FanPost

Iowa Women's Basketball



As a Hawkeye that no longer lives in Iowa this is a great site; however it could be better if it could

find someone to cover Women's Basketball and report on games. I can't do this, but will make a

contribution by writing a summary of this years team and their recruiting. Lisa Bluder has built a

solid program that looks like it's in for some excellent years. The team this year is built around

three senior starters. It starts with All Conference point guard Samantha Logic. Bluder has described

her as a triple double waiting to happen (she has 5 in her career). Logic is a strong rebounder and

an excellent passer. She's an improving shooter, but is at her best attacking the basket. Joining her

is Melissa Dixon at shooting guard. One of the best 3 point shooters in the conference she's a also

a good ball handler who can finish on the break. In the post is 6' 4" Bethany Doolittle. She's a

sledder athletic post player, who is fine shooter out to 15 feet. She is also Iowa's all time leader

in blocked shots. Junior Kali Peschel was a starter last year until she was replaced during the Big

Ten season.( Junior Claire Till was a valuable contributor as an under sized post reserve last year but hasn't played

much this and may be battling knee injuries again) She scored a career high 19 its. last week, but will be relied on for

rebounding and defense. Sophmore Allie Disterhoft replaced Peschel last year and is probably the 2nd best long

range shooter and driver on the team. Fellow sophomore Alexa Kastanek backed up the point

year, but will be a contributor at shooting guard this year. This group will be joined by an excellent

recruiting class that arguably includes the beat player from 3 different states and Canada. The

highest rated recruit is Chase Coley a 6' 3" post from MN. She's another slender athletic player

that grew up playing point guard for her Dad, before she shot up to post size. Whitney Jennings is

a 5' 6" point guard from Indiana; who has already started 2 games and her 3 points shots were

crucial in Iowa's rally against Dayton (she hit 3). Carly Mohns from Wisconsin and Christina

Buttenham from Canada are forwards who should contribute. Buttenham looks like a shooter.

This group will be augmented by a top 20 recruiting class for 2015 - including a top 35 point

guard from Michigan and 2 post players. Lisa Bluder also has 4 verbal commitments and one more

possible for 2016- including Iowans Amanda Ollinger and Makenzie Meyer. Congratulations to

Lisa Bluder for building this program the right way. Over last few years she has lost some blue

chip recruits to career ending injuries just as she almost lost Theirra Taylor last year after 3 major

knee surgeries, but she has always taken care of the women who come to Iowa and she has built

a reputation for having a close caring team. Good luck and good health for them this year.

Unless otherwise expressly indicated by BHGP editors, this FanPost is strictly the viewpoint of the author and is not endorsed by BHGP in any way.