Women's Basketball: Hawks need to step forward against Lions

IOWA CITY - This one-step-forward, one-step-back business began at Penn State.

It was Iowa's Big Ten women's basketball opener Dec. 30 at State College, Pa. The Hawkeyes were 12-1, enjoying the highest national rating of the 11-year Lisa Bluder era. They were on the verge of a big road win, then let it get away.

Penn State outscored the Hawkeyes 20-4 down the stretch and won the game, 69-58.

“We played very well for 36-38 minutes,” Kachine Alexander said. “The last four minutes, we just went to sleep. We didn't execute down the stretch.”

At the time it was an opportunity lost. Now it's indicative of where both teams stand in the Big Ten.

Unranked Penn State (19-5, 8-2) leads the race, a half-game ahead of Michigan State.

“Every day in the Big Ten, there's a surprise. But it can't be a surprise on who's on top,” Alexander said. “It's not a mistake, and it's not a fluke.”

No. 20 Iowa (17-6, 5-5), meanwhile, figured to be smack-dab in the middle of the race.

Instead the Hawkeyes are smack-dab in the middle of the standings in sixth place.

One step forward, one step back. And the last step back was an all-out stumble.

The Hawkeyes shot a brutal 22 percent (12 of 55) from the field in a 60-41 loss at Purdue, their 11th straight defeat at Mackey Arena.

Against Penn State today, they'll face a team for which preparation is difficult.

"They play a style different than anyone else in the Big Ten,” Bluder said. “They will show a variety of full-court presses. They are explosive offensively.”