Kind of like old times at Carver-Hawkeye with C. Vivian Stringer, Christine Grant back

IOWA CITY — C. Vivian Stringer is in town. It's National Women and Girls in Sports Day.

Thursday, in the words of Lisa Bluder, 'just screams Dr. (Christine) Grant.'

The longtime women's athletics director at the University of Iowa, Grant is expected to be in attendance when the Hawkeyes host Rutgers in a Big Ten women's basketball contest.

Tipoff is 7 p.m. Thursday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

It was Grant and Stringer who orchestrated one of the most memorable days in Iowa women's basketball history, when 22,157 fans wedged themselves into Carver for a 1985 game.

'Dr. Grant has promised she would be here,' Bluder said. 'I know that would mean a lot to Vivian, as well.'

Stringer took Iowa to the Final Four in 1993, then left for Rutgers in 1995.

In 21 years at Rutgers, Stringer, now 68 and the owner of a career 975-378 record, has guided the Scarlet Knights to 15 NCAA tournaments, highlighted by a runner-up finish 10 years ago.

But the program has slid backward this year. Rutgers brings a 6-16 ledger (3-6 Big Ten) to Carver.

'I think it's just a depth issue right now for them,' Bluder said.

Thursday marks the first game of the back half of the Big Ten season for the Hawkeyes (13-8, 4-4). In the latest projections by ESPN's Charlie Creme, they are a 10 seed for the NCAA tournament.

'I'm glad he feels that way, because he's right a lot of the time,' Bluder said. 'There's still a lot of basketball yet to be played, and there's such a traffic jam between fourth and ninth in this league.'

Freshman guard Kathleen Doyle is coming off a 21-point performance in the Hawkeyes' 100-81 loss at No. 3 Maryland on Sunday.

'She was outstanding. It was the best game of her career,' Bluder said. 'She gave glimpses of what she can accomplish.

'I think she has figured it out. Sometimes, as a freshman, you don't want to upset the apple cart. She's going to be a great one.'

The Hawkeyes have beaten Rutgers four straight times, including a 71-59 triumph in New Jersey on Jan. 17. Megan Gustafson and Makenzie Meyer combined to make all 11 of their field-goal attempts in that game.

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