University of Northern Iowa Athletics
UNI Plays UIC, IPFW on the Road
12/6/2005 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 6, 2005
Cedar Falls, Iowa -
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UNI University of Northern Iowa women's basketball takes a 3-1 record on the road this weekend. It plays Illinois-Chicago (2-4) Friday at 7:00 p.m. at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago and IPFW (1-3) Sunday at 1:00 p.m. in the IPFW annual Hoopla event.
Senior center Cassie Hager (Perry, Iowa) is averaging 18.0 points, seven rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game. Junior guard Sarah Larsen (Kalona, Iowa) ranks first in the MVC in three-point percentage, hitting 7-of-10 treys. Junior forward Tara King (Ottumwa, Iowa) has tallied 10.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.
• UNI leads the MVC in field goal defense (.390) and three-point field goal defense (.217) and ranks second in field goal percentage (.428) and three-point percentage (.375). It also is second in scoring margin (+9.8).
• UNI has the second-best record in the Valley at 3-1. Illinois State sits atop the MVC with a 4-1 overall record.
• The Panthers have a seven-game home win streak, only losing two games on their home floor a year ago. The all-time home win streak is eight games, set during the 1980-81 season.
• Hager became the all-time Missouri Valley Conference women's basketball career leader in blocks against Murray State (Nov. 30), swatting her 222nd. Katie Miller (2000-03) is the only other UNI basketball (men's and women's) player to clinch an MVC record. She set the record for consecutive made free throws in 2000 with 53.
UNI PROBABLE STARTERS No. Name Pos. Ht. Cl. PPG RPG APG Hometown 3 Jessie Biggs G 5-9 JR 9.5 3.3 3.5 Ottumwa, Iowa 11 Sarah Larsen G 5-8 JR 8.5 4.8 3.0 Kalona, Iowa 13 Cassie Hager C 6-7 SR 18.0 7.0 2.0 Perry, Iowa 23 Traci Ollendieck G 5-10 SO 4.3 3.5 .75 Creso, Iowa 25 Tara King F 6-0 JR 10.5 5.5 1.5 Ottumwa, Iowa
@ ILLINOIS-CHICAGO (7:00 p.m. Friday)
The Flames are 2-4, losing at Northern Illinois 51-40 Dec. 2nd. UIC has defeated Alabama State University (84-39) and Eastern Illinois (86-77). Three players are averaging more than 10 points with Chrissy Dizon leading the team with 15.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. UIC also holds a +6.0 turnover margin over opponents and averages 11.7 steals per game.
UIC finished 14-15 overall and 10-6 (4th) last season in the horizon league.
COACHES: Lisa Ryckbosch is in her fifth year as the head coach for UIC, amassing a 45-46 career record. She is a 1984 graduate of Loyola. She is assisted by Kevin McManaman, Amanda Reese and Latasha White.
SERIES: UNI leads the all-time series with UIC 8-5. Last season, the Panthers defeated the Flames 72-58 in the West Gym. Cassie Hager and Traci Ollendieck each scored 14 points and UIC's Dizon had a game-high 23 points.
@ IPFW (1:00 p.m. Sunday)
The annual Hoopla, hosted by IPFW, is a celebration of women's basketball. UNI/IPFW is the first game of the women's basketball doubleheader. The second game Sunday features Purdue and Valparaiso.
IPFW is 1-3, losing at Tennessee-Martin Sunday 69-60. Its one win was against Kalamazoo College, 98-44. The Mastodons take on IUPUI Thursday (Dec. 8).
Two players are averaging double-figure points as sophomore guard Johnna Lewis-Carlisle has had 15.0 points per game and freshman forward Juliane Moen has averaged 12.0 points.
COACHES: Bruce Patterson is 27-88 in four-plus years as the head coach of IPFW. Prior to coaching the Mastodons, he was the head coach at Saint Francis for 11 years. He is assisted by Chris Paul and Charity Middleton.
SERIES: This is the first meeting between UNI and IPFW.
LAST TIME OUT
Nov. 30, 2005 UNI 82, Murray State 62
UNI (3-1) sped past the Murray State Lady Races (0-4) in its home opener 82-62. Senior center Cassie Hager (Perry, Iowa) became the all-time Missouri Valley Conference blocked shots leader 35 seconds into the contest, blocking her 222nd career shot.
"What a great accomplishment for Cassie," head coach Tony DiCecco said. "She was worked very hard and this is one of the best stories I have ever had in my coaching career - how is has come along and how mature she had become. Brad (Nelson) has done a great job helping her develop skills. I just give Cassie a lot of credit for the progress she has made and how well she has handled herself. She had gotten to be a very good basketball player. She has broken the record in game four and we have quite a few games remaining. I think that really puts it into perspective."
Hager also had a game-high 21 points, going 7-for-8 from the field and a perfect 7-for-7 from the charity stripe. Junior forward Tara King (Ottumwa, Iowa) added 18 points and six rebounds. Sophomore guard Traci Ollendieck (Cresco, Iowa) had 11 points, nailing three from three-point range, and also swatted away a career-high three shots.
The Panthers took immediate control of the contest, racing to a ten-point lead within the first eight minutes and they never trailed in the game. UNI took a 40-24 lead into halftime and only improved upon that mark in the second period.
"I thought we have had a really good balance between our inside and outside offensive game this year," DiCecco said. "When people try to take Cassie away, we can hit our threes and make them respect our outside shot.
UNI shot a season-best 50.8 percent from the field and 52.9 percent from the three-point line. It also was two assists shy of a UNI game record with 26. Junior guard Jessie Biggs (Ottumwa, Iowa) tied a career record with eight assists. The Panthers controlled the boards 40-31 and secured 17 second-chance points.
HISTORIC MATCH UP
UNI women's basketball has the opportunity to be part of history as it plays Iowa State in the first women's basketball game at the new Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Saturday, Dec. 17th at 4:00 p.m. The game is a doubleheader with the Iowa State men's basketball team as it hosts Ohio State in the second game. Tickets may be obtained by contacting the Wells Fargo Arena Box Office on-line at www.dahlstickets.com, or charge by phone at 1-866-55-DAHLS.
HOME OPENERS
With their 82-62 win over Murray State (Nov. 30), the Panthers helped head coach Tony DiCecco to a 7-4 home opener record. It also was the last time UNI women's basketball will have a home opener in the West Gym as the team plans to host all regular-season games in the McLeod Center next season.
IN THE BOOKS
With her 222nd career block against Murray State senior center Cassie Hager became the Missouri Valley Conference career blocked shots record holder. Missouri State's Sharon Zielmann (1984-87) held the previous record of 221. Hager is one of two UNI players to hold a Valley basketball (men's or women's) record. Katie Miller (2000-03) set the MVC record for consecutive made free throws with 53 in 2000.
STRONG START
The Panthers head into this week with a three-game win streak and are outscoring opponents by nearly 10 points. On the season, they have outscored teams 124-93 in the first half. UNI took a double-digit lead into halftime against both Illinois (36-23) and Murray State (40-24).
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Cassie Hager was named MVC Player of the Week Nov. 28.
Hager nearly averaged a double-double in two wins Nov. 25 & 26,tallying 18.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. The 6-7 senior center led the Panthers to a Coors Classic Championship with victories over host-team Colorado (74-65) and Illinois (71-44), being the top scorer in both contests. She also was named all-tournament team MVP.
Hager scored her first double-double of the season in an overtime win over the Buffaloes Friday evening, tallying 21 points and 10 rebounds. She also had a crucial block with 14 second remaining in regulation, keeping Colorado top-scorer Jackie McFarland from the basket. Despite already playing 37 minutes at the higher elevation she recorded seven points in overtime.
Hager then scored 16 points and had 9 rebounds against the Fighting Illini Saturday night. She was 2-for-4 from the three-point line and led the team with four assists, playing 32 minutes.
BIG WINS
UNI captured back-to-back wins over Colorado, a Big 12 team, and Big 10 member Illinois over the weekend at the Coors Classic Tournament. The 74-65 overtime win over the host Buffaloes (Nov. 25) marked the first time the Panthers have defeated a Big 12 squad on its home court. The last Panther overtime victory on an opponent's home floor was at Bradley Feb. 24, 1996 when UNI upset the Braves 87-82.
UNI also is now 2-0 in the all-time series against Illinois, defeating a 24-ranked Fighting Illini team during the 2000-01 season.
DOUBLE BONUS NIGHT
Foul trouble was a major factor in UNI's game against Colorado (Nov. 25). Overall, 55 personal fouls were called in the game and five total players were sent to the bench with five under their belt. UNI lost both of its point guards; junior starter Sarah Larsen fouled out with five seconds remaining in regulation and junior Alicia Irons went out with only 10 seconds left in overtime. The Buffaloes lost Hannah Skildum in regulation and then high-scorers Yari Escalera and Jackie McFarland in overtime.
UNI shot 74.4 percent from the charity stripe, making 29-of-39 free throws, including 12-of-14 in overtime. Colorado only shot 60 percent from the line, making none in the first half and 1-of-4 in overtime.
SUPPORTING CAST
Senior Cassie Hager nearly averaged a double-double at the Coors Classic Tournament (Nov. 25-26) and tallied nine blocks but she was well supported by her teammates in Colorado.
• Sophomore guard Kelly Lund tallied her first collegiate double-double against Colorado, adding 11 points and 10 rebounds, both substantial career highs.
• Junior guard Jessie Biggs averaged 12.5 points and 39 minutes and was 10-for-10 from the free throw line, being named to the all-tournament team.
• Junior forward Tara King had a season-high 15 points against Illinois and also went 10-for-10 from the line and shot .667 percent from three-point range during the tournament.
• Junior Sarah Larsen has a career-high 10 points against Colorado.
SOPHOMORE SURGE
Last year, sophomores (then freshmen) Traci Ollendieck averaged between five and 10 minutes per game and combined for 160 total points, 5.2 points per game. This season, they will be on the court much more and are being looked to for more production. Lund and Keefe are starters and Ollendieck is one of the first off of the bench.
UNI INKS FIVE
University of Northern Iowa women's basketball has signed five players to National Letters of Intent, head coach Tony DiCecco announced. Joining the Panthers for the 2006-07 season is guard Nicole Clausen (Denison, Iowa), post Alexa Mennen (Dumont, Iowa), guard Lindsey Swanson (Denison, Iowa), guard/forward Danielle Wubbens (Rockford, Iowa) and forward/center Rachel Yeggy (Ainsworth, Iowa).
"We are excited to add such an outstanding class to our program," DiCecco said. "This has the potential to be the best recruiting class UNI women's basketball has ever signed. The depth of talent and the commitment they have to basketball has all of us very excited for the future of our program. Each recruit will bring different abilities and characteristics to our program. One of the more outstanding assets they all will bring is their work ethic toward individual development. The experience they have had in state tournaments and summer competition will benefit them in making the transition to college basketball. They all come from outstanding high school programs that have given them a sound foundation to excel at the next level."
NO BIGGIE
Despite breaking a finger on her right hand, junior left-hander Jessie Biggs was still a threat the exhibition game against Winona State (Nov. 10). The Ottumwa, Iowa native started and had nine points, two assists and one steal in 23 minutes.
A+ ON HOOP TEST
Many Panthers passed their two exhibition games with flying colors. Three UNI players shot 100 percent from the behind the arc in both games: juniors Tara King (2-2). Two more Panthers were perfect on the free-throw line: sophomore Kelly Lund (5-5) and senior Rachel Kautzky (3-3).
SCORING THREATS A PLENTY
UNI proved it has a scoring threat in every corner of the court Nov. 6 against William Penn. Six different Panthers scored from behind the arch, including three of the starters and one newcomer. The team combined for 11 treys, shooting 57.9 percent (11-of-19) from three-point range. Overall, 13 players sunk a field goal for UNI.
FREE-THROW QUEEN
In 68 games, junior forward Tara King has made 85.3 percent of her free throws, ranking first on UNI's career list in free throw percentage. Last season, the Ottumwa, Iowa native tied the UNI season record for free-throw percentage with a .868 mark. She has shot 100 percent (free-throws) in 20 regular-season games in her career.
YOUNG BLOOD
Nine Panther players are underclassmen, including five newcomers. Last year, sophomores Traci Ollendieck combined for 205 points. This season, redshirt freshman Kristyn Ferris, sophomore Sarah Potthoff and freshmen Sam Reiser, Amanda Brodsack and Lindsay Beran will give UNI a boost.
TENACIOUS TENURE
The UNI coaching staff, headed up by Tony DiCecco (11th season), has the longest tenure of any women's basketball coaching crew in the Missouri Valley. The Panther staff has 25 overall years of full-time experience at UNI. Allison Pohlman all are entering their sixth year as assistant coaches. DiCecco, alone, has five more years at UNI than any other MVC women's basketball head coach has been at his or her respective institution.
PANTHERS ON THE RADIO
UNI is in the first year of a two-year agreement with KWLO 1330 AM (Star 1330) to broadcast UNI women's basketball. Eric Braley, an adjunct professor in the UNI communications department and Cedar Falls Community Television on-air personality, handles play-by-play duties. Former UNI basketball standout Alex Cook provides color. Most Panther regular-season games also will be streamed on UNI's official athletics website, www.unipanthers.com.
EVERY MONDAY
Also, the 2005-06 women's basketball radio show will start Dec. 5th and run each Monday at 6:00 p.m. throughout the Panthers' season on KWLO 1330 AM. The show will feature host Eric Braley and head coach Tony DiCecco, along with player interviews and special segments.
PRESS LUNCHEON
Each Monday, UNI's in-season coaches speak at Noon in the back room of Pepper's Sports Bar and Grill, located on 18th Street in Cedar Falls. The public and media are invited to attend and hear what Tony DiCecco and the other coaches have to say about their teams. KXEL (1540-AM) will air the coaches comments at 5:00 p.m. each Monday afternoon.
MVC WEEKLY
TELECONFERENCE
The Missouri Valley Conference will hold a weekly women's basketball teleconference for its 10 head coaches each Tuesday beginning in early January. Tony DiCecco is scheduled to be on the call at 12:25 p.m. Media members wishing to participate should call 913-981-5571.
SCHEDULE
11:45 a.m. Dana Eickenburg, SIU
11:50 a.m. Katie Abrahamson-Henderson, MSU
11:55 a.m. Paula Buscher, BU
12:00 p.m. Jim Flanery, CU
12:05 p.m. Jane Albright, WSU
12:10 p.m. Tricia Cullop, UE
12:15 p.m. Robin Pingeton, ILS
12:20 p.m. Jim Wiedie, ISU
12:30 p.m. Amy Stephens, DU
SCOREBOARD PHONE
For the 14th consecutive season, the MVC will utilize its scoreboard phone. By calling (314) 699-6821, fans and media can obtain scores from team sports' seasons. Audio scores also may be obtained by visiting www.mvc-sports.com and clicking on the Audio Scoreboard link on the top right of the home page.
10-TEAM FORMAT
The MVC women's basketball tournament format has expanded to include all 10 teams. The tournament will mirror that of the men's, starting on a Thursday and concluding with the championship on Sunday, March 12th.
MVC PRESEASON POLL
UNI was picked fifth in the 2005-06 MVC preseason poll, voted on by league SIDs, coaches and media. Senior center Cassie Hager was one of five players selected to the all-conference preseason team.
2005-06 Preseason Poll
(First place votes)
1. Indiana State (34), 393
2. Missouri State (3), 349
3. Creighton (3), 302
4. Drake, 271
5. UNI, 219
6. Evansville, 207
7. Illinois State, 190
8. Bradley, 99
9. Wichita State, 92
10. Southern Illinois, 78
A LOOK AT LAST YEAR
• Head coach Tony DiCecco was named Rawlings MVC Coach of the Year.
• UNI finished with a 20-11 overall, 13-5 MVC record, tying for second place in the Valley.
• Alex Cook became the first player in UNI history and the fourth in MVC history to amass 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 points.
• Cassie Hager broke the school record for blocks in a game (8), season (135) and career (209).
• The Panthers led the league in scoring defense, holding opponents to only 56.9 points.
• Cook set the UNI record for rebounds with 1,049.
• UNI set the record for most wins in a season with 20.
• Panthers went 11-2 in home contests, losing only one conference contest in the West Gym.
• UNI swept instate rival and fellow Valley member Drake for the first time.
• Hager was named to the 2005 State Farm MVC all-tournament team.
• Hager and Cook were named to the All-Defensive Team and all-conference first team.
