B1G coaches tab Iowa women for third, Logic first team

ROSEMONT, Ill. — Iowa's women's basketball team was tabbed for third by Big Ten coaches and guard Samantha Logic picked up preseason honors by both coaches and media.

The Hawkeyes finished 27-9 last year and Logic was a crucial reason. She ranks ninth in Big Ten history for assists and was a first-team all-Big Ten selection last year. She is Division I women's basketball's active assists leader.

'I've been around Sam for three years now and she continues to amaze me at what she does,' Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder said. 'I think she's one of the most complete point guards out there in that she leads our team in assists and rebounds and steals. Those are amazing statistics. She's one of the leading passers returning in the country.'

Logic, a 5-foot-9 senior from Racine, Wis., averaged 13.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 7.5 assists a game last year. She has four triple-doubles and 24 double-doubles in her career.

'It's crazy. she's like so good at what she does,' Iowa center Bethany Doolittle said. 'She's an assist-first mentality player and she's there to make everybody better. She'll do whatever it takes to make the team more successful.'

POLL DATA

Both the coaches and media picked Big Ten newcomer Maryland was as the preseason favorite. Maryland, which advanced to the Final Four last year, is led by Cedar Rapids Washington graduate Brenda Frese. Michigan State was tabbed second. Iowa was third in the coaches' poll while Nebraska was picked third in the media poll.

Joining Logic and preseason player of the year Rachel Banham of Minnesota on both first teams was Nebraska guard Rachel Theriot. Michigan State's Aerial Powers and Northwestern's Nia Coffey were on the coaches' list, while Maryland's Lexie Brown, Minnesota's Amanda Zahui and Ohio State's Ameryst Alston were named to the media team.

HOME SWEET HOME

Frese said she's 'really, really excited' to make future trips to Iowa in Big Ten play. Frese, a Cedar Rapids Washington graduate, joked that she first looked at the schedule to see if she was playing in Iowa this year. This year, unfortunately for Frese, the teams play just once in Maryland.

'You know when you get to be my age and mother of twin boys, it's really exciting as you get older to be able to bring your family back to where you grew up and be able to have your relatives, aunts and uncles, family members to be a part of it,' Frese said. 'I think that's what makes it so special is now, 14 years later, I get to bring our team back, bring my family back in front of so many people and be able to share with family and friends.'

l Comments: (319) 339-3169; scott.dochterman@thegazette.com