For Iowa women’s basketball, trip to Indiana is ‘an opportunity to see how much we have grown’

IOWA CITY — When insults from strangers are raining from opposing crowds. When opposing fans storm the court in glee.

Even then, Jan Jensen is grateful.

It’s a sign of how far women’s basketball has come. How far Iowa women’s basketball has come.

“When we go on the road, it’s a moment in time,” said Jensen, the Hawkeyes’ associate head coach. “So there’s a sense of gratitude.”

Sold-out crowds have greeted the Hawkeyes — whether positively or negatively (usually a lot of both) — in virtually every road venue this season.

“It’s new territory,” Jensen said. “It’s so loud at some of these places. When the momentum shifts against you, it feels like a wave.”

The wave swept up the Hawkeyes at Ohio State, then again at Nebraska.

No. 4 Iowa (23-3 overall, 12-2 Big Ten) faces another hostile crowd Thursday at No. 14 Indiana (21-4, 12-3). Tipoff is 7 p.m. (CT) at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall (Peacock).

It’s a must-get if the Hawkeyes are to accomplish one of their key goals — a Big Ten regular-season championship.

“Yes, if we want to get an ultimate goal, we have to have it,” Jensen said. “But we don’t want to place so much on it so that all is lost if it doesn’t happen.

“This is an opportunity to see how much we have grown. We have to have the mental fortitude to go over there and handle the atmosphere. We know it’s going to be a really hostile environment.”

Iowa is one game behind Ohio State (22-3, 13-1), with four games to play. The Buckeyes come to Iowa City in the regular-season finale March 3.

With so much attention — media and otherwise — falling on Caitlin Clark’s now-completed pursuit of the NCAA women’s basketball scoring record in recent weeks, the focus now resets to the remainder of the season, and all of the possibilities that come with it.

“We are all a part of that history,” Jensen said. “For the most part, until the very end, Caitlin didn’t fixate on it, and the team didn’t fixate on it.

“When it happened, it was a blast. But at practice the next day, and Caitlin led that charge, it was (back to) business as usual.”

Iowa whipped Indiana, 84-57, in the first meeting Jan. 13. That game was surrounded by bizarre travel circumstances; a snowstorm forced the Hoosiers to fly to Iowa on game day.

One of Jensen’s key roles, and one for which she is reputed nationally, is as post developer. She characterized this as “a really unique year” in terms of post rotation.

Hannah Stuelke has been a cornerstone. The others — Addison O’Grady, Sharon Goodman and A.J. Ediger — have been up and down.

“Usually, we’ve had that mainstay, a Megan Gustafson or a Monika Czinano,” Jensen said. “This group, I credit them a lot. They’ve bought into ‘we are a group.’

“You’ve seen some change in the last couple of weeks. Addi is playing more. We go with who is needed, and who has performed in practice.”

That crew must contend with Indiana All-American Mackenzie Holmes (20.6 ppg), arguably the second-best player in the Big Ten.

“I love Mackenzie Holmes,” Jensen said. “Obviously, she’s a great, great player.”

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