Slow-starting Iowa looking for changes

IOWA CITY - Been digging out lately? So has the Iowa women's basketball team.

Slow starts have been the norm for the Hawkeyes, and another one won't cut it when they try to end a streak of futility at Hilton Coliseum tonight.

“It's something we want to avoid,” said Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder. “We've changed our warm-up, making it not so strenuous.

There's not a lot we can do technique-wise. It's more emotional and mental than physical.”

Iowa (5-4) has had to play from behind on a regular basis. In their most recent game, a 54-51 loss to Michigan, the Hawkeyes fell into a 15-2 deficit and never made it all the way out.

The Big Ten is back on the back burner, replaced in priority for now by the chase for a mythical state title. To achieve it, the Hawkeyes will have to win at Hilton, something they haven't done since 1989.

“It will be a really exciting experience for us freshmen,” said Jaime Printy.

The Cyclones (5-1) are averaging nearly 10,000 fans at home. Bluder said the Hawkeyes haven't done anything special to simulate the noise.

“We'll use a lot of hand signals, and we'll have to huddle up at every opportunity,” she said.

Because of injuries and discipline issues, Iowa is using an eight-player rotation. Five are freshmen, and three of them (Printy, Morgan Johnson and Theairra Taylor) start.

Trisha Nesbitt is an Ames native. The Hawkeyes will eat their pregame meal at her parents' house.

“I don't know what's on the menu, but I know it will be good,” Bluder said. “I've eaten there before.”

The battle at point guard will be key. Other than the Michigan game Sunday, Iowa's Kamille Wahlin (17.3 ppg) has been solid. She'll match up against Alison Lacey, who leads ISU at 16.0 ppg.

“She is so good. She can take the ball to the hole, and she has great range,” Wahlin said.