Senior Night caps Iowa’s regular season

IOWA CITY — In terms of raw numbers, this won't go down as one of the stronger senior classes in University of Iowa women's basketball history.

'Their careers haven't been as storybook as last year's class,' Coach Lisa Bluder said earlier this week.

Saturday night is Senior Night at Carver-Hawkeye Arena; the Hawkeyes (17-12 overall, 7-10 Big Ten) host Illinois (9-19, 2-15) in their regular-season finale. Tipoff is 5 p.m.

Kali Peschel, Claire Till and Nicole Smith will take to the microphone afterward.

Of the three, Peschel is the only one likely to see the floor. Till has had season-ending knee surgery, and Smith has played a total of seven minutes this season.

Bluder called Peschel 'a champion in the locker room. I can't tell you how much the team thinks of her and respects her.'

Peschel shares co-captain duties with junior Ally Disterhoft.

'Her leadership abilities impress me over and over,' Disterhoft said. 'She's had some tough times, but every day, she comes to practice with positive energy.'

Peschel was a part-time starter as a sophomore, then was a valuable outside shooter off the bench as a junior. This season, she started the first 20 games before Bluder opted for a bigger lineup, starting freshman Megan Gustafson alongside Chase Coley. A native of Sauk Centre, Minn., Peschel has averaged 4.9 points and 3.9 rebounds per game this season.

'She has been a great summer player, a great preseason player,' Bluder said. 'Something has seemed to happen; other people catch her during the season and get better.'

Till, who played at Dubuque Wahlert, has been slowed by chronic knee problems. Her best season came as a sophomore, when she averaged 2.7 points and 2.9 rebounds per game.

'She was so excited to come here,' Bluder said. 'I've known her since she was 2 years old. You don't like to see anyone's career go like hers has. When she was healthy, she was a productive physical force for us. She brought a little attitude, a little moxie.'

At 6-foot-4, Smith was an all-stater at Rockton, Ill. Though she has scored only 12 career points at Iowa, Smith is credited by Bluder for the progress of Coley and Gustafson.

'She never got on a roll for us, but she has provided so much for Chase and Megan,' Bluder said. 'She has been an unsung hero to me. She is one of the most selfless people we've had here.'

Iowa's hopes for an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament took a big hit Wednesday at Penn State. A win Saturday would wrap up a No. 9 seed at the Big Ten tournament, and it's likely Iowa would need to win four games in four days and capture the tournament title to extend their NCAA run to nine straight years.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com