Iowa-ISU: A battle of women’s basketball unbeatens for the first time since 2004

IOWA CITY — Everybody’s got that rival. That road trip they either dread, or embrace.

“In high school, we played at Etiwanda (Calif.),” said Iowa freshman Addie Deal, who played for nearby Santa Ana Mater Dei. “I think this will be a similar vibe to that.”

No disrespect to Etiwanda, but ...

For the first time in 21 years, the Cy-Hawk women’s basketball game is a battle of unbeatens: No. 11 Iowa (9-0) and No. 10 Iowa State (10-0) collide Wednesday at Hilton Coliseum in Ames.

Tipoff is 6 p.m. (ESPN).

“In a state that doesn’t have major-league sports, Iowa State and Iowa take up most of the oxygen,” ISU Coach Bill Fennelly said. “And this is the kind of game in which the energy and enthusiasm get elevated.”

The rivalry has taken an Iowa slant recently; the Hawkeyes have won eight of the last nine meetings. This one looks like an virtual toss-up.

“I still don’t know how good we are yet,” Iowa Coach Jan Jensen said. “This will give us a good marker. That’s what both teams need.”

It’s no mystery that a major focus to the game will be the paint. That’s the home of Iowa State junior Audi Crooks, who leads the nation at 27.6 points per game.

Iowa counters with ascendant sophomore Ava Heiden (16.1 ppg).

Crooks is second in the nation in field goal percentage (.732); Heiden is eighth (.637).

“They’re two really good and very different post players,” Jensen said. “Ava is more of a (center/forward), and Audi is definitely a (center).

“Audi’s touch is really, really incredible, always has been. When you let her get it, she’s pretty accurate.”

Iowa’s Taylor Stremlow said, “(Crooks is) an incredible player. She’s going to make baskets. But I think we’re ready.”

It helps that Iowa point guard Chit-Chat Wright “should be ready to go,” according to Jensen, who added that Emely Rodriguez “is definitely day-to-day,” and that Teagan Mallegni remains doubtful.

Only three Hawkeyes — seniors Kylie Feuerbach, Taylor McCabe and Hanna Stuelke — have played at Hilton before.

“You can talk about it and do all of these things (to prepare),” Jensen said. “But until you’ve lived through it ... ”

Post play will be a factor Wednesday. So will maturity in a loud environment.

“When you get to these games, you can lose your mind a little bit,” Fennelly said. “It’s good to play with emotion, but you can’t be emotional.”

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com