Also, Ausdemore made a school-best 62 triples as a sophomore and 78 as a junior.
ON THE HORIZON
The Hawkeyes will play their regular season home finale Thursday when they entertain the Illinois Fighting Illini at 8:05 p.m. in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
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