Iowa moving on up in Big Ten
It’s moving day for the Hawkeye women’s basketball team.
Iowa (15-10, 7-5) has won four straight to put itself back in the discussion for the NCAA Tournament.
Michigan State (15-9, 7-4), also in that discussion, visits the Hawkeyes at 2 p.m. today.
After today, the Hawkeyes’ final three games include a home-and-away against Michigan (18-7, 7-5) and one at Northwestern (13-11).
“I think we have a good feeling right now,” Iowa coach Lisa Bluder said. “I think that we’re positioning ourselves well for these last games going into the Big Ten Tournament.”
Iowa was just 11-10 two weeks ago. Last week the Hawkeyes lost leading scorer Jaime Printy to a torn ACL.
But the other Hawkeyes are stepping up without the junior guard. Over the last three games, senior Kamille Wahlin is averaging 18.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game. Junior center Morgan Johnson is averaging 20.7 points and 7.3 rebounds.
And freshman Samantha Logic is averaging 15.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 6.7 assists.
“Just do what you can,” Logic said. “Everyone has to step up a little bit. No one person is going to replace not having a Jaime Printy on your team.”
Michigan State has won three straight after a disappointing four-game losing streak. Senior guard Porsche Poole has scored 20-plus in four straight games and is averaging 13.2 ppg on the season.
Six-foot-1 senior Lykendra Johnson is averaging 10.4 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.
“They are really close to us in the conference,” Logic said. “You want to get them at home.”
Iowa has won four of the last six against Michigan State, including the last three in Iowa City.
“If we want to make a move into the Big Ten standings, the top part of the Big Ten standing, home games are very important,” Bluder said. “We think we can shake the standing a little bit.”
Category: Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball
