Huskers and Girl Scouts for sure; Logic's a maybe

IOWA CITY -- The Iowa Hawkeyes face their new Big Ten women's basketball rival Sunday afternoon.

Question is, will they do so with a new lineup?

Samantha Logic has been listed as day-to-day after spraining her right ankle in the Hawkeyes' 69-62 overtime win over Illinois. The freshman is questionable for Sunday's game with 19th-ranked Nebraska.

Tipoff is 3 p.m. at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. It's Girl Scout Day, and it's a Carver white-out.

"I think people are excited to see Nebraska for the first time," Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder said Thursday after the Hawkeyes (10-6 overall, 2-1 Big Ten) escaped the Fighting Illini.

Nebraska (13-1, 2-0), of course, is in its first year in the Big Ten after shuffling over from the Big 12. The NU program has been yo-yo-like in recent years, but is on an upspin this season.

In the past five years, the Huskers have gone 21-12, 15-16, 32-2, 13-18 and now 13-1.

Nebraska's Big Ten debut was a dandy. The Huskers knocked off Penn State on Dec. 30 at State College, then followed that with a convincing with at home against Indiana on Thursday.

"They went to Penn State, a tough arena, and took them down," Iowa guard Kamille Wahlin said. "That's impressive."

Both teams have used the same five starters all season. Iowa's streak of Logic, Wahlin, Jaime Printy, Morgan Johnson and Kelly Krei will end Sunday if Logic isn't available.

The Hawkeyes needed a 3-pointer at the end of regulation from Wahlin to survive against Illinois.

Nebraska is led by Jordan Hooper (21.2 points per game), Lindsey Moore (15.4 ppg) and a defense that allows 56 points and 35-percent shooting from the floor.

Despite being from neighboring states, Iowa and Nebraska have played only 11 times. They played a home-and-home from 1986-87 through 1991-92, but have played only twice since. Iowa picked up a 71-67 win at Lincoln in their last meeting, March 21, 2005, in the second round of the WNIT.

NEBRASKA (13-1, 2-0) at IOWA (10-6, 2-1)

Where: Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa City

Tipoff: 3 p.m. Sunday

TV: Big Ten Network

Radio: WMT-AM (600), KXIC-AM (800)

Scouting report: The Hawkeyes face Nebraska for the first time as a Big Ten rival. They haven't played the Huskers since 2005, picking up a win at Lincoln as part of the WNIT. Iowa is coming off a 69-62 overtime win over Illinois. Kamille Wahlin hit a 3-pointer to tie the game with 10 seconds left in regulation, then the Hawkeyes dominated OT. No. 19 Nebraska has been successful thus far in its maiden Big Ten voyage. The Huskers debuted with a win at Penn State, then cruised at home against Indiana. Nebraska Coach Connie Yori was a high school star at Ankeny. Jordan Hooper (21.2 ppg) and Lindsey Moore (15.4 ppg) comprise nearly half of Nebraska's scoring load. Jaime Printy leads the Hawkeyes at 17.3 points per game, but has struggled with her outside shooting recently. Morgan Johnson adds 14.8 ppg. Freshman Samantha Logic (sprained ankle) is questionable.

Next for Iowa: at Purdue, 1 p.m. next Sunday.

BIG TEN STANDINGS

Conf.

All

Purdue

3-0

13-3

Ohio State

2-0

15-0

Nebraska

2-0

13-1

Michigan State

2-0

10-5

Iowa

2-1

10-6

Minnesota

2-1

10-7

Michigan

1-1

12-3

Penn State

1-1

11-3

Northwestern

0-2

10-5

Illinois

0-3

6-10

Indiana

0-3

5-11

Wisconsin

0-3

4-11

SATURDAY

Michigan State at Penn State, 1 p.m.

Ohio State at Michigan, 4 p.m.

SUNDAY

Northwestern at Indiana, 1 p.m.

Wisconsin at Illinois, 2 p.m.

Nebraska at Iowa, 3 p.m.