Iowa, Rutgers linked by strong relationship of women’s coaches

STANFORD, Calif. - Family feud? Well, sort of.

“It will be like playing a cousin or a sister,” Rutgers Coach C. Vivian Stringer said.

A former Iowa coach, Stringer takes mixed emotions into tonight's first-round game of the NCAA women's basketball tournament when the Hawkeyes and the Scarlet Knights collide.

Tipoff is 7:16 (Iowa time) at Maples Pavilion.

Stringer coached at Iowa from 1983 to 1995. Her children were raised there. Her husband died there.

“I'm going to be professional. But I still have a great love for Iowa,” Stringer said. “I haven't been enthused about this. Let's just say it like that.”

With one degree of separation (a five-year tenure by Angie Lee), Stringer and Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder are linked.

“There's a connection there, without a doubt,” Bluder said. “We've lived in the same community, and we share a love of the community and the people there.”

When Bluder's

husband, David, was seriously injured in an auto accident, Bluder received a call of support from Stringer.

“She was the first one to call while I was waiting in the hospital,” Bluder said.

Stringer said, “I just felt really close to her and told her I would pray for her.”

Rutgers has beaten Iowa twice since Stringer headed east. Stringer is 5-0 against Bluder, including three wins when Stringer was at Iowa and Bluder was at Drake.

Both coaches coaxed their teams into a late run to reach this point. Iowa (19-13) won 11 of its last 14 games with a young team splattered by injuries. Rutgers (19-14) won four of its last five in a season of transition.

“It's great to be here, a lot of fun. But we're here with a purpose,” said Iowa's Kachine Alexander.

The Hawkeyes are seeking their first tournament win since 2002. To achieve it, they must control tempo. Iowa averages 69.4 points, and Rutgers allows 55.8.

“Their guards are very quick,” said Brittany Ray, who leads the Scarlet Knights at 14.2 points per game. “All of their players shoot very well, and we have to defend them beyond the 3-point line.”

Iowa relies on balance. Alexander, Big Ten freshman of the year Jaime Printy and Kamille Wahlin average in double figures, and the Hawkeyes are 13-0 in games when at least four players score in double digits.

Alexander averages 15.5 points and 10.7 rebounds. At 5-foot-9, she ranks 17th in the country in rebounding.

“She's the heart and soul of this team,” Bluder said. “She plays hard every single possession. She turns it on when she steps on the floor and doesn't turn it off until she steps off.

“I absolutely love to coach kids like that.”