Every game important for Iowa women
Iowa is in a four-team tie for third place in the Big Ten with two games to play and a chance to earn a first-round bye in the conference tournament.
“That’s something we didn’t think was possible earlier in the season,” junior Morgan Johnson said. “Just hearing that really just gets you enthused and excited.”
That quest starts tonight at Northwestern (14-13, 4-10) and ends Sunday in the regular season finale at home against Michigan (19-8, 8-6).
Iowa (17-10, 9-5) is tied with Nebraska, Purdue and Michigan State in the league standings and is a game ahead of Michigan.
“As close as the Big Ten standings are right now, every game is important,” Krei said. “We just want to finish strong.”
The number of teams who got the first day of the tournament off went from five to four this season with the addition of Nebraska.
“We could finish up as high as third or as low as seventh from these games this week,” Iowa coach Lisa Bluder said. “So, thus, a big week.”
Bluder wants the Hawkeyes to forget about their first game against Northwestern, a 86-55 win back on Dec. 30 in Iowa City.
“I don’t think it’s good when you win it so decisively and you have to go play at their place,” Bluder said. “To me, it can be a situation where they think they have the game won.”
To that end, Bluder only has to point to the Wildcats’ 63-51 win at Nebraska last week to get her team’s attention.
“I think you just have to know we’re going to get their best shot,” freshman Samantha Logic said. “We shot really, really well against them. If we don’t shoot as well, we have to be ready to do whatever it takes to get the win.”
Iowa shot 45.6 percent from the field against the Wildcats, including 12-of-27 from 3-point range.
Six-foot-5 junior center Dannielle Diamant only played 20 minutes that game, gaining six points and six rebounds. She is leading Northwestern with 15.7 points and 7.6 rebounds in conference games.
The Wildcats also have a more experienced Morgan Jones. A four-time Big Ten Freshman of the week, Jones is averaging 14.5 points per game.
“We have some really interested matchups,” Bluder said. “But I do feel like we match up well against this team.”
Category: Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball
