Iowa women’s basketball doesn’t play down to its lower-level competition

IOWA CITY — The Big Ten women’s basketball hierarchy consists of three tiers.

There’s a high five, of which the Iowa Hawkeyes certainly are a member.

There’s a low five. And there’s four teams that fall in between.

When the Hawkeyes run into one of the lower-tiered teams, a knockout is inevitable.

“They come out really focused, and they maintain their intensity, even with a big lead,” Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder said Tuesday.

“Our bench, they want to play. They want to show what they’re capable of doing.”

The fifth-ranked Hawkeyes (20-5 overall, 12-2 Big Ten) face their final game against a bottom-tier team Wednesday; tipoff with Wisconsin (8-18, 3-11) is 6:30 p.m. at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Iowa has defeated the Badgers 26 straight times (a streak that dates back to 2007), including a 102-71 romp at Madison on Dec. 7.

“It seems like forever since we’ve played them,” Bluder said.

In its previous six games against the Big Ten’s bottom (Penn State twice, Rutgers, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Northwestern):

* The Hawkeyes have averaged 99.3 points per game, and allowed 62.3.

* They have broken out of the gate early, leading by an average of 9.5 points after the first quarter,

* In all six games, they have held a double-digit halftime lead, ranging from 12 points (Minnesota) to 32 (Sunday against Rutgers). The average halftime score is 52.5 to 30.3.

* They have shot 55 percent or better in five of the six games, above 60 percent twice.

Simply put, they’re not messing around.

In Sunday’s 111-57 dismantling of Rutgers, all 14 players scored, and the Hawkeyes scored 61 bench points.

“I enjoyed seeing the reaction of the starters on the bench, rejoicing in their teammates’ success,” Bluder said.

Wednesday marks the Hawkeyes’ second-to-last regular-season home game, and the finale — Feb. 26 against Indiana — is sold out.

Iowa has averaged 10,446 fans in its 14 home games this season. In its seven Big Ten home games, that number jumps to 11,339.

After Wednesday, the Hawkeyes have road challenges against Nebraska (Saturday) and Maryland (Tuesday) before that rematch with Indiana that could have league-championship implications.

“It’s a great opportunity,” Bluder said. “If we win out, we could be co-champions.”

McKenna Warnock continues to work her way back into shape after suffering a rib-cage injury at Michigan State on Jan. 18. In her four games back, she is averaging 8.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.

“She’s not going to tell us even if it does hurt,” Bluder said. “I ask, ‘How do you feel,’ and she says, ‘Good.’

“That’s all I’m going to get out of her. She’s a really tough individual.”

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com