Hawks go for the sweep against Ohio State

IOWA CITY -- It has been 13 years since Iowa swept Ohio State in women's basketball.

It has been seven years since the Buckeyes failed to win at least a share of the Big Ten regular-season championship.

The 18th-ranked Hawkeyes have an opportunity to change status quo Monday, when they travel to Columbus in a game that kicks off a week of reckoning.

Iowa (15-4 overall, 3-3 Big Ten) faces No. 25 Ohio State (12-6, 3-3) at Value City Arena at 6 p.m.

"We know how Ohio State plays," said Kachine Alexander. "A lot of transition, they like to pound it into the post. I hope we can take that away again. We've got to remember how our (zone) defense defended them last time."

The Hawkeyes recorded an 89-76 victory Jan. 8 in Iowa City.

Both teams are two games behind Michigan State in the Big Ten standings. That's still within striking range with 10 games left, but another loss would be greatly harmful.

Iowa hosts Michigan State on Thursday, then travels to Illinois on Sunday.

The Hawkeyes should be rested and ready -- it has been eight days since they beat Indiana -- but will they be healthy?

Kamille Wahlin was sick midweek with the flu; Kelsey Cermak had four wisdom teeth pulled.

"I hope we're all healthy (by Monday)," said Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder.

If Iowa wins, it will mark its first sweep of OSU since 1997-98, when the Hawkeyes beat the Buckeyes twice in the regular season and in the Big Ten tournament.

Ohio State was favored to win the Big Ten this season for the seventh straight year, but the Buckeyes have faltered.

"They're not shooting the 3-pointer as well as they used to, and I think their defense could improve," Bluder said. "We did a good job (last time) on Jantel (Lavender). She got a lot of her points late.

"We've got to simulate that again."