Trip to Michigan is homecoming for Iowa's Tania Davis

IOWA CITY — Tania Davis is a point guard. And recently, a ticket broker.

A native of nearby Flint, Davis will have 20 family members and friends on hand when the Iowa Hawkeyes face Michigan in a Big Ten women's basketball game Sunday at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Tipoff is 1 p.m. (Iowa time).

'I had it circled on my calendar because I get to go home,' said Davis, a sophomore. 'But basketball-wise, I just try to take one game at a time and go with the flow.'

For the Hawkeyes (14-8 overall, 5-4 Big Ten), a team on the NCAA bubble and still seeking a signature win, this would certainly fit the bill. Michigan (18-5, 7-2) stands in third place in the Big Ten.

'Obviously we're going to have to bring a great defensive game,' Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder said Thursday after the Hawkeyes' 71-57 win over Rutgers.

'They're scoring 80 points a game. They're 11-0 on their home court. They've got three outstanding scorers.'

Junior guard Katelynn Flaherty is third in the Big Ten in scoring at 20.3 points per game. Hallie Thome adds 15.0 points per contest, Kysre Gondrezick 14.0.

Thome is a 6-foot-5 sophomore center.

'Megan (Gustafson) doesn't shy away from that,' Bluder said. '(Michigan) is shooting the 3-ball very, very well, and we are going to need great 3-point defense against them at their place.'

The teams split their Big Ten contests last year, both winning at home. This is their lone encounter this season.

Gustafson suffered her first sub-.500 shooting performance of the season last Sunday at Maryland, but bounced back with a 10-of-13 gem against Rutgers. Her 25 points and 12 rebounds accounted for her 11th double-double of the season.

With 1,896 career points, Ally Disterhoft needs 11 more to surpass Lindsey Meder and climb to No. 2 on Iowa's all-time scoring chart.

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