Regular-season finale represents homecoming for Taylor Stremlow, Teagan Mallegni

IOWA CITY — Taylor Stremlow’s birthday is Thursday.

“We’re going to kind of celebrate it Sunday,” she said. “I’ll have a lot of people at the game.

“I love the Kohl Center. I love Madison.”

And for the better part of two decades, the Iowa women’s basketball program has loved the outcome when it has played Wisconsin.

The Hawkeyes have vanquished the Badgers 31 consecutive times, dating back to 2007.

Ninth-ranked Iowa (23-5 overall, 14-3 Big Ten) and Wisconsin (13-15, 5-12) close out the regular season at the Kohl Center on Sunday; tip is 2 p.m.

A sophomore guard for the Hawkeyes and a native of Verona, Wis., Stremlow grew up within a half-hour of downtown Madison. So did reserve Teagan Mallegni (McFarland, Wis.).

Coincidence or not, the Hawkeyes are 12-0 in games that Stremlow has started this season, including a current four-game winning streak.

In Thursday’s come-from-behind 82-78 home win over Illinois, she scored 11 points (on 5-of-7 shooting) and dished out 11 assists for her first career double-double.

“I can’t say enough about her,” Iowa Coach Jan Jensen said. “She just has a swag and a confidence. Her floor game was stellar.”

Speaking of stellar, consider Ava Heiden.

Last week’s Big Ten player of the week, the sophomore post has averaged 25.0 points in the last four games. That includes a necessary 28-point output (in 23 minutes) Thursday.

Heiden made 13 of 18 shots despite lingering illness.

“I wanted to be efficient so I could rest,” she said.

The next step, Jensen said ... “We’ve got to get Chit-Chat (Wright) going again.”

Wright had four points Thursday, all crucial free throws down the stretch.

“She’s so fit, she cramps up,” Jensen said. “We’ve got to figure that out, whether it’s cherry juice, massage ... ”

Iowa has clinched a double-bye for next week’s Big Ten tournament in Indianapolis, and will open play in the quarterfinal round Friday.

If the Hawkeyes win Sunday — or if Michigan loses at home to Maryland on Saturday — they will be a 2-seed.

Under first-year coach Robin Pingeton (a Cedar Rapids native) Wisconsin got off to a 5-4 start in the Big Ten, but has dropped eight in a row.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com