Is now the time for an Iowa women’s basketball breakthrough at Maryland?

IOWA CITY -- Kate Martin called it “March Medicine,” and at the time, that old familiar flavor went down hard.

“We don’t ever want to feel the way we felt last year again,” Martin said.

It was that tail-kicking, 96-68 at the hands of Maryland in the second-to-last game of the regular season, that ultimately cost Iowa a share of the 2022-23 Big Ten women’s basketball championship.

The Hawkeyes recovered from it, of course, winning their next nine games -- including three in the Big Ten tournament (89-84 over Maryland in the semifinals) and five in the NCAA tournament.

They head back to the Eastern Seaboard for a Saturday encounter with the Terrapins -- 7 p.m. (CT) at Xfinity Arena (FOX) -- and if there has ever been an opportunity for a breakthrough at College Park, it is now.

No. 3 Iowa (20-2 overall, 9-1 Big Ten) is at its zenith. Maryland (12-9, 4-6), well, is not.

“Every team is going through transition. They’re a different team. They’re going through adjustments,” Martin said. “But it doesn’t mean that they’re not Maryland any more.

“Everybody is going to give their best shot against us.”

Iowa is 0-6 at Maryland since the Terrapins joined the Big Ten. None of the last five were competitive.

“We’ve never won there, so that gives us a little added motivation,” Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder said.

“They’re trying to do a lot of the same things they have always done. Maybe they don’t have the height they’ve had, or the depth that they’ve had.

“I expect to always get the best from (Terps Coach) Brenda (Frese), and Maryland’s best, because it has become a little rivalry, despite (the distance).”

Frese is a Cedar Rapids native; she attended Washington High School, also home of Iowa sophomore Hannah Stuelke.

“(Frese) knows my mom,” Stuelke said. “My mom knows everybody because she likes to talk.

“My high school coach, (Chris) James, has known her since he was little. Obviously, she’s an amazing basketball coach and I’m excited to play her.”

Maryland won the Big Ten regular-season title in six of its first seven years in the league. The Terrapins were fourth in 2022, tied for second last year.

This year, they are in danger of missing the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2009-10. A win Saturday certainly would enhance their resume.

“We want people to play us at their best. It makes basketball fun,” Martin said. “It’s going to be a fun environment. We’ve gotten used to playing in a hostile environment.

“They’re just very aggressive. They don’t care who you are. They’re going to pressure you, they’re going to amp you up, they’re going to speed you up.”

Bluder’s responses ...

... on Iowa’s post rotation, which (other than Stuelke) remains in flux:

“We’re still trying to find that second post that wants to step up, and we’re not finding it yet.”

... on whether she expects an announcement from Caitlin Clark before the end of the season on her future:

“Probably not until after the season. I fully expect for her to go through (the) Senior Day (ceremony March 3). If she does come back, she’ll do it again next year.”

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com