Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge is Manhattan project for Hawkeyes

IOWA CITY -- The Iowa Hawkeyes survived a ragtag defensive struggle on Wednesday.

Another one could be looming.

"It's going to be a hostile environment," Coach Lisa Bluder said about the Hawkeyes' game Saturday at Kansas State. "They're a very good defensive team; they make it hard to score points."

Iowa (5-2) defeated Virginia Tech, 58-47, as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The Hawkeyes prevailed despite shooting 22 percent in the first half.

Next up, a K-State outfit that doesn't shoot particularly well (34 percent from the field), but defends extremely well. The Wildcats (3-2) are allowing 47.8 points per game, permitting opponents to shoot only 32 percent from the floor -- and just 19 percent from 3-point range.

The Hawkeyes beat K-State, 68-62, last season in Iowa City. The Wildcats started 3-0 this year, then dropped two games last weekend at the Cancun Challenge, including an overtime decision to Purdue.

Morgan Johnson is coming off a down-and-up performance against Virginia Tech. She missed 12 of her first 13 shots, then made 7 of her last 8 in a 23-point performance.

A 6-foot-5 junior post, Johnson grew up in Platte City, Mo., about a 2-hour drive from Manhattan.

"I'm excited for this," she said. "I'll have a lot of family and friends there.

"It will be a little more personal for me."

Saturday's game is the first of two road games against Big 12 opponents. Iowa is at Iowa State on Wednesday.

IOWA (5-2) at KANSAS STATE (3-2)

Where -- Bramlage Coliseum, Manhattan, Kan.

Tipoff -- 7 p.m. Saturday

TV -- Fox Sports KC

Notable -- K-State leads the series, 3-1, but the Hawkeyes picked up a 68-62 victory in Iowa City last season. Iowa shook off an extremely slow start Wednesday, defeating Virginia Tech 58-47 in an ACC/Big Ten Challenge game. Morgan Johnson started 1-for-13, but made 7 of her last 8 shots and led the Hawkeyes with 23 points. Jaime Printy paces Iowa at 17.6 points per game, Johnson is at 12.3 ppg. Jalana Childs leads K-State in scoring at 15.8 points per game. The Wildcats won their first three games before dropping two at the Cancun Challenge last weekend.

Next up for Iowa -- at Iowa State, 7 p.m. Wednesday