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MILLER LEADS DRAKE BULLDOGS IN TRIUMPHANT REGULAR SEASON FINALE

Sports

March 9th, 2024 by admin

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Drake women’s basketball wrapped up their 2023-24 regular season slate with a lopsided victory on the road at Indiana State on Saturday. The Bulldogs got help from their entire roster and were led by Anna Miller’s historic showing in a 96-64 triumph, their 11th in a row, over the Sycamores of Indiana State.

With the win, Drake ended the regular season with records of 26-5 overall and 19-1 in MVC play. The 19 league marked the first time in Valley men’s and women’s hoops history that a team was won 19 or more game in a season.

Anna Miller banked in the game’s first basket after a quick dish from Katie Dinnebier. The Bulldogs’ point guard followed suit with two of her own on Drake’s next trip down the floor after a Grace Berg assist. Dinnebier later added another point at the line.

Both the Bulldogs and Sycamores (10-20, 6-14) suffered scoreless droughts for over the next two minutes until Taylor McAulay dropped in two free throws for her first points of the day. Both teams also could not dial in from deep with six misses in as many attempts. Dinnebier snapped the cold three-point shooting streak with a triple in transition just after the first media break. Miller then gave the Bulldogs their first double-digit lead of the game at 16-6 after curling around a screen and going off glass.

The Bulldogs had an answer for every Indiana State score as time ticked down in the first quarter. Drake doubled up the Sycamores and led 20-10 after the first 10 minutes. Despite leading at the pause, the Dogs trailed 13-6 on the glass.

Miller led the charge again in the second quarter with a dozen points in the period. She also made history in the second stanza, becoming the 37th player in program history to score over 1,000 career points and joined Dinnebier and Berg as active Bulldogs in the 1,000-point club. Miller led Drake on Saturday with a career high 25 points.

Indiana State was able to trim their deficit down into single digits at nine as Drake’s offense fell out of tempo. The Sycamores battled but still trailed at the half as Drake produced enough stops down the stretch and led 38-25 at the midway point.

The Bulldogs continued to ride the excellent play of forward Anna Miller as the second half progressed. The Rochester, Minn. native snagged her 10th rebound of the outing in the quarter to reach her 15th double-double of the year. She finished with a game-high 14 rebounds.

Drake led by 20 with a quarter to play did not let up in the fourth. The offensive explosion was punctuated by a corner three from Hannah Nilges and a deuce from Emily Christenson, her first basket of the season. The Bulldogs left Terre Haute with a 96-64 victory.

Three more Bulldogs scored in double figures including Grace Berg with 16, Katie Dinnebier with 13, and Ashley Iiams with a career high 11. Dinnebier also dished out a game-best eight assists.

As a team, the Bulldogs scored 60 points in the paint, the most in a single game this season. Drake also overcame their earlier rebounding deficit to win the war on the boards, 47-31

Drake will start postseason play this coming week at the MVC Tournament in Moline, Ill. The top-seeded Bulldogs’ Hoops in the Heartland title defense will tip off on Friday, Mar. 14 against the winner of the first-round tilt between No. 8 Southern Illinois and No. 9 Indiana State.

 

 

2024 IBCA – Iowa Basketball Coaches Association Substate Teams

Sports

March 9th, 2024 by admin

Class 1A – Substate 1

Ross Kusel, IKM-Manning – Sr.

 

Class 1A – Substate 7

Cale Peterman, Bedford – Jr.

Gabe Funk, Lenox – Jr.

 

Class 1A – Substate 8

Cal Heydon, Coon Rapids-Bayard – So.

Carter Gruver, Woodbine – Jr.

Grady Jeppesen, Riverside – Sr.

Cash Emgarten, Exira-EHK – Sr.

Aiden Flathers, Exira-EHK – Sr.

Kyle Bartles – Woodside – Coach of the Year

 

Class 2A – Substate 7

Jace Tarns, Treynor – Sr.

Ethan Konz, Treynor – Sr.

Max DeVries, Red Oak – Sr.

Scott Rucker, Treynor – Coach of the Year

 

Class 2A – Substate 8

Mason Boothby, Underwood – Sr.

Jack Vanfossan, Underwood – Sr.

Brad Blum, Underwood – Coach of the Year

 

Class 3A – Substate 1

Nash Paulson, Lewis Central – Sr.

 

Class 3A – Substate 8

Colton Rassmussen, Atlantic – Sr.

Evan Hammer, Carroll – Sr.

Luke Wiebers, Dennison-Schleswig – Sr.

 

Class 4A – Substate 2

Jayden Calabro, Council Bluffs-Thomas Jefferson – Sr.

Donnie Johnson, Council Bluffs-Thomas Jefferson -Coach of the Year

IOWA ROUTS WOLVERINES, ADVANCE TO B1G CHAMPIONSHIP

Sports

March 9th, 2024 by admin

MINNEAPOLIS — The second-seeded and third-ranked University of Iowa women’s basketball team defeated sixth-seeded Michigan, 95-68, inside a sold-out Target Center on Saturday afternoon to advance to the Big Ten Tournament Championship for the fourth consecutive year. Iowa completes the season sweep over the Wolverines and have scored 90+ against Michigan five straight times dating back to 2022.

Four starters finished in double figures with All-American Caitlin Clark registering game highs in points (28) and assists (15), while also snagging four rebounds. Clark’s 15 dimes are third most in a Big Ten Tournament game (Clark had 17 versus Ohio State last March). Hannah Stuelke made all seven field-goal attempts to finish with 16 points. Sydney Affolter added 12 points with seven rebounds and a career-high eight assists in her fifth career start, while Kate Martin tallied 13 points and six boards

The Hawkeyes started the game in control while maintaining the lead through the first five minutes. The Wolverines sank all six 3-point attempts, going on a 10-0 run before Stuelke snapped the streak with a bucket in the paint. Gabbie Marshall sunk a triple at the buzzer to bring Michigan’s lead to three going into the second quarter.

Iowa responded in the second quarter by outscoring the Wolverines, 29-17. The Hawkeyes shot 70.6 percent from the field in the half to go into the break with a 51-42 advantage. Clark tallied 19 points and 11 assists in the first half to gather her 63rd double-double in the first 15 minutes of the contest.

In the third, the Hawkeyes outrebounded the Wolverines ,14-8, while holding them to one triple in the quarter. Out of a timeout with 7:35 to play in the fourth quarter, McCabe, Martin, and Marshall netted back-to-back-to-back threes to stretch Iowa’s lead to 31 points, its largest of the game.

Iowa dominated the Wolverines in the post, outscoring Michigan 54-16 in the paint. The Hawkeyes finished with 30 assists, breaking the Big Ten Tournament single game record.

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER RECORD FALLS
Clark’s third free throw made broke the Big Ten’s career free throws made record, previously held by Purdue’s Shereka Wright. Clark has sank 778 free throws in her four-year career.

UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes will challenge Nebraska on Sunday at 11 a.m. (CT) in the championship of the Big Ten Tournament. The game will air on CBS, and the Hawkeye Radio Network.

 

IOWA STATE DOWNS NO. 17 BAYLOR IN QUARTERFINALS, 67-62

Sports

March 9th, 2024 by admin

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State (19-10, 13-6 Big 12) downed No. 17 Baylor (24-7, 12-7 Big 12) in the quarterfinals of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Basketball Championship Saturday by a final score of 67-62.

The Cyclones hit five of their last six shots of the first half to lead 36-31, but would find themselves behind as late as 1:28 in the final quarter. Emily Ryan then changed the game, stepping to the free throw line to begin a run of eight to cement the victory and advance the Cyclones to the semifinals.

Ryan not only made it a memorable game by being a game changer, the senior broke the Iowa State all-time assist record with her final assist of the game as she totaled 10. Ryan now holds the record with 746 on her career. Ryan came three rebounds shy of a triple-double with 12 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds.

Audi Crooks and Addy Brown matched each other with nine first-half points as Crooks went on to total 23 and Brown 16. Crooks had her 28th-straight double figure outing and her 14th 20-plus game while Brown had her 21st 10-plus point game this seaso

Up Next

Iowa State advances to the semifinals and will meet the winner of the Oklahoma vs. TCU game on Monday, March 11 at 1:30 p.m.

 

 

Hawkeyes Send 6 to Semifinals at B1G Championships

Sports

March 9th, 2024 by admin

COLLEGE PARK, Maryland – The University of Iowa men’s wrestling team sent six wrestlers to the semifinals on Friday afternoon at the 2024 Big Ten Championships at the Xfinity Center.

Iowa went 8-1 in first round matches before going 6-3 in the quarterfinals to finish Session I with a 14-4 record.

Iowa posted bonus points in five wins, including one fall, two technical falls and two major decisions.

At 125 No. 2 seed Drake Ayala received a bye in the first round before losing a decision to Michael DeAugustino of Michigan, 11-3, in the quarterfinals.

14th seed Brody Teske rallied back from being down 10-2 and locked up a cradle with 51 seconds remaining in the match to earn four back points to win a, 15-13, decision. Teske then won by 11-5 decision over Dustin Norris of Purdue to advance to the semifinals.

At 141, No. 3 seed Real Woods put together a 16-0 tech. fall over Wisconsin’s Felix Lettini in round one and followed it up defeating Danny Pucino of Illinois, 13-9.

No. 3 seed at 149 Caleb Rathjen won by decision over Jake Harrier of Illinois, 12-6, before dropping his quarterfinal match to Maryland’s Ethen Miller, 7-6.

Jared Franek opened his tournament with a decision over Luke Mechler of Wisconsin, 5-3. The No. 4 seed then defeated Nebraska’s Peyton Robb, 7-3, in quarterfinals.

No. 3 seed Michael Caliendo won his opening bout pinning AJ Rodrigues of Maryland in 5:30. In his quarterfinal match with Michigan’s Cameron Amine he recorded a takedown with 1:34 left in sudden victory to earn the win.

Patrick Kennedy put two bonus point victories on the board for the Hawkeyes at 174. Kennedy, the No. 3 seed, had a 19-4 tech. fall over David Ferrante of Northwestern and a 12-2 major decision over Jackson Turley of Rutgers en route to the semifinals.

Ryder Rogotzke of Ohio State pinned No. 13 seed Aiden Riggins in 1:02 at 184. Riggins responded winning his consolation match with Purdue’s James Rowley, 2-1.

No. 3 seed Zach Glazier tallied a 14-3 major decision over Wisconsin’s Josh Otto and an 8-2 decision over Luke Geog of Ohio State to advance to the 197-pound semifinals.

No. 7 seed Bradley Hill won by decision over Nash Hutmacher of Nebraska, 5-4, before injury defaulting in the quarterfinals to Nick Feldman of Ohio State.

Team Standings Through Session I
1               Penn State        83.5

2               Michigan             70.5

3               Iowa                        57.5

4               Nebraska           46.5

5               Minnesota         34.5

6               Rutgers                31.5

7               Ohio State         28.5

8               Maryland            20.5

9               Wisconsin         17.0

10            Indiana                 16.0

11            Michigan St.     11.5

12            Illinois                   10.5

13            Northwestern    7.5

14            Purdue                 4.0

 

Panthers wrap up regular season at Evansville

Sports

March 9th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

CEDAR FALLS — UNI women’s basketball is set to face off on the final day of the regular season today (Saturday).  The Panthers will match up with the Purple Aces of Evansville at 2-p.m. in Evansville, IN, with MVC Tournament seeding implications on the line.  The two programs have met on 63 previous occasions with UNI owning the series record 44-19, and a 19-game win streak.  The last matchup saw an 82-52 Panther victory.  In that ballgame, Kayba Laube led UNI with 15 points.  She added four rebounds and two steals in her 23 minutes on the court and shot 42.9% from three.  In her Panther basketball debut, Emily Holterhaus scored 11 points off the bench and added two rebounds in her 11 minutes.

UNI is coming off a 91-62 victory over Indiana State.As a team, UNI leads the conference with a league-low 12.6 turnovers per game. That mark is the 21st-best in the nation.  The Panthers recorded their 508th straight matchup with a three-pointer. In the game against the Sycamores, UNI knocked down 12 threes to continue a streak that has been active since December 2008. As a program, the Panther women’s basketball team is one conference win away from 500.

With the victory over the Sycamores, head coach Tanya Warren moved into the no. 2 spot in the MVC in all-time coaching wins passing Cheryl Burnett (Missouri State 1988-02) with 319.

UNI cracked the NET top 100 for the first time this season after the victory at Indiana State. As of March 8, the Panthers are ranked No. 97 in the NET, the third-highest in the Valley behind Drake (71) and Belmont (75).

Evansville is coming off its sixth straight loss with a 53-86 matchup against Drake on Thursday.

Anderson’s record-setting day pushes UNI past Belmont in Arch Madness opener

Sports

March 9th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

ST. LOUIS — Tytan Anderson set a new program postseason record with 19 rebounds to help lift UNI men’s basketball past the Belmont Bruins in a 67-62 quarterfinal win, Friday at Arch Madness. Northern Iowa pulled down 12 offensive rebounds and held the Bruins under 40% shooting with 12 turnovers to secure its first MVC Tournament semifinal appearance since 2022. The Panthers will now face the league’s regular season champion and top-seed Indiana State in today’s (Saturday’s) semifinal at Enterprise Center. The Panthers return to action in the semifinal round of the MVC Tournament tomorrow against top-seeded Indiana State. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

  • UNI has now won consecutive games against Belmont for the first time in program history, improving to 2-3 all-time against the Bruins. Friday was the Panthers’ first-ever meeting against Belmont in the MVC Tournament.
  • The Panthers improve to 29-25 all-time in the MVC Tournament with Friday’s victory and 9-8 under head coach Ben Jacobson in the quarterfinal round. UNI is also now 5-3 at Arch Madness as the four-seed.
  • Tytan Anderson’s 19 rebounds set a new program postseason record, breaking Seth Tuttle‘s 2014 MVC Tournament mark of 17 rebounds against Southern Illinois. His rebounding mark was also the third-highest total in an MVC Tournament game in the 48-year history of the event.
  • Anderson has also scored at least one point in 64 consecutive games, the longest streak among active Panthers.
  • Nate Heise surpassed 900 career points in Friday’s win, becoming the 57th player in school history to reach that milestone.

Bulldogs Take Care of Business, Advance to MVC Tournament Semifinals

Sports

March 9th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

ST. LOUIS — Junior swingman Tucker DeVries, the reigning two-time Larry Bird Player of the Year, scored 19 points including 14 in the first half, keying No. 2 seed Drake to a 79-58 victory past No. 10 seed Evansville in the quarterfinal round of the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Friday at the Enterprise Center.

The Bulldogs advanced to the semifinal round for the 11th time, including the sixth straight year under coach Darrian DeVries. It also marked the fourth straight year the No. 2 seed has advanced to the semifinal round of the MVC Tournament.

Drake, earning its third straight win, improved to 26-6 overall, marking the second straight season the Bulldogs have won at least 26 games and fifth time in program history. Drake earned its 11th straight win against Evansville, improving its lead in the series to 34-28.

NOTES

  • The No. 2 seed has advanced to the semifinal round of the MVC Tournament the past four straight years.
  • Drake advances to the semifinal round for the 11th time including the sixth straight year (all under coach Darian DeVries).
  • Clinging to a 21-18 lead, Drake closed out first half with  22-4 run holding the Aces to just one basket (9 shots) in the last 8 minutes 9 seconds.
  • This was Evansville’s lowest scoring first half since scoring 20 points in the first meeting in Des Moines.
  • Drake is 20-1 when leading at half.
  • This was Drake’s 14th double-digit halftime lead of the season and also the 14th time Drake has scored 40 or more points in the first half this season.
  • DeVries had a game high six assists, marking ninth time he has dished out five-plus assists in a contest this season
  • Drake, earning its third straight win, improved to 26-6 overall, marking the second straight season the Bulldogs have won at least 26 games and fifth time in program history. 1968-69, 26-5; 2007-08, 28-5; 2020-21,26-5;  2022-23, 27-8; 2023-24 26-6).
  • Drake pushed its MVC Tournament record to 27-43, while advancing to the semifinal round for the 11th time including the sixth straight year (all under coach Darian DeVries).
  • Drake has a 3-1 MVC Tournament record against Evansville. Head coach Darian DeVries improved his MVC Tournament record to 11-4.

No. 3 Hawkeyes Cruise, Advance To B1G Semis

Sports

March 9th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

MINNEAPOLIS — The second-seeded and third-ranked University of Iowa women’s basketball team defeated No. 7 seed Penn State, 95-62, inside a sold-out Target Center on Friday night to advance to the Big Ten Tournament Semifinals for the fourth consecutive season. Five Hawkeyes finished in double digits, with All-American Caitlin Clark having the game-high 24 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists. Eight of Clark’s 10 first-half points came at the charity stripe. Sydney Affolter finished with a career-high 18 points, going 3-of-4 from beyond the 3-point line. Gabbie Marshall contributed 15 points, going 4-of-7 from the long distance. Kate Martin finished with a near-double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds. Taylor McCabe netted all 12 of her points in the second half via the 3-ball, going 4-of-8 from 3-point territory.

The second-seeded Hawkeyes advanced to face Michigan.today at 3:30-p.m. Listen for the pregame at 3:15 on KJAN.

After missing her first 11 3-point attempts of the game, Clark finally got one to drop, her 163rd of her decorated career to surpass Stephen Curry for the most 3-point field goals made in a single season (Division I – men or woman). Martin made a three in the first 10 seconds of the game to spark a 10-0 spurt for the Hawkeyes. Affolter, Martin, Marshall, and Feuerbach all made threes in the first, and Affolter led the quarter with eight points.

The Lady Lions left the Hawkeyes scoreless in the first five minutes of the second quarter. Clark ended the drought with a step-back jumper. The Hawkeyes kept the momentum going with a 13-2 run to close out the last 3:52 of the half. It was a back-and-forth battle in the third with Penn State outscoring Iowa 22-19. Taylor McCabe made back-to-back triples in the midst of the third quarter to extend the Hawkeye lead to 19.

Clark scored 11 points in the fourth period. The Hawkeyes take advantage of their trips to the free-throw line, making 26-of-30 (.867) to seal the deal and give Iowa its second win over Penn State this season. The Hawkeyes (15-of-44) made eight more triples than the Lady Lions (7-of-33). The 44 attempts from behind the 3-point line is a new school record besting 40 attempts against Maryland in the same building last season at the Big Ten Tournament.

POSTGAME NOTES

– 2-Seed Iowa (27-4) dropped 7-Seed Penn State (19-12), 95-62, inside a sold-out Target Center on Friday afternoon in the Quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament.

– National Player of the Year candidate, Caitlin Clark, surpassed Steph Curry’s NCAA men’s single season 3-pointers made record. (162)

– Clark finished with 24 points (10-11 FT), 10 rebounds, and seven assists.

– It was her 62nd career double-double and she is now fourth on the Big Ten’s all-time list.

Sydney Affolter netted a career-high with 18 points, nine rebounds, and five assists.

– Iowa has won its last 10 against PSU dating back to 2018.

– Iowa has won its opening round game of the BTT in four consecutive seasons.

– Iowa has advanced to the Semifinals of the BTT in four straight years.

– Iowa has won its first game in the BTT in five out of the last six seasons.

– It was the first time in Big Ten women’s basketball Tournament history it has sold out all sessions.

Gabbie Marshall is now sixth on Iowa’s all-time list for steals.

– Marshall is 12-of-21 in her last three games from 3-point range.

– Marshall has recorded three straight games with four three-pointers.

Kate Martin finished just shy of a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds.

– Among active players who didn’t transfer, Marshall (122) and Martin (119) are third and fourth nationally for most active wins in a career.

– Clark leads the country in 20+ point games this season with 31.

– Clark is the only player in the country with 900+ points, 225+ assists, and 175+ rebounds this season.

– Since the start of the 2020-21 season, Iowa leads the nation with 102 games of 80+ points.

– UI has scored 80 or more points 25 times this season.

– Iowa leads the Big Ten with 22 games of 90+ points this season.

– The country’s best offense has recorded 90+ points in 11 out of the last 13 games.

– Clark has scored 20+ points in 116-of-131 career games which is the most in program history.

– Clark kept her streak alive of 88 consecutive games making a 3-point basket. (NCAA best)

– Clark is the first Division-I men’s or women’s player to record 3,700+ points, 1,000+ assists, and 850+ rebounds in a career.

Two convicted of multiple charges after mailing fentanyl over state lines

News

March 9th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY (KTIV) – A man who drove to Arizona several times to mail fentanyl pills to his partner in Sioux City was convicted by a jury, after a five-day trial in federal court. Federal authorities say 33-year-old Aki Awou from Omaha, Nebraska was convicted of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and two counts of possession with intent to distribute and aiding and abetting the possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl. According to authorities, on Feb. 21, 2024, before heading to trial, Awou’s partner-in-crime, and brother, 20-year-old Karem Bol of Sioux City entered a guilty plea to five counts:

  • Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.
  • Two counts of possession with intent to distribute.
  • Aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
  • Possession of firearms by a drug user
  • possession of a firearm during and in furtherance of drug trafficking crime.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office says evidence shows between January 2022 and May 2022, Awou traveled to the Phoenix, Arizona area where he would mail packages containing thousands of fentanyl pills to Bol’s address in Sioux City. The pills were disguised as oxycodone. The Omaha Police Department’s Gang of Intelligence Unit utilized a GPS tracker on Awou’s vehicle to pinpoint Awou’s travels and possible package locations which included addresses in Sioux City and post offices in Arizona. Authorities say postal inspectors were able to intercept a package and conduct a controlled delivery at one of the addresses located in Sioux City. Afterward, postal inspectors executed a search warrant, during which Bol was seen throwing firearms out a second-story bedroom window.

During the search, authorities identified a second location tied to both men and obtained a second search warrant for that residence. In the second location, authorities found additional illegal substances as well as documents identifying both Bol and Awou as residences of both Sioux City locations. The U.S. Attorney’s Office says the day after the search warrants took place, postal inspectors received notices of another package being delivered from Arizona to an address in Sioux City. The inspector was able to intercept the package before the delivery which revealed the package contained thousands of fentanyl pills.

The office says laboratory results revealed Awou’s fingerprints were present on three packages used as evidence and Bol’s palm print was located on the package used during the controlled delivery. The gathered evidence also identified Bol and Awou as known gang members. While awaiting sentencing, both men remain in the custody of the United States Marshal. Awou and Bol both face a minimum sentence of ten years imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine and five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

The Sioux City Police Department and the Omaha Police Department were assisted by:

  • The United States Postal Inspector
  • DEA Tri-State Drug Task Force
  • Lancaster County Sheriff’s Department
  • U.S Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives