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BY DAN JOHNSON • REGISTER STAFF WRITER • December 18, 2007
Tonight's Northern Iowa at Iowa State women's basketball game is another matchup of a prolific 3-point shooting team against a stingy defensive team.
Only this time, the roles are reversed.
Traditionally, Iowa State (7-1) has been the gaudy 3-point shooting team and Northern Iowa (4-4) has competed with scrappy defense. The 3-pointer remains a big part of Iowa State's arsenal, but Northern Iowa ranks third nationally with 8.8 3-pointers per game.
The Panthers made 32.6 percent of their 3-pointers last season, and have improved to 37.2 percent this season under first-year coach Tanya Warren. Nearly half their points have come on 3-pointers.
"You look at their statistics and it's almost ridiculous," Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said. "They've made 70 3-point shots. It's so much of their game. When they get hot from the 3-point line, they can change the game around."
Warren said that her staff has emphasized a faster tempo to get the wings open for shots.
"One thing we talked about early on is not being afraid to shoot and miss," Warren said. "
Iowa State can go on some 3-point tears of its own. It is making 36.5 percent of its 3-pointers and ranks 13th nationally with 7.6 per game. Heather Ezell tied a school record by making 10 3-pointers against Sacramento State and a game later, Alison Lacey sank nine against Michigan.
However, the Cyclones' strength has been defense. They rank eighth in Division I in points allowed, with 50.8 points per game. They lead the nation in fewest fouls per game, with 12.5, and are third in fewest turnovers with 12.9.
Northern Iowa's 3-point attack is led by Nicole Clausen, who ranks 10th nationally in 3-pointers per game with 3, and Traci Ollendieck, who is sinking 2.3 per game.
Clausen, who is 24-for-50, has already made as many 3's as she did all of last season.
"We just really worked on it all summer," Clausen said.
Clausen said that point guard Jacqui Kalin has helped the Panthers' shooters get open.
"She's a great point guard, and she's a freshman," Clausen said.
Having already beaten Iowa and Drake, a win tonight would give Iowa State a sweep of its in-state games for the third straight year.
"It's an in-state game," Lacey said. "There'll be a lot more riding on it. We want to win it, because it would make three years in a row that we'd win the mythical state championship."
Clausen said the Panthers won't be intimidated by a large crowd.
"It's always a big game when it's an in-state game," Clausen said. "We really don't have anything to lose. We'll play fearless."
BY DAN JOHNSON • REGISTER STAFF WRITER • December 18, 2007
Tonight's Northern Iowa at Iowa State women's basketball game is another matchup of a prolific 3-point shooting team against a stingy defensive team.
Only this time, the roles are reversed.
Traditionally, Iowa State (7-1) has been the gaudy 3-point shooting team and Northern Iowa (4-4) has competed with scrappy defense. The 3-pointer remains a big part of Iowa State's arsenal, but Northern Iowa ranks third nationally with 8.8 3-pointers per game.
The Panthers made 32.6 percent of their 3-pointers last season, and have improved to 37.2 percent this season under first-year coach Tanya Warren. Nearly half their points have come on 3-pointers.
"You look at their statistics and it's almost ridiculous," Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said. "They've made 70 3-point shots. It's so much of their game. When they get hot from the 3-point line, they can change the game around."
Warren said that her staff has emphasized a faster tempo to get the wings open for shots.
"One thing we talked about early on is not being afraid to shoot and miss," Warren said. "
Iowa State can go on some 3-point tears of its own. It is making 36.5 percent of its 3-pointers and ranks 13th nationally with 7.6 per game. Heather Ezell tied a school record by making 10 3-pointers against Sacramento State and a game later, Alison Lacey sank nine against Michigan.
However, the Cyclones' strength has been defense. They rank eighth in Division I in points allowed, with 50.8 points per game. They lead the nation in fewest fouls per game, with 12.5, and are third in fewest turnovers with 12.9.
Northern Iowa's 3-point attack is led by Nicole Clausen, who ranks 10th nationally in 3-pointers per game with 3, and Traci Ollendieck, who is sinking 2.3 per game.
Clausen, who is 24-for-50, has already made as many 3's as she did all of last season.
"We just really worked on it all summer," Clausen said.
Clausen said that point guard Jacqui Kalin has helped the Panthers' shooters get open.
"She's a great point guard, and she's a freshman," Clausen said.
Having already beaten Iowa and Drake, a win tonight would give Iowa State a sweep of its in-state games for the third straight year.
"It's an in-state game," Lacey said. "There'll be a lot more riding on it. We want to win it, because it would make three years in a row that we'd win the mythical state championship."
Clausen said the Panthers won't be intimidated by a large crowd.
"It's always a big game when it's an in-state game," Clausen said. "We really don't have anything to lose. We'll play fearless."
