Mixed results for Iowa’s shooting

IOWA CITY - It just doesn't compute.

The Iowa Hawkeyes are among the best 3-point shooting teams in the nation. Put them at the free throw line, though, and it's a completely different story.

'It is bizarre,” said Hawkeyes Coach Lisa Bluder. 'Very odd. I don't think an Iowa team has shot as poorly from the line as we have the last few games.”

Figure this out:

Led by Melissa Dixon, the 17th-ranked Hawkeyes (11-2 overall, 2-0 Big Ten) are shooting 42.1 percent from long distance. Free-throw accuracy, something the Hawkeyes have ridden for years, is Iowa's lowest since 2002-03 - 66.4 percent.

'Every couple weeks, we have a sports psychologist come in, and (Tuesday), we worked on free throws,” Bluder said.

The bugaboo hasn't bitten the Hawkeyes yet. The 3-point prowess has covered it up.

Only Princeton (43.1 percent) has shot at a higher rate from distance than the Hawkeyes, who face Illinois (10-4, 1-1) at 7 p.m. Thursday at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill. Iowa ranks ninth nationally in scoring, at 81.5 points per game.

Dixon became the school's all-time leader in 3-pointers on Sunday. She leads the nation with 4.08 triples per game, and her accuracy (53 of 110, 48.2 percent) ranks 11th.

'Any time you've got that confidence, it helps, and she's got it right now,” Bluder said. 'Samantha (Logic) is looking for her in transition, and Bethany (Doolittle) is looking for her in the zone (offense). We want to push the ball so people don't find Melissa in time.”

Iowa is seeking its first 3-0 Big Ten start since 1997-98, and its first under Bluder.

Odds aren't bad. The Hawkeyes have won 10 of their last 11 games against the Illini, and swept three games from them last season, all by double digits.

'Illinois isn't as athletic as last year, but they're a better team,” Bluder said. 'They're more evenly balanced, and everybody can shoot threes.

'They love that buzz defense, their half-court trap. It's something we don't always see.”

Ivory Crawford paces the Illini at 17.0 points per game. Illinois leads the Big Ten in turnover margin, forcing 6.0 per game more than it surrenders.

Iowa counters with balance. All five starters are averaging in double figures. Dixon leads the way at 15.6 points per game, followed by Ally Disterhoft (15.0).

It's gotten to the point of the season that Bluder regularly scans the RPI charts. As of Wednesday morning, Iowa's RPI is 11th, with a strength of schedule of 20.

'I pass that along to the team,” Bluder said. 'I want them to feel good about what we've accomplished so far.”

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