Iowa Travels to Caribbean for Paradise Jam

THE SETTING
The Iowa Hawkeyes (3-1) will make their first-ever appearance in the Paradise Jam in St. Thomas of the U.S. Virgin Islands this week. The Black and Gold will face three teams from major conferences: Texas Tech on Thursday (5:05 p.m.), South Florida Friday (5:05 p.m.) and California Saturday (7:35 p.m.). All games will be played at the Sports and Fitness Center.

ALL-TIME SERIES
Iowa has never faced Texas Tech or South Florida. Saturday will be only the second meeting between Iowa and California. The Bears beat the Hawkeyes, 89-66, at the Sun Devil Classic in Tempe, AZ on Dec. 9, 1982.

PARADISE JAM TIP-INS
• California will be traveling through four time zones to get to the U.S. Virgin Islands.
• Iowa will play on Thanksgiving Day for the second-straight year. The Hawkeyes beat Mississippi State last November in Cancun.
• The last time Iowa played three games in three days was at the 2001 Big Ten Tournament. Iowa defeated Purdue, a team that was coached by Kristi Curry at the time, to win the championship.
• Iowa starts the season with seven games in 14 days.
• Sophomore reserve Kelsey Cermak and junior Nicole VanderPol are doubtful for the Paradise Jam due to injury.

HAWKEYES CAPTURE HAWKEYE CHALLENGE TITLE
Iowa picked up wins over Boston University (83-58) and Providence (64-46) last weekend to claim its 18th Hawkeye Challenge title. Megan Skouby was named tournament MVP, while senior teammates Wendy Ausdemore and Kristi Smith were recognized on the all-tournament team. Skouby netted a game-high 21 points vs. Boston, and scored another 13 points against Providence. Ausdemore averaged 11 points and 5.5 rebounds, while Smith averaged 12.0 points and 4.0 assists. For the tournament, Iowa shot 42-51 (.824) from the charity stripe. The Hawkeyes also outrebounded both opponents and had a better shooting percentage.

HOT HAND
Megan Skouby shot 27-45 (.600) from the field and 30-34 (.882) from the free throw line the first four games of the season. She has attempted nearly 16 more field goals than the next Hawkeye (Hamlin - 29) and has attempted 25 more free throws than the next Iowa player (Alexander - 19).

ALEXANDER LEADS REBOUNDERS
Kachine Alexander grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds vs. Providence on Sunday. It marked the second time this season and third time in her career she pulled down double-digit rebounds in a game. The sophomore is Iowa’s leading rebounder (7.0 rpg) after four contests; the guard stands five-foot-nine. Alexander shared team-high rebounding honors in Iowa’s opener vs. Texas State, collecting six and was the leading rebounder at Kansas (10) and vs. Providence (11). The Hawkeyes need to replace 15 rebounds per game they lost due to graduation. Jenee Graham, Johanna Solverson and Krista VandeVenter led the Hawkeyes averaging five rebounds per game a year ago.

AUSDEMORE NEARING 1,000-POINT PLATEAU
Senior Wendy Ausdemore has scored 979 career points, just 21 shy of 1,000. Teammates Megan Skouby and Kristi Smith accomplished the feat last season as juniors.

To read the entire release, click HERE

Hawkeyes Host Annual Hawkeye Challenge This Weekened

THE SETTING
The Iowa Hawkeyes (1-1) will host the 23rd edition of the KCRG-TV9 Hawkeye Challenge Saturday and Sunday in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The four-team field features Iowa, Boston University, Portland and Providence. Ticket prices are #9 for adults, $5 for youths and UI students are free.

PROMOTIONS
Saturday is the “Take a Kid to the Game” promotion where each youth will be admitted free with a paying adult. Also, fans who purchased a women’s ticket for Sunday’s game are invited to stay and attend the men’s basketball game vs. Oakland immediately following at approximately 5 p.m.

ON THE TUBE
Sunday’s Iowa game will be televised live in Eastern Iowa on KCRG-TV9. John Campbell, Amy Herrig and Scott Saville will call the action.

ALL-TIME SERIES
Boston University and Providence will both be making their second appearance in the Hawkeye Challenge. Both competed in the 1986 Challenge. Iowa is 1-0 all-time against the Terriers, winning 70-48 on Nov. 29, 1986 in the first round of the Hawkeye Challenge. Iowa has never faced Portland or Providence

SCOUTING BOSTON UNIVERSITY
Boston University will host Siena Thursday night before traveling to Iowa City Friday. The Terriers’ starting lineup features four seniors and a sophomore. Senior Jesyka Burks-Wiley netted a game-high 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds to help the Boston University women’s basketball team open the season with a 50-45 win at Rhode Island last Friday. Senior Christine Kinneary chipped in 11 points and six rebounds and junior Aly Hinton also tallied six boards. The Rams came charging back midway through the second, scoring 15 unanswered points and taking the lead on a layup from Crystal Bellinger as the Rams’ senior guard scored the final six points of the run to stake Rhode Island to a 43-38 edge with seven minutes to play.

HAWKEYES FALL AT KANSAS
Iowa lost its first game of the season Tuesday afternoon, 76-55, at Kansas. The Jayhawks converted 23 Hawkeye turnovers into 24 points and drained eight triples to Iowa’s one en route to victory. Senior Megan Skouby was Iowa’s lone player in double figures, pouring in a game and career-high 33 points (10-17 FG, 13-14 FT). She also collected seven rebounds and rejected a game-high three shots. Senior Kristi Smith contributed seven points, while junior JoAnn Hamlin added four points and eight rebounds. Sophomore Kachine Alexander corralled a game-high 10 rebounds. Iowa had a season-low seven assists on 17 field goals and made only one of nine (.111) 3-point tries. The Hawkeyes did shoot the ball well from the charity stripe, converting 20-24 (.833). The Jayhawks were led by LaChelda Jacobs (18 points), Sade Morris (17 points) and Danielle McCray (15 points, 9 rebounds).

SKOUBY HAS CAREER GAME
Megan Skouby scored 16 of Iowa’s 27 first-half points on 6-8 shooting from the field and 4-4 from the foul line, Tuesday at Kansas. Additionally, the senior scored Iowa’s first nine points in the second half. She finished the contest with a game and career-high 33 points (10-17 FG, 13-14 FT). Her previous career high was 27 points vs. Michigan State her freshman campaign (Jan. 9, 2006). The last time an Iowa player scored over 30 points was Johanna Solverson (31 points at Wisconsin on March 2, 2008). She also posted career highs in free throws made (13) and attempted (14) against the Jayhawks. Her previous free throw bests were 11 made and 13 attempted vs. Indiana State (Nov. 15, 2006). The native of Mentor, OH, tallied 17 points against the Jayhawks her sophomore season in a game played in Kansas City. Skouby also collected seven boards and rejected a game-high three shots, playing 39 of the 40 minutes.

To read the entire release click here

Iowa Opens Season Sunday vs. Texas State

THE SETTING
The Iowa Hawkeyes (0-0) open the 2008-09 season Sunday with a home game against Texas State (0-0). Tip-off is slated for 2:05 p.m. inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Tickets are $9 for adults, $5 for youths, while UI students are admitted free.

PROMOTIONS
Present your Penn State or Purdue football stub at the ticket window for one free admission to Sunday’s contest vs. Texas State. There will also be a pre-game Kids Fun Zone on the north concourse and post-game player autographs.

PRE-GAME CEREMONIES
Senior Kristi Smith will be honored with a souvenir basketball to commemorate her 1,000th career point. She scored it last March against Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis. Also, the Hawkeyes will unveil their Big Ten championship and NCAA Tournament banner, which is located in the rafters in the southwest corner of Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

IOWA IN SEASON OPENERS
Iowa is a perfect 8-0 in season openers under Head Coach Lisa Bluder. Sunday will mark the seventh time in the last eight years the Hawkeyes will open the season at home. The Black and Gold boast a +17.9 margin of victory in the last eight season openers.

IOWA WINS ITS TWO EXHIBITION GAMES
Iowa beat Quincy (88-57) and Upper Iowa (74-54) in its two exhibition games. Senior Wendy Ausdemore averaged 17.5 points and 3.0 assists, senior Megan Skouby averaged 15.5 points and 11 rebounds and freshman Kamille Wahlin averaged 10 points, five rebounds and five assists in the two games. Junior JoAnn Hamlin, who did not play in the first exhibition contest due to injury, played 19 minutes against Upper Iowa. She collected 10 points, six rebounds and four assists. In the two games, Iowa shot 33-43 (.767) from the charity stripe and averaged 21.5 assists.

SCOUTING TEXAS STATE
Texas State will open its season at Drake (Friday) before traveling to Iowa City. The Bobcats return 13 letterwinners, including two starters from a team that went 21-11 a year ago, including a 14-2 first place finish in the Southland Conference. Texas State’s 15-player roster features junior Megan Homan, who hails from Remsen, IA. Homan transferred to Texas State this year after playing two seasons at Des Moines Area CC. There are five seniors on the Maroon and Gold’s 2008-09 roster. The Bobcats’ top returnees include juniors Aimee Hilburn and Victoria Davis and senior Ashley Cole. Davis averaged 7.4 points, Hilburn averaged 7.1 points and 6.2 rebounds, and Cole averaged 11.4 points and 4.0 boards. Sophomore Gabriell Mattox will likely start Sunday at forward, seeing game action for the first time in two years after transferring from the University of Texas. Last year, Texas State had one of the best 3-point threats in the nation. Joyce Ekworomadu, who was a senior last year, made 82-188 (.436) to rank seventh nationally in percentage. Iowa’s Wendy Ausdemore, who was a junior last season, ranked third (78-171, .456). Texas State is coached by Suzanne Fox, who enters her 17th year (259-201, .563) as a head coach and her 12th (142-168, .458) with the Bobcats.

For more information click here.

GET TO KNOW HER

Lindsey Nyenhuis, Iowa

Lindsey Nyenhuis had a dream internship last summer working in Los Angeles for Fox Corporate Communications. She wrote bios for upcoming reality shows, wrote press releases and even mingled with some Hollywood celebrities during her six-week stay. Her goal is to work on-camera for the Big Ten Network or back in Los Angeles at Fox. The outgoing guard maintains a personal video blog covering behind the scenes of her senior season with the Iowa Hawkeyes. Watch Lindsey’s story at BigTenNetwork.com or on the Get to Know Her Club’s page on Facebook.

Playing at an upper level against Upper Iowa

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- The University of Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball team closed out its preseason and improved to 2-0 in exhibition play after defeating the Upper Iowa Peacocks 74-54 this afternoon inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

The game started off fairly slow with both teams shaking off early-season rust. Iowa won the opening tip, and guard Kachine Alexander scored the first points of the game. Iowa jumped out to a 13-2 lead early before Upper Iowa answered with a 10-3 run, capped by a three-pointer to cut the Hawkeye advantage to 16-12. With Upper Iowa pushing the ball in transition, Iowa stopped the fast-break and trapped the ball-handler to force a five-second call to give the ball back to Iowa.

To read more about this game please click here.

Hawkeyes Gear Up For Final Exhibition Game

THE SETTING
The Iowa women’s basketball team will host Upper Iowa in its second exhibition contest Sunday. Tip-off is slated for 3:35 p.m. inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Tickets are $3 for adults, while UI students and children 18 years and under will be admitted free.

PROMOTIONS
Sunday will be a rare men’s-women’s doubleheader. Fans who present their men’s basketball ticket stub vs. Wayne State or football ticket stub vs. Penn State will be admitted free to the women’s contest vs. Upper Iowa.

IOWA ROUTES QUINCY IN EXHIBITION OPENER
Iowa outscored Quincy by 27 points in the second half en route to a convincing 88-57 triumph last Sunday in the Hawkeyes’ exhibition opener.

The Lady Hawks clawed to within one point (41-40) five minutes into the second stanza, but Iowa answered with a 24-3 run the next seven minutes to put the game away.

All five Iowa starters tallied double figures. Four seniors led the way for the Black and Gold. Wendy Ausdemore scored a team-high 18 points, Megan Skouby had 17 points, Kristi Smith netted 14 points and Nicole VanderPol drained 12 points. Skouby also posted game highs in rebounds (15) rebounds and blocks (2). Sophomore starter Kachine Alexander registered 10 points, nine rebounds and three assists.

Freshman Kamille Wahlin dished out a game-high six assists to go along with her seven points. Freshman Hannah Draxten chipped in with five points and four rebounds.
As a team, Iowa outrebounded Quincy 50-43 and outshot the Lady Hawks 47% (31-66) to 29% (19-65). Additionally, Iowa sank eight triples (8-26, .308) in victory.

SCOUTING UPPER IOWA
Upper Iowa finished last season with a 7-23 overall record and a 3-15 mark in the Northern Sun Conference. The Peacocks roster this season features two seniors and seven underclassmen (three freshmen and four sophomores).

Last year, Upper Iowa averaged 60 points per game. Junior Andrea Downs averaged a team-best 11.6 points, 5.3 assists and 1.2 steals a year ago to pace the Peacocks. Also, senior Britney Iredale averaged 8.2 points and 4.7 rebounds last season.

Upper Iowa is coached by Interim Head Coach Mike Brown. He served as the Peacocks’ assistant coach the previous three seasons.

To Read the entire release click here

Iowa (0-0) vs. Quincy (0-0)

ON IOWA
Last season, Iowa won a share of the Big Ten regular season conference championship with Ohio State. The title is the program’s ninth, the second-most behind Ohio State (11). Iowa lost to eventual champion Purdue (80-73) in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament. Last year marked the first time since the 2004-05 season (Michigan State and Ohio State) that there were co-champions.

The Hawkeyes won of 11 of their last 13 regular season contests, including winning eight straight during conference play. The eight-game winning streak was the longest by any Big Ten team throughout the season. Furthermore, Iowa won a Big Ten-best five league road games.

SCOUTING QUINCY
The Quincy University women’s basketball team is coming off a 20-10 record last year and advancing to the second round of the NCAA Division II National Tournament.

Quincy, who is coached by J.D. Gravina, returns all five starters from a year ago. The Lady Hawks’ 2008-09 roster consists of nine upperclassmen -- six juniors and three seniors. Senior guard Jessica Keller led the Lady Hawks in scoring (20.5), rebounding (7.7), assists (148), steals (103) and free throws made (172) and attempted (224). Junior forward Lindsey Stellflue ranked second in scoring (13.1), rebounding (4.6) and 3-pointers made (44) and attempted (126). As a team, Quincy averaged 78.2 points and made 192 triples in 30 games.

The Lady Hawks will play at Drake Saturday before visiting Iowa City on Sunday. Quincy opens its 2008-09 season Nov. 15 against Saginaw Valley State University in the Subway/Quincy Tip-Off Tournament.

To read more from the Iowa WBB Game Notes for this game please click here.

Iowa WBB Media Day Quotes

The following is courtesy of Iowa Sports Information Department

2008 Iowa Women’s Basketball Media Day Player Quotes

Wendy Ausdemore – Senior, Forward

(on her goals for her season season)

“We want to have a great senior year and are looking forward to it. The freshmen have come in and worked hard. Our goals are to defend our home court, be Big Ten champions again and make the NCAA Tournament. We want to be able to play in front of our home fans here at Carver (Hawkeye-Arena).”

(on responsibilities of being a senior leader on this team)

“The underclassmen are doing a great job. They are excited to be here and they are working hard. We just try to do the little things to help them and show them the intensity level that is needed. Also, we make sure they are doing alright on and off the court.”

(on defensive rebounding)

“Defensive rebounding was one of the reasons we had such a successful season last year. We lost some great defenders and rebounders from last year’s team and that has been our focus. We all need to step into those roles and improve in those areas.”

(on the five seniors)

“We have been really close since our freshman year. It is fun that we all play the one through five positions so we possibly could all be out there at the same time. We are looking forward to a great senior year.”

Megan Skouby – Senior, Center

(on motivation to have a successful senior year)

“I really want to do well this year. Not just for me, but for the entire team. I would love to get us back to where we were last year. I know we can repeat some of the things we did last year and improve as well.”

(on being a senior leader)

“As freshmen we came in not knowing what to expect. I really think that this year we are really prepared and so ready to go out there and show everyone what we really can do. We are looking to continue our leadership roles as seniors. The underclassmen will be looking up to us. They are great players and I am really excited to see what they can do. “

JoAnn Hamlin – Junior Forward/Center

(on when she found her comfort level after transferring)

“I became the most comfortable here at the end of last season. Some could probably tell that I was playing better and a little bit more like myself. I was able to get that comfort level with my teammates and was able to read them better. With the freshmen coming in over the summer we have been able to play together and I feel we are all comfortable playing with each other so far. “

(on the frontcourt losses due to graduation)

“We all have to step it up. We are going to have to make up for all the rebounding we lost and we all have to pick it up. I am prepared to log more minutes than last year and I am in much better shape than I was last season so hopefully that will help.”

Kristi Smith – Senior, Guard

(on how the senior class has matured)

“We’ve all really matured on and off the court. We’ve built lasting relationships and they’re like my sisters so I’ve enjoyed being able to play with them the last three years.”

(on being more of a vocal leader)

“Being a senior captain has made me step out of my box a little bit to become more vocal. I have always been a quiet person and let my play talk for me, but I do realize I have more responsibility on the team now and I need to help out my teammates by being more vocal.”

(on her leadership role)

“Yeah, we got thrown into the fire right away. Coach Bluder was always really honest with us and she told us up front what she expected from us. We’ve just tried our hardest to not disappoint her and do our best.”

Kachine Alexander - Sophomore, Guard

(on last season)

“Last year was hard for me. I worked on my game in the summer and during my time off. The mental strength and stability that I had to have to get over that has really carried over into this year. When the season comes everyone will get to see how hard I worked.”

(on helping the freshmen adjust)

“I help them get to classes, bus routes and we’ve gone out to dinner. We’ve talked about everything [being a student athlete] as an individual. Just little things that help, they’ll call me if they need help getting something or where to get it. It’s been really great.”

(on her role this year)

“Rebounding and defense like last year, but a lot more offense this year, too. We lost a lot of offense from last year, so I need to step up on the wing. All summer all I worked on my shot. Defense had to take a backseat a little bit so I could improve my shot and be a threat on the arc.”

(on working on her offensive game)

“Yeah, I have worked on my shot a lot. My offensive skills have gotten a lot better. I wanted to be an option for my team to go to. I think that I have accomplished that and they have that faith in me that they can trust me.

(on playing with Megan Skouby)

“I have never ever played with anyone that big. The Big Ten has some big girls in it and my freshman year I had to learn the hard way. Skouby blocked every shot I took and I kept thinking ‘How am I going to get this around her?’ It helped me though, going against Michigan State’s Allyssa DeHaan you have to alter your shot somehow. That’s an even bigger girl!”

Kamille Wahlin – Freshman, Guard

(on team chemistry)

“Everyone is getting along really well. We have five seniors that have great leadership and they’re very helpful with us four freshmen. They know they’ve been there and had to adjust themselves so they have been there when I have questions and they’ve shown us the ropes.”

(on envision her first game as a Hawkeye)

“I’ve thought about that a lot and talked about it with Hannah. I know I’ll be nervous and there will be butterflies. But, I’ll also be very excited because when you are at the point of achieving a big goal of playing in the Big Ten, you’ll just be ready for it because you’ve been preparing for it forever.”

(on the coaching staff)

“They’re a great coaching staff. I have had my individuals with them and it has just been a lot of fun so far. They’re very good teachers and very patient to make you a better player.”

(on the freshmen and seniors)

“Chemistry has developed really well. Three of us were here this summer and we just got to know each other. We look to the seniors for help and they’re very good people whether we have questions with school or basketball. They’re always there to help us.”

(on similarities between her and Kristi)

“We both are scoring point guards; Kristi is very good at getting to the basket and penetrating as well as she’s a very good outside shooter. We’re kind of the same in that we both like getting to the basket, dish the ball or find the outside shot.”

(on playing with Hannah in AAU)

“We played together for a year in AAU. She’s a very good outside shooter and a good rebounder. She has a good all-around game. I think she’ll just bring scoring and rebounding and she’s a really good defender too, so she’ll bring a lot of aspects to the game.”

(on her role on the team)

“I guess we will have to see when the games come. I’m just going to do my best to get in there and maintain the tempo she’s (Kristi) set. She sets the tempo for the game so when I come in I’ll learn from that and just do my best to do what she’s doing.”

Iowa WBB Coach Bluder Q & A

The following is courtesy of Iowa Sports Information Department

THE MODERATOR: Coach, the stage is yours.

COACH BLUDER: Thank you for coming out today. Excited about another year beginning. Can't believe it's already here. But last year I think was really proof to this team that great things can be accomplished when everybody's working on the same page, when you're working hard, you're working confidently. I know this year's team is equally excited about having another remarkable season.

There's plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the year this year. We return three key players from last year. Kristi Smith, who I think is the best point guard in the Big Ten conference. Wendy Ausdemore, who is ranked as the best three-point shooter in the Big Ten conference.

Megan Skouby, who has had the most experience of any center in the Big Ten conference. Those are three very key positions. We return exceptional people at all those positions.

We also have the addition of Kachine Alexander back to our team. I don't think I get a lot of arguments that people would think she was probably one of our best defensive players on our team last year. She was really coming into her own when obviously she had to leave our team because of academic reasons. But she's had a great spring and a wonderful summer academically. She's doing well. She's excited about being back on the floor, being able to contribute on the floor.

We have JoAnn Hamlin back. JoAnn Hamlin I think is ready to be a factor this season, after sitting out, after her transfer, and playing behind Krista VandeVenter last year. I think this is her time to be a big factor in our basketball program as well.

We have four freshmen that I feel will contribute almost immediately for our basketball team.

Kamille Wahlin, very excited about her potential as our future leader on this basketball team, as our future point guard. She reminds me a lot of Kristi Smith, but at the same time she's got a little bit more size than Kristi Smith. So I think that's a good thing for her. She will be a great player. This is going to be a wonderful year for her to learn from Kristi and play behind Kristi but get valuable minutes in preparation for her leading our team in the future.

We also have Hannah Draxten as a freshman. Hannah is a great shooter, scoring over 2,000 points in her high school career. Could play the two or the three for us. Again, another good defensive player, but a really nice offensive scorer for us.

Kelly Krei, our local recruit, what a great athlete. Kelly could play in so many different positions on the floor. I think that makes it fun to coach her because she can do so many things that you just by looking at her don't think she can do. She is going to be a factor for us, a tremendous defensive player, very coachable, works extremely hard. I think Kelly is going to be an exciting player for everybody in this community to watch after her successful career at City High.

Then Shante Jones. Shante could play a two or a three for us. She's from Dayton, Ohio. Again, a really nice scorer for us. But is going to have to play catch-up a little bit because she wasn't here this summer. That will put her behind just a little bit.

But just like last year, I don't think teams do remarkable things without special seniors, and we have five special seniors again this year, just like we did last year. In fact, I think we kind of have this unique combination right now of successful experience and youthful enthusiasm. If we can get those two things to blend together, I think we've got a really, really good product on our hands.

Another tough and challenging schedule. In fact, 20 of our 29 games are against teams that were in post-season play last year. We have a lot of highlights, including hosting Iowa State, hosting the University of Northern Iowa. Again, our Hawkeye Challenge, we're having Boston University, Providence and Portland in that tournament. We are going on the road to play at Kansas, at Duke, who is ranked No. 5 in the country right now, and at Drake University. Then at our neutral site in The Virgin Islands over Thanksgiving, we'll be playing Texas Tech from the Big 12, South Florida from the Big East, and California, a team that's currently ranked No. 2 in some polls. So we're going to have a great challenge there in The Virgin Islands, a great schedule that will prepare us for the Big Ten season.

Then, of course, at the end of the year playing host to the NCAA tournament is something we have not done in 10 years here at the University of Iowa. Our players are very excited about the opportunity to host the tournament. What that means is if we are selected, and I'm not going to say if, when we are selected, we will be playing at home in the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament.

Q. This senior class, four years ago when you brought these five girls in, I remember you saying, Wait to see what these girls can do. Is this what you had in mind?

COACH BLUDER: You're right, this was a special class. I was thinking about that as we prepared for this. One thing, I can't believe they're seniors already. It's gone incredibly fast. It's also kind of sad, too. It's my last opportunity to coach them.

But that's what brings special things out of kids. I think we saw that last year with our seniors the remarkable things they did in their senior year. When you're a senior, you have a different way of approaching things. I think that these guys have had marvelous careers so far, but they're really ready to put a stamp on it this year.

Q. There was one game, their freshmen year, all five of them together on the floor at the same time. Is that going to happen again this year?

COACH BLUDER: It could. Not able to look into the crystal ball. It may. They're obviously five very talented individuals. It would be fun to have that happen.

Q. Lindsey and Nicole have been nicked up their whole careers. Are you hoping to get them healthy the whole time?

COACH BLUDER: Yeah, you know, Lindsey and Nicole have had obviously some injury problems coming in here. Right now Lindsey's having a little bit of foot pain again. We just hope to get her pain free so that she can, you know, be able to really show everybody what she can do in her senior year.

Q. Kelly Krei, thought maybe she would be a wing coming into college. Are you going to need her more as a four?

COACH BLUDER: You know, we could use her as four, definitely. I think she's so versatile, she could play in a number of different positions for us. You know, Kelly is really a kid that's capable of playing the two, three or four. But we'll probably need her more at the four position. We have a little bit more depth at the two and the three position.

Q. It seems like the graduation from last year, the area maybe you're going to be hardest hit at is rebounding.

COACH BLUDER: I agree with you.

Q. Who is going to pick up the slack there?

COACH BLUDER: That's the challenge we've been giving them during individual workouts this year. We've been trying to point out to them that we did lose a lot of great rebounders from last year. When you think of Jenee Graham and Johanna Solverson, Krista VandeVenter, or Stacy, what they did for us in the rebounding part of it, we have to have some other people assume new roles in rebounding.

Also on the defensive end, too. Those were some of our best defensive players. We've really been challenging them in individual workouts that that's an area we need to work on because we were very good in those two areas last year and we need to continue if we want to have a successful program to do that.

You're exactly right, other people are going to have to step up and assume those responsibilities. I think we have people that can do that. When you look at JoAnn Hamlin, she's a natural rebounder. Kachine, 10 rebounds at Minnesota, she's a tremendous rebounder. Wendy can be a great rebounder. Megan. We have people that can assume that responsibility, but now they're going to have to instead of talking about it.

Q. Last year Iowa made 197 three-pointers, which was 40 more than the previous season. You were ranked first in the Big Ten in three-point shooting. Talk about the three-pointer and will it again play an important part in your offense this season?

COACH BLUDER: It will. As long as we've got great three-point shooters, we're going to work around it. That doesn't mean that's what we're going to solely rely on. I believe you have to have a good inside attack to make your outside shots more available.

I think that's why we were successful at it last year. That's not what we only did. But definitely when you've got Wendy Ausdemore, Kristi Smith, you've got to be putting up a lot of three-point shots. And we will continue to do that.

Q. How is it different coming into a season as the defending Big Ten regular-season champion?

COACH BLUDER: You know, the only difference is it gives the kids confidence. It gives them proof that what we did last year works, so let's continue doing those same things.

But truly, that's over, and now besides the confidence it brings you and the lessons, it's over, and now it's ready to start again. I think these guys are ready. They want their own legacy here.

These five seniors, especially.

Q. Defensively last year the team made huge strides. You were second in the Big Ten in defending field goal shooting, first in defending the three, held teams to 60 points a game. Talk about the defense this year and the role it has to play.

COACH BLUDER: Again, that's something we really challenged our team with. Again, last year was such proof that we have to have those two elements, rebounding and defense, for a team to be a championship team, for a team to be successful. So we've got great lessons to draw upon. We just have to keep reminding them of that and their commitment to doing a good job in those two areas.

We haven't made a lot of changes in our defense from last year. A couple minor things. But we haven't made a lot of adjustments. We think what we did last year worked really well. We just need to continue to bring that intensity that we established on defense last year.

Q. Johanna Solverson, she was probably the most aggressive player as far as creating her shot. Do you need somebody like Johanna to become the person that will take the initiative or do some creating?

COACH BLUDER: Right. I'm smiling because I think she was the most aggressive in everything. You know, first in line for the water cooler. Now she's over in Greece playing, enjoying a professional career now. Very happy for her.

But you're right, Johanna was an aggressive player, but not just offensively really, I mean, defensively, rebounding, get out of my way. We do have to have that type of personality. I think that type of personality on your team raises everybody else's intensity. I think we have people that are capable of being that aggressive, assertive type of person. I think Kachine Alexander is very much like that. I think JoAnn Hamlin is very much that personality.

Now, as far as creating offense, I don't know if we've got a replica of her, just to be able to put out there. But I think Kachine Alexander really worked on her offense over the summer. I think we're going to see improvements in her offense there. And, again, I think with Wendy and Kristi, we've got some really good guns in there offensively.

Q. Last season the team seemed fueled by maybe it was the disappointment of the previous year. How are they handling the success of last year?

COACH BLUDER: Yeah, you know, that's always a fine line because you want to enjoy last year's success, but you also at the same time don't want to rest on your laurels either. I believe that they have enjoyed last year's success, and you have to have success. If you don't have any success ever, you start to lose motivation, you start to lose the belief. So I think those things have really intensified from last year.

But at the same time I think as coaches we have to keep them hungry. We've got to keep reminding them of what it takes to be successful.

I think the team is pretty smart, though. They realize we did lose some pretty important elements of last year's team. And I think that alone has kept this team hungry. I think if everybody would be returning, it would have been a little bit harder. But I think with the loss of some pretty important seniors, it almost makes this team realize, yeah, we do have to keep working hard because we've lost some really good players from last year.

So I think that's almost made them a little bit more hungrier because of that.

Q. Do you think they have the swagger of a Big Ten champion returning or still that chip on their shoulder?

COACH BLUDER: I hope that they have more of the swagger versus the chip on the shoulder. But I don't know that I've been around them enough in practice situations yet to really give you a complete answer on that. But I hope that they have the swagger. I think you have to have the confidence and you have to have the belief going to play on the road in the Big Ten, going to play at Kansas, at Duke, playing against the competition we're going to play. You better believe in yourself or it's going to be over quickly.

Q. When you look at the schedule, you can't help but zero in starting late November, eight days when you are going to face Cal, Duke, come home to host Iowa State. Looks like a pretty critical and challenging part of the schedule for you. Your thoughts on that section?

COACH BLUDER: It's going to be extremely difficult, as we know. We're playing on the road, on a neutral site, obviously getting to host Iowa State, who is going to have an excellent basketball team. That's a tough segment.

But, you know, you can't look at it as a segment. We've got to look at it as one game at a time. If we start looking at the overall picture, I think it gets overwhelming. Just focus on one game at a time and that's how we'll keep our team focused.

Q. Was this schedule designed to be that tough early, knowing the girls you had coming back, wanting to challenge them right away?

COACH BLUDER: Some of it is definitely by design, knowing we had a pretty good team coming back this year. That's why we started the Kansas series. We will be hosting them here next year with that series. We think that's a great series to add.

To play at The Virgin Islands, that is one of the premiere women's basketball tournaments in the country. Great competition, three games in three days. That's very difficult to do. You're playing in The Virgin Islands, which is really nice. So it's a great tournament. It's a premiere tournament, like I said.

But, you know, the Duke game, we had no control over that. We don't know who they're going to give to you. You have no idea who they're going to match you up with in the Big Ten/ACC series. That's the only one we really don't know what's going to happen until after the season.

Q. You talk about Kristi, Wendy and Megan. Have they changed much since they got here? What were they like as freshmen versus now?

COACH BLUDER: Oh, my. You know, I think they've all changed. But Kristi has really changed because she's had to become more of a leader. Kristi was always a leader by example. She always worked hard and did what you asked of her. But she's had to become more of a vocal leader. And that's really not something she's comfortable with. And even now she's still not. Even though she's so much better than when she came as a freshman, she is so much better in understanding that.

Wendy, same thing. Wendy is the type of person that would really cheer people on, but holding other people accountable wasn't really something that she was comfortable with. And she's had to learn to as a senior and as a captain on our basketball team, they've had to learn those roles.

But I think both of them, all of them, their game has changed tremendously from when they came here as a freshman. But I think more than anything, it's their leadership that has really developed, and what really shines.

And then one thing that's been a constant is the type of people they are. I mean, they are wonderful human beings. They're incredible role models. They excel in the classroom. And that's one thing that's been a constant throughout their career that I'm extremely proud of them for doing.

Q. Megan, seemed like when she came in, she had all the natural talent. Seems like she's had kind of adjusted to the years to add the grit to her talent.

COACH BLUDER: Yeah, Megan has probably had to make the most adjustments to anybody, from being a starter to being a non-starter, from being a person being the leading scorer on our team to somebody who wasn't.

I have a lot of confidence in Megan this year. I think she can have a tremendous year. Has she made the big huge strides that maybe Kristi and Wendy, that we saw with them? You know, probably not. But at the same time she came in at a pretty good level. I mean, she came in as a great, great basketball player. We just want her to leave that way as well.

Q. Only two Big Ten teams, Ohio State and Michigan State, have gotten any mention in the top 25 pre-season rankings. Is the Big Ten being overlooked or taken for granted?

COACH BLUDER: I think those two teams deserve to have that type of attention. I think Purdue also deserves to have some of those type of notoriety. I think people look at us and see that we were hit by graduation. So that's going to give you nothing in the early season as far as attention. And that's fine with me. I've never really been a big believer in that you have to have those early season rankings. I'd rather have them at the end of the year, like any coach would.
As far as the Big Ten, we didn't do extremely well in post-season play last year. So it's probably where we should be. We need to go out and earn it this year, earn that respect nationally.

Q. With Megan, has anybody had a career path quite like hers? It seems unusual.

COACH BLUDER: I'm not sure if any athlete ever -- if two athletes ever have the same career path. They're all so individual. They're all unique and different in how they respond to coaching, how they develop.

I just think we saw Megan develop very early. Was almost a surprise on the scene her freshman year at how much she contributed right away. How much bigger jumps can kids make? I mean, that's pretty tough when you come in, maybe on a scale of 1 to 10, a 9 on your scale of your development. You don't have as big a jump to make as a kid that comes in that hasn't been developed as much.

So I don't know if I've had another player that's had her same career path, but I'm not sure that I've had a Wendy or a Kristi either.

Q. Is she still going to be coming off the bench this year? Do you know that yet?

COACH BLUDER: I don't know that yet. That's the kind of carrot I like to keep out there until the week before the game as far as keep the kids guessing as to who's going to be a starter and who's not going to be a starter. I'm sure they can kind of look around the room and figure it out for themselves. So can you guys.

But, you know, is there surprises? There always is. And I certainly am not going to say who is going to be a starter right now because that would take a lot of the competition out of the first month of practice for us.

Q. Looking at the Big Ten schedule, you play Ohio State only once. We play Michigan State once in East Lansing. The first five games in the Big Ten, three are on the road. What are your thoughts about the Big Ten schedule for Iowa this year?

COACH BLUDER: You have it analyzed much more than I do, to be quite honest (laughter).
I did realize that we had Ohio State and Michigan State only once, which from a perspective right now, that would be really good for post-season and for rankings in the conferences. They're the two highest-ranked teams in our conference. At the same time that can hurt your RPI because you're not playing the top teams twice.

Obviously we love to have the opportunity to have Michigan State on our home floor. We've fared very well against Michigan State on our home floor in the past. The three road games to begin the season, I really hadn't even realized that. I know we have one against Wisconsin before the Christmas break on the road. I didn't realize we had two right away to begin the Big Ten, which almost surprises me, because that's one of the things they try to avoid, having so many road games in a row. So I'm surprised, quite honestly, that you bring that up, that is true.

But, you know, on the other hand that means we're going to have a lot of home games late and it means we're going to have a lot of home games in a row. That can be a real positive. If you can get some of those road games early, boy, it makes the latter part of your schedule really attractive.

Q. Of the seniors, Nicole maybe got lost in the shuffle last year. Does she have the most to prove this pre-season to get back in the rotation a little bit?

COACH BLUDER: I'm not sure if she's got the most to prove of anybody. I don't know if Nicole has to prove anything to anybody on our team because we all admire so much what Nicole brings to this basketball team, what Nicole has done with having diabetes and being able to perform at this level. To perform at this level alone is challenging. To add that type of health issue to it is amazing what she accomplishes.

So I don't think Nicole has to prove anything to anybody because we all recognize when she comes in the game, the spirit she brings, the enthusiasm she brings, and what a competitor she is every single day in practice.

So I know that Nicole, because she's a competitor, wants to be out on the floor more. She'll have that chance just like everybody else will.

Q. Do you think at the end of the year Hannah will have probably the most minutes of all the freshmen?

COACH BLUDER: I think Hannah will log a lot of minutes. But I think Kelly, Kamille as well. Those three probably the most of our freshmen. But I wouldn't want to single out one of them because I'm not sure right now. I mean, Kamille will be backing up Kristi. Again, we need to give her valuable minutes. We need to make sure Kamille gets those minutes for our future program.

Q. Play her at the one or two?

COACH BLUDER: We're going to have her stick to the one. We don't feel like right now we need the depth at the two for one thing. As a freshman, I would rather they concentrate at one position, especially when you're talking about a point guard, because it's such a demanding position. Not only are you a freshman adjusting to just being a Division I basketball player, but now you're expected to lead the team, call the offenses and defenses. That alone, I think for her just to concentrate on being the backup point guard, is probably enough to ask of her as a freshman.

Thank you. Appreciate everybody coming out.

MAYS LEAVES IOWA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM

IOWA CITY - - Iowa Head Women’s Basketball Coach Lisa Bluder announced today that freshman Tia Mays has left the team to concentrate on her academics. Mays is from Des Moines, IA, and played prep basketball at East High School.

“This was a very difficult decision for Tia to make and we fully support her decision,” said Bluder. “The number one goal for all our student-athletes is to earn their degrees. We understand her decision to leave the team and focus on academics.”

Iowa’s 12-player roster for 2008-09 includes five seniors, one junior, two sophomores and four freshmen. The Hawkeyes return eight letterwinners, including two starters and a part-time starter, from last year’s co-Big Ten regular season championship team.

Iowa women’s basketball media day is scheduled for Oct. 8 at 10 a.m. at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.