Women's Basketball: Hawkeyes hoping to repeat 2010 turnaround

This is where it happened.

This is where the 2009-10 Iowa Hawkeyes turned their season around. And the 2010-11 version is eager to come back.

Back to break-even in the Big Ten, 18th-ranked Iowa concludes a hectic week Sunday at Illinois.

Tipoff is 2 p.m.

“I feel good about going over there,” said Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder. “That is where we turned the tide last year.”

Last year's team was staggering at 8-10 overall, 1-6 in the Big Ten when it went to Champaign. The Hawkeyes fell behind, then rallied to win, 74-65.

That kick-started a marvelous 12-4 run that featured a runner-up finish in the Big Ten tournament and a trip to the NCAA tournament. And it set in motion high expectations for this season.

Fast forward to now. The Hawkeyes (16-5 overall, 4-4 Big Ten) aren't in the dire straits they faced a year ago. Sunday's game is an opportunity to get above .500 in the Big Ten for the first time this season, and a chance to build on the good feelings of Thursday's 66-64 win over No. 10 Michigan State.

“(The Hawkeyes) have to understand they can't let down,” Bluder said. “It's something we'll have to talk about. Illinois is much improved. We know how important a road win is.”

At the midpoint of the conference season, the Hawkeyes are not in the thick of the race. Nor are they out of it.

Four teams - Michigan State, Michigan, Wisconsin and Penn State - are 6-2. Iowa is two games back, as are Ohio State and Purdue.

“It just goes to show, top to bottom, night in and night out, it's a grind,” said Michigan State Coach Suzy Merchant. “It's going to be a battle to the finish.”

The Hawkeyes have no room for error. No room for letdown.

Iowa's Kachine Alexander needs six assists to become the first player in school history - and the fifth in Big Ten history - to notch 1,000 points, 800 rebounds and 300 assists in a career.

Illinois (8-12, 2-6) has lost four straight games; the Illini have led in the second half of each of the last three. They dropped a 67-65 decision to Penn State on Thursday when Julia Trogele converted a layup with 9 seconds left.

The Hawkeyes have won their last six games at Illinois. The Illini are coached by Jolette Law, who scored 1,137 career points at Iowa (1986-90).

Big Ten standings

Conf.

All

Michigan State

6-2

18-3

Penn State

6-2

17-5

Michigan

6-2

13-7

Wisconsin

6-2

11-9

Iowa

4-4

16-5

Purdue

4-4

14-7

Ohio State

4-4

13-7

Northwestern

3-5

14-7

Indiana

2-6

8-12

Illinois

2-6

7-14

Minnesota

1-7

9-12

Sunday's Games (Iowa times)

Indiana at Purdue, 11 a.m.

Ohio State at Penn State, 1 p.m.

Iowa at Illinois, 2 p.m.

Michigan at Minnesota, 2 p.m.

Wisconsin at Northwestern, 2 p.m.