Hawkeyes preparing for two different Penn State teams

IOWA CITY — The Iowa Hawkeyes are preparing for two different teams.

Penn State with Teniya Page. And Penn State without Teniya Page.

'We have to prepare for them differently, and that's not easy, because they're quite a bit different,' Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder said Monday morning.

With or without Page, the Lady Lions (10-4 overall, 0-2 Big Ten) host Iowa (10-5, 1-1) at 6 p.m. (Iowa time) Tuesday at the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, Pa.

A sophomore guard, Page is fourth in the Big Ten in scoring at 20.2 points per game, and her 48-percent accuracy from 3-point range leads the league. But she missed Penn State's game Saturday at Rutgers due to a finger injury, and the results were devastating — a four-point first quarter on the way to a 61-45 defeat.

'She's one of the best guards in the conference,' Bluder said. 'She's explosive, she's a great shooter and she gets to the rim so easy.'

The Hawkeyes are playing their third game in seven days; they held off Nebraska, 75-72, Saturday.

'It's a big opportunity to get a road win,' senior Ally Disterhoft said. 'I'm looking forward to that matchup and building on (the Nebraska) win.'

Disterhoft and Megan Gustafson are scoring 17.3 points per game apiece to pace the Hawkeyes. Gustafson leads the Big Ten in shooting percentage (.675).

After Tuesday's game, the Hawkeyes won't play again until Jan. 11, when they host Illinois.

'I feel like byes are important for physical and mental rest. But this one isn't coming at the right time,' Bluder said. 'I'd rather have it in late January or February. We're not in school right now; we'd might as well be playing.'

The Hawkeyes will take Wednesday off, practice Thursday and Friday, then take the weekend off.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com