November 15, 2006
Women’s Basketball
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SYCAMORES TAKE BATTLE TO IOWA, FALL SHORT AT END

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IOWA CITY, Iowa – Indiana State head coach Jim Wiedie took his young Sycamore team into a hostile environment at Carver-Hawkeye Arena tonight (Nov. 15) and just about pulled off the first major women’s basketball upset of the season in narrowly falling to the Hawkeyes, 88-83. ISU begins its campaign 0-1, while Iowa improved to 3-0.

Senior Rachel Maenpaa hit a pair of free throws to give Indiana State an 81-77 lead with 3:30 left in the contest. Over the game’s next two minutes, the Hawkeyes answered with a 7-0 spurt to go ahead 84-81 with 1:41 showing on the clock.

Junior Laura Rudolphi, who tied her career-high with 17 points against Iowa, made the game a one-point affair at 84-83 with a layup as the clock ticked under 50 seconds. On a key defensive trip for the Sycamores, Rudolphi was charged with her fifth foul which allowed Iowa’s Stacy Schlapkohl to hit a pair of free throws to make the game 86-83.

ISU got one final possession, but before they could muster a shot, Leah Phillips was whistled for traveling. After a late Sycamore foul, Iowa’s Wendy Ausdemore converted a pair of charity tosses to give the Hawkeyes an 88-83 victory.

Indiana State came out on fire against the Iowa zone; draining four early 3-point field goals to build a 14-6 lead just five minutes into the game.

The Hawkeyes continued to battle and eventually took a 42-39 lead into halftime.

ISU was able to hang on in the rebounding department (41-35) against the taller Hawkeyes, but foul troubles were a major concern. ISU committed 32 fouls in the contest, and gave Iowa 43 trips to free throw line, where they converted into 33 of their 88 points.

Rudolphi’s career-best tying effort of 17 was coupled with her intense battle inside on the boards. She finished the game with eight rebounds. The Sycamores put five players in double figures scoring, as she was joined by Maenpaa, who tossed in 14.

Junior Angela Phillips and sophomore Leah Phillips added 13, while freshman Kelsey Luna scored 10. Luna is the third Sycamore freshman in the last four years to reach double figures scoring during their collegiate debut. Tiffany Reida scored 10 in last year’s season opener against Chattanooga, while Stephanie Lisch reached double figures in her first game against North Texas in 2003.

The Sycamores were effective from long range, hitting eight triples in the game. Iowa was not near as warm from long range, connecting on just 3-of-16 attempts from behind the arc.

Schlapkohl paced the Hawkeyes with 24 points in the game, while Megan Skouby, a Preseason All-Big Ten selection, finished with 17, 11 of which came at the free throw line.

There is no rest for the Sycamores as they return to the road this weekend to face off against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday, November 18 at 1:00 p.m. (ET). ISU will open the home portion of the schedule on Tuesday, November 21 at 7:00 p.m. against Eastern Illinois.