Magic number for attendance record: 7,464::Eastern Iowa Sports and Rec
Magic number for attendance record: 7,464
February 22nd, 2011 | Published in Basketball, Hawkeyes
IOWA CITY — A monster crowd would make for a record season.
The home finale has arrived for the Iowa women’s basketball team, and a record for season attendance is an outside possibility.
If Iowa draws 7,464 fans or more for Thursday’s game against Illinois, it will surpass the season attendance record of 83,945, set in the 1993-94 season.
“It says that people are excited about our program,†Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder said Tuesday. “People want to support the women that are on the floor. It’s another benchmark of where this program is heading and how far we’ve come.â€
The Hawkeyes (20-7 overall, 8-6 Big Ten) have hit the 20-win plateau for the fourth consecutive season and are a virtual lock to be selected to the NCAA tournament for the fourth straight year.
They’ve averaged 5,883 fans in their 13 home games.
“We’ve had success over a period of time, and I think that helps (attendance),†Bluder said. “But I also think that our players are enjoyable to watch. I think that they execute well, they show great effort.
“They’re incredible role models on and off the floor, so they’re people you want to support.â€
The regular season ends this week against the Big Ten’s bottom two teams — the Hawkeyes host Illinois (7-20, 2-12) at 7:30 Thursday night, then play at Indiana (9-17, 3-11) at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Iowa could finish anywhere from third to seventh in the Big Ten. The top five teams earn first-round byes for the Big Ten tournament next week.
Sometime between the regular season and the Big Ten tournament, Bluder will send in her all-conference ballot.
“(For coach of the year), I think a lot of it comes down to what happens with Penn State ending out here, but (Penn State’s) Coquese (Washington) and (Michigan State’s) Suzy (Merchant) are definitely two candidates.
“And Player of the year to me is either (Ohio State’s) Jantel (Lavender) or (Michigan State’s) Kalisha Keane.â€
Magic number for attendance record: 7,464
February 22nd, 2011 | Published in Basketball, Hawkeyes
IOWA CITY — A monster crowd would make for a record season.
The home finale has arrived for the Iowa women’s basketball team, and a record for season attendance is an outside possibility.
If Iowa draws 7,464 fans or more for Thursday’s game against Illinois, it will surpass the season attendance record of 83,945, set in the 1993-94 season.
“It says that people are excited about our program,†Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder said Tuesday. “People want to support the women that are on the floor. It’s another benchmark of where this program is heading and how far we’ve come.â€
The Hawkeyes (20-7 overall, 8-6 Big Ten) have hit the 20-win plateau for the fourth consecutive season and are a virtual lock to be selected to the NCAA tournament for the fourth straight year.
They’ve averaged 5,883 fans in their 13 home games.
“We’ve had success over a period of time, and I think that helps (attendance),†Bluder said. “But I also think that our players are enjoyable to watch. I think that they execute well, they show great effort.
“They’re incredible role models on and off the floor, so they’re people you want to support.â€
The regular season ends this week against the Big Ten’s bottom two teams — the Hawkeyes host Illinois (7-20, 2-12) at 7:30 Thursday night, then play at Indiana (9-17, 3-11) at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Iowa could finish anywhere from third to seventh in the Big Ten. The top five teams earn first-round byes for the Big Ten tournament next week.
Sometime between the regular season and the Big Ten tournament, Bluder will send in her all-conference ballot.
“(For coach of the year), I think a lot of it comes down to what happens with Penn State ending out here, but (Penn State’s) Coquese (Washington) and (Michigan State’s) Suzy (Merchant) are definitely two candidates.
“And Player of the year to me is either (Ohio State’s) Jantel (Lavender) or (Michigan State’s) Kalisha Keane.â€
