Jan. 30, 2007
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
THIS WEEK IN PANTHER WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
The Panthers close out their four-game home stand with a game against in-state foe Drake on Thursday and Creighton on Saturday. Both games will be broadcast by KWLO 1330 AM, and the Drake game will be carried by Mediacom.
PANTHERS CLOSE HOMESTAND AGAINST DRAKE, CREIGHTONThe University of Northern Iowa women's basketball team will close out its four-game homestand when it hosts Drake on Thursday and Creighton on Saturday.
The Bulldogs and Bluejays are both coming off winning weekends. The Bulldogs picked up their first two Missouri Valley Conference wins when they topped Wichita State 69-61 on Thursday and picked up an 82-76 overtime win over Missouri State on Saturday.
After season-ending injuries to preseason all-MVC Jill Martin and Jordann Plummer, the Bulldogs have been led by Brandy Dahir, who is averaging 16.6 points per game. Junior Lindsay Whorton was named last week's MVC Player of the Week after averaging 23.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.0 steal per game in that week, helping the Bulldogs earn their two MVC wins.
Creighton comes in as winners of their last three. The Bluejays earned a road win on Jan. 21 when they defeated Evansville, 76-74. Creighton won both of its home games last week, topping Missouri State 61-51 on Thursday and Wichita State 72-66 on Saturday. Ally Thrall leads the Bluejays with 11.6 points per game.
Entering the week, the UNI and Creighton are in a three-way tie, along with Evansville, for third place in the MVC standings, each sporting 5-4 league records.
Earlier this season UNI completed its first ever road sweep of Drake and Creighton. UNI won at Creighton, 56-53 on Jan. 4. The Panthers were then 61-55 winners at Drake on Jan. 6.
The Panthers are coming off a 69-66 win over Indiana State on Saturday. UNI was led by a career-high 34 points from senior Jessie Biggs.
LAST TIME OUT
Jessie Biggs scored a career-high 34 points to lead the University of Northern Iowa women's basketball team to a 69-66 win over Indiana State in the McLeod Center on Saturday. The win snaps a three-game home losing streak for the Panthers, and moves them to 11-9 overall and 5-4 in Missouri Valley Conference play.
The Panthers and Sycamores traded leads twice and had five ties through the first half. Neither team led by more than three until Biggs hit a basket with 15:38 on the clock to put UNI in front, 11-7. ISU's Sarah Paul pulled the Sycamores within two with a basket at 14:03, but Traci Ollendieck hit a three on the Panthers' next trip down the floor to put UNI in front by five, 14-19 with 13:35 left in the half.
A three from Kelsey Luna followed by a layup by Leah Phillips tied the game for the first time, 14-14 with 13:02 to play in the half. A free throw from Biggs gave the Panthers a one-point edge, but ISU took a 16-15 lead on a basket from Rudolphi. Biggs answered with a jump shot for the Panthers that put UNI in front, 17-16 with 9:46 on the clock.
The Panthers stretched their lead to five, 27-22 with 2:40 to play in the period. The Sycamores ended the half on a 5-0 run to send the teams into the break tied at 27.
The teams traded leads twice and had two ties through the first six minutes of the second half. Neither team held more than a two-point lead until King hit a jump shot that put UNI in front by four, 39-35 with 13:15 left.
The Sycamores scored the next five points, taking a 40-39 lead on a three from Angela Phillips at 12:15. A jump shot from Biggs put UNI back in front, but on ISU's next possession, Phillips hit another three to put the Sycamores in the lead by two, 43-41.
King tied the game for the seventh time with a jump shot at 11:16, but Maria Olsthoorn hit the Sycamores third three in as many trips at 11:06 to give Indiana State a 46-43 lead.
King trimmed the Panther deficit to one with a pair of free throws at 10:11, but then the Sycamores went on a 5-0 run to build a 51-45 lead with 8:18 on the clock. ISU took its largest lead of the game when Rudolphi hit a jump shot to make the score 56-49 with 6:28 remaining.
Biggs hit a three on UNI's next trip to cut the Panthers' deficit to four. She made one of two free throw attempts just over a minute later to make it a one-possession game. With 3:44 left to play, Sarah Larsen hit a three to cap a 7-0 run by the Panthers and tie the game, 56-56. Rudolphi returned the lead to the Sycamores with a pair of free throws, but King answered with a three on UNI's ensuing possession to put the Panthers in front, 59-58 with three minutes to play.
Biggs connected on a free throw attempt just under the two minute mark to make it a two-point Panther lead, 60-58. Angela Phillips missed a layup, and King came up with a big defensive rebound to give the Panthers the lead and the ball with 1:27 on the clock. Biggs was fouled as she shot at 1:13, and the senior hit both free throws to make it a two-possession game, 62-58.
Kara Schilli cut the Panther lead in half with a quick basket, making the score 62-60 with 49 seconds remaining. Biggs found Keefe cutting to the basket with 25 seconds left. Keefe hit the layup to give UNI a four-point advantage, 64-60.
Larsen blocked a three-point attempt by Phillips with 18 seconds left, and Biggs grabbed the rebound. ISU elected to send Biggs to the line, and she hit both attempts to stretch the Panther advantage to six, 66-60 with 15 seconds remaining.
Kelsey Luna hit a three from the left win with nine seconds left to make it a one-possession game, 66-63. Biggs was fouled by Angela Phillips as the Panthers worked to inbound the ball, and Phillips was also whistled for a technical foul. Biggs made three of the four ensuing free throws to put the Panthers in front, 69-63 with eight seconds left.
Luna hit a three with three seconds left, but the Panthers were able to inbound the ball safely and hold onto the win.
UNI vs. DRAKE
This is the 60th meeting between UNI and Drake. The Bulldogs hold a 48-11 lead in the overall series. The Panthers came from behind to win the last meeting, topping the Bulldogs 61-55 in Des Moines on Jan. 6. The teams last met in Cedar Falls on Dec. 31, 2005, and the Panthers picked up a 69-46 win.
UNI vs. CREIGHTON
This is the 37th meeting between UNI and Creighton, and the Bluejays hold a 25-11 lead in the series. The Panthers edged Creighton, 56-53 in Omaha on Jan. 4. The last time the teams met in Cedar Falls, Creighton came away with a 67-64 overtime victory.
SENIOR LEADERSHIP
UNI's trio of seniors, Jessie Biggs, Sarah Larsen and Tara King, have averaged a combined 45.6 points per game in the Panthers' last seven contests. That accounts for 71 percent of UNI's total offense - 64.6 ppg - during that span. UNI has been led in scoring by one of its three seniors in each of its last 10 games.
CHASING 1000
UNI senior Jessie Biggs is just 28 points away from hitting the 1000 point mark for her career. The Ottumwa, Iowa, native's high school teammate Tara King became the 16th Panther to reach the milestone on Jan. 13. If Biggs reaches the mark, it will be the second time in team history that teammates have hit 1000 points in the same season.
`BIGG' NIGHT
Jessie Biggs scored a career-high 34 points against Indiana State on Jan. 27. The senior was 11-of-19 from the floor in the Panther win. Paired with Tara King's 38-point performance against Iowa State on Nov. 20, this season's team has two of the top six individual performances in UNI history.
WILDCARD MATCHUP
The Panthers' Feb. 25 game at Illinois State has been selected as part of the MVC's Wildcard Weekend. UNI's games against the Redbirds will be televised by FSN Midwest, Fox College Sports and Comcast SportsNet.
SO CLOSE, AND YET...
The Panthers' four Missouri Valley Conference losses have come by a total of 11 points. In three of those, UNI lost by two and had the ball with the chance to tie or win the game in the final seconds. The Panthers' total margin of defeat in MVC games is the lowest in the conference.
WE'RE NUMBER ONE!
UNI's four in-state signees for the 2007-08 season represent the four girls basketball teams ranked No. 1 in the state of Iowa as of Jan. 25. Jacqui Kalin plays at Sioux City North, which holds a 14-1 record and is ranked No. 1 in Class 4A. Erin Broka's North Butler team is ranked No. 1 in Class 3A with a 15-0 record. Rachel Madrigal plays for Decorah, which is also undefeated at 16-0 and is No. 1 in Class 2A. Nelia Olson's IKM High School is ranked No. 1 in Class 1A with a 13-1 record.
KING HAS CLASS
Senior Tara King has been named a candidate for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. King is one of 30 Division I athletes nominated for the award, which recognizes the nation's top senior basketball players. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the award was launched during the 2001-02 season to honor the attributes of college basketball seniors who remain committed to their university and pursue the many rewards that a senior season can bring. Finalists will be selected based on personal qualities that define a complete student athlete. These areas of excellence are identified under the categories of classroom, character and community, as well as the candidate's performance and team loyalty on the court.
KING HITS 1000
Tara King became the 16th Panther to reach 1000 points this season, reaching the milestone on a free throw on Saturday's game against Southern Illinois. Senior Jessie Biggs is just 108 points from also scoring her 1000th. If Biggs reaches the mark, it will be just the second time in team history that two Panthers have reached the 1000-point mark in one season.
KEEFE IS KEY
Junior Megan Keefe is having a breakout season for the Panthers. After scoring 196 points in her freshman and sophomore seasons combined, Keefe has scored 198 points through the first 18 games this season, averaging 11.0 points per game. Keefe never scored in double figures through her first two seasons, but has done so in 12 of UNI's first 19 games.
BREAKING OUT
Freshmen Lindsey Swanson and Danielle Wubbens shot a combined 8-of-9 from the floor to score 23 points in the Panthers' loss to Southern Illinois on Saturday. The duo each set career highs for points in the loss, Swanson with 13 and Wubbens with 10.
MVC RANKS NATIONALLY
The Missouri Valley Conference ranks fourth in the nation in points per game. The 10 MVC teams are averaging 70.29 points per contest. The league ranks third in three-point field goals per game, averaging 5.79 per game. The MVC is the only league to rank in the top five of both categories.
NOTABLE WINS
The Panthers' sweep of Creighton and Drake on Jan. 4 and 6th was noteworthy for two reasons First, it pushed UNI's win streak to seven, tying the longest win streak in UNI's Division I hisory. Also, it was the first time since the Panthers joined the Missouri Valley Conference that the Panthers have won at Creighton and Drake on the same trip.
A TALE OF TWO SEASONS
Sarah Larsen and Traci Ollendieck looked like two new players during the Panthers' seven-game win streak. In UNI's first seven games, the duo shot a combined 22.7 percent (6-of-33) from the floor, and shot 15.3 percent (6-of-39) from three-point range. Each player averaged just 3.3 points per game during that stint. During the win streak, however, Larsen shot 52.0 percent (26-of-50) from the floor, including 38.1 percent (8-of-21) from three-point range, and is now averaging 10.1 points during those seven games. Ollendieck is shot 51.6 percent (16-of-31) from the floor, including a lights-out 61.1 percent (11-of-18) from three-point range during the win streak. Ollendieck has doubled her offensive output with 7.6 points per game during the win streak.
BOUNCING BACK
The Panthers rebounded well from their loss to No. 1 Maryland on Dec. 6. After shooting a school-record low 20.6 percent from the floor in that loss, UNI shot a combined 124-of-274 (45.6 percent) in its next five games. The Panthers managed just 33 points against the defending national champion, but averaged 78 points in its next five games UNI outscored its opponents by an average of 20 points per game during that stretch, and the Panthers have not lost since falling to the Terrapins.
DECEMBER TO REMEMBER
The Panthers finished 6-1 in the month of December, with their only loss being to No. 1 Maryland. The six wins marks the most wins in the month of December under head coach Tony DiCecco, and also secures the highest winning percentage in December in his 12-year tenure.
LUCKY NUMBER SEVEN
The 2006-07 team tied the longest win streak for UNI since the Panthers joined the Division I ranks when it won seven straight games from Dec. 9 through Jan. 6, marking the third time in the Division I era that the Panther shave won seven consecutive games. UNI ran off seven straight wins in both the 1998-99 ad 2002-03 seasons.
RECORD NIGHT
The Panthers set both a school and arena record when they hit 14 threes in the 83-62 win over Iowa in Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Dec. 19. Seven different players connected from behind the arc. UNI had already tied the school's previous mark for threes in a game (11) just two games prior in Detroit on Dec. 9.
ROLE REVERSAL
In the Panthers' game against Illinois-Chicago, UNI used a different starting line up from its previous five games, replacing Traci Ollendieck with Nicole Clausen. Both Clausen and Ollendieck seem to be adapting well to the change. In the first five games, Ollendieck averaged 2.2 points per game and Clausen averaged 4.6. In the six games since making the switch, Ollendieck is averaging 7.9 points per game, and she has improved from shooting 13.6 percent (3-of-22) from the floor to 52.9 percent (18-of-34). Clausen is averaging 6.9 points per game since moving to the starting lineup. The Panthers have also fared better, going 4-1 in their last five games compared to 1-4 through the first five.
WINNING BEHIND THE LINE
One of the biggest differences in the Panthers' wins and losses has been UNI's three-point shooting. In the seven games UNI has won, the Panthers shot 59-of-147 (40 percent) from three-point range. That averages to 8.4 threes per game. In UNI's five losses, however, the Panthers finished 27-of-104 (26 percent), just 5.4 threes per game.
BETTER BALANCE
Going into UNI's game at Detroit-Mercy, the Panthers' scoring had been top heavy, with the trio of Tara King, Jesse Biggs and Megan Keefe accounting for 69 percent of UNI's points. It was a different story against the Titans. Four of the starting five scored in double figures, King with 19, Keefe with 17, Sarah Larsen with 15 and Jessie Biggs with 13, and the fifth, Nicole Clausen, scored nine points. UNI's first player off the bench, Traci Ollendieck, added nine points for UNI. In all, nine players scored for the Panthers in the 90-75 win.
HOT BEHIND THE LINE
Jessie Biggs knocked down a three on UNI's first possession of the game against Detroit-Mercy, giving a taste of what was to come. UNI shot 11-of-22 (50 percent) from three-point range, tying the school record for threes made in a game. Six different Panthers connected from behind the arc as UNI went on to win 90-75.
WORKING OVERTIME
When the Panthers defeated Miami (Ohio) in overtime in the Husky Classic on Nov. 25, it marked the first time in program history that UNI went into overtime in consecutive games. On Nov. 20, UNI opened the McLeod Center with an overtime loss to Iowa State.This is the seventh season that the Panthers have played in two or more overtime games. UNI is 11-19 when playing in OT.
KING FOR A WEEK
It was a big week for UNI senior Tara King. Just two days after celebrating her 23rd birthday, King scored 38 points in the first women's basketball game to be played in the McLeod Center on Nov. 20. On Nov 25, King scored 23 points to lead UNI to an overtime win over Miami in the Husky Classic in Seattle. King averaged 16 points per game in the classic and was named to the all-tournament team. On Nov. 27, King was selected as the MVC Player of the Week, having averaged 23.3 points per game during that span.
BREAKING OUT
A trio of freshmen, Alexa Mennen, Nicole Clausen, and Lindsey Swanson, scored nine points each, totaling 27 of UNI's 63 points in the loss to Washington on Sunday. That followed a 12-point effort from freshman Kristyn Ferris against Miami on Saturday.
IRON WOMAN
Jessie Biggs has started the last 88 games for the Panthers. If she starts the first 23 games this season, she will surpass former Panther and current associate head coach Allison (Starr) Pohlman for record consecutive starts (96). Biggs has 92 total starts, and if she starts every scheduled game this season, she will move to third on the career games started list with 107. With 103 games under her belt, Biggs is 118 games away from tying Amy Swisher for most games played in her career. UNI has 18 games remaining on its schedule, including the first round of the MVC Tournament.
CAREER EFFORT
Tara King's 38 points against Iowa State on Nov. 20 overshadowed a career night for junior Megan Keefe. Keefe set career highs for points (16), field goals (7), field goal attempts (14), and minutes (39) in the loss to Iowa State.
`BIGG' NIGHT
Senior Jessie Biggs had a career night at Minnesota on Nov. 10. The Ottumwa, Iowa, native shot 8-of-16 from the floor and was a perfect 6-of-6 from the free-throw line to lead all scorers with 22 points. Biggs also led the Panthers in rebounds with eight and assists with six.
SUPER SENIORS
UNI's three seniors enter the season with plenty of experience. The trio of Jessie Biggs, Tara King and Sarah Larsen have started a combined 148 games in their careers. The three accounted for more than half of UNI's point total a year ago, combining for 32.5 points per game. The Panthers have won 51 games with Biggs, King and Larsen on the roster, putting them 18 wins shy of becoming the winningest class in UNI history.
CHANGE OF PACE
For the first time in four seasons, the Panthers will take to the court without 6-7 center Cassie Hager. To adjust to life after the MVC's all-time blocked shots leader, the Panthers will install a new style of play that relies less on a half-court offense and more on up-tempo, fast break scoring. The style will be more conducive to UNI's guard-heavy roster, and the shooting range of forwards Tara King and Megan Keefe will help open up the offense.
NO MIDDLE GROUND
UNI's starting five combined for more than 4200 minutes in 2005-06, but once you get past Tara King, Sarah Larsen, Jessie Biggs, Traci Ollendieck and Megan Keefe, the minutes are few and far between. UNI's four returning non-starters played just seven minutes in 2005-06, and they have a career total of 286 minutes. Jackie Norton accounts for the majority of those minutes. The sophomore sat out last season with an injury after playing in 28 games during her freshman season. UNI will incorporate seven freshmen into the team, giving UNI 10 players with five or fewer career minutes entering the season.
NEW FACES
The Panthers have nine players on their roster who did not play in 2005-06. Kristyn Ferris and Jackie Norton are both returning from injuries that sidelined them in 2005-06. UNI also brings in seven freshmen to the mix: Kristin Iehl, Alexa Mennen, Danielle Wubbens, Nicole Clausen, Lindsey Swanson, Rachel Yeggy and Jackie Osborn.
WE GO WAY BACK...
The Panthers have three sets of high school teammates on their roster. Seniors Jessie Biggs and Tara King played together at Ottumwa High, sophomore Kristyn Ferris and freshman Danielle Wubbens both played at Charles City High, and freshmen Lindsey Swanson and Nicole Clausen both played at Denison-Schleswig.
CONNECTING FROM THREE
The Panthers' two returning forwards also represent the two most accurate three-point shooters from last season. Senior Tara King and junior Megan Keefe finished first and second on the team in three-point shooting percentage in 2005-06. King led the MVC with 47.7 percent (42-of-88) shooting from behind the arc, and Keefe shot 12-of-28 (42.9 percent) from three-point range. The duo combined to hit 46.6 percent (54-of-116) of their three-point attempts.
GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION
The Panthers had some impressive debuts from a pair of its freshmen in the season opener on Nov. 10. Alexa Mennen came away with four rebounds and three blocked shots in just nine minutes of play. Nicole Clausen shot 4-of-6 from three-point range to tally 12 points in her first collegiate game.
PANTHERS INK FIVE
Head Coach Tony DiCecco received National Letters of Intent to play at UNI in 2007-08. Joining the Panthers are Erin Brocka (Allison, Iowa), Jacqui Kalin (Sioux City, Iowa), Rachel Madrigal (Decorah, Iowa), Nelia Olson (Manilla, Iowa) and Lizzie Boeck (Milwaukee, Wis.). Four of the five (Boeck, Brocka, Olson and Madrigal) stand at 6-0 or taller.Brocka, Kalin, Madrigal and Olson have each been named to various all-state teams in the state of Iowa. Boeck is a two-sport star at Milwaukee Lutheran.
PANTHER ALL-ACCESS
The University of Northern Iowa and CSTV Networks, Inc. have teamed up to create a brand new broadband channel, UNI Panther All-Access. Offering live games and other features,
Fans can get live streamed audio and video of most home games of UNI volleyball, football, men's and women's basketball and wrestling, as well as some road contests. To sign up, please go to UNI's official athletic website at
www.unipanthers.com.
After the free preview ends Nov. 21, pricing for the UNI Panther All-Access package is as follows:
$6.95/month - UNI Panthers All-Access
$49.95/annually - UNI Panthers All-Access
$99.95/annually - CSTV XXL Premium (all CSTV All-Access partners)
VOTE FOR THE MISSOURI VALLEY ALL-TIME TEAMS
With this being the 100th anniversary of the formation of the Missouri Valley Conference, and as a part of the Valley's Centennial Celebration, fans will have the opportunity to help select all-time teams in each of the league's sports. Fans can go to the website www.mvc100.org, and cast their votes.
PANTHERS PICKED THIRD
The MVC coaches and media picked UNI to finish third in the MVC standings in 2006-07. That ties the highest preseason ranking for UNI since joining the Valley in 1992. UNI was placed behind Drake, who finished with 28 first-place votes, and Wichita State, who was tabbed for first by 10 voters. Evansville and Illinois State were picked fourth and fifth. 2005-06 MVC champion Indiana State picked up two first-place votes, but was predicted for a sixth-place finish. Missouri State and Southern Illinois tied for seventh, and Creighton and Bradley round out the poll at ninth and tenth.
KING RECOGNIZED
UNI senior Tara King was tabbed for the preseason all-conference team by the MVC coaches and media. King is the Panthers' leading returning scorer, averaging 14.2 points per game a year ago. King led the MVC in three-point shooting percentage in 2005-06, connecting on 47.7 percent (42-of-88) of her attempts. The other members of the preseason all-conference team were Kristi Cirone (So., Illinois State), Jill Martin (Sr., Drake), Carlai Moore (Sr., Southern Illinois), Kiki Stephens (Jr., Wichita State), and Antionette Wells (Sr., Wichita State).
PANTHERS ON THE RADIO
UNI is in a multi-year agreement with KWLO 1330 AM (Star 1330) to broadcast UNI women's basketball. Eric Braley, host of Panther Sports Talk, handles play-by-play duties. Former UNI basketball standout
Alex Cook provides color during home contests. All Panther games also will be streamed on UNI's athletics web site, www.unipanthers.com.
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.
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.
MCLEOD CENTER OPENS
In 2006-07 the UNI women's basketball team will say goodbye to the West Gym and move into its brand new arena, the McLeod Center. The Panthers played in their first game in the 7,018-seat arena on Nov. 20 when they hosted Iowa State. The Panthers took the Cyclones into overtime before falling 80-74. The grand opening for the building was held on Nov. 18 before UNI's final home volleyball match of the season at 8:05 p.m. That kicked off a four-day opening weekend that includes a men's basketball game against UW-Milwaukee on Nov. 19 and a wrestling match against Iowa on Nov. 21.
