Women's Basketball: 'Little things' are slowing the Hawkeyes

IOWA CITY - It's no single deficiency that's been causing Iowa to grind gears since the Big Ten season began.

“It's the little things,” said Kachine Alexander.

And every game it seems, it's a different little thing.

Against Purdue last Thursday, the Hawkeyes shot 22 percent in a 60-41 loss. Against Penn State on Sunday, the Hawkeyes shot well enough but got outrebounded by 11 and played sparse defense in an 82-75 defeat.

“I just don't feel like we're really consistent, and that bothers me,” said Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder.

“One game we do poor in the turnovers; the next game we do really well in the turnovers. This game we do great in free throws; the next game we do don't well in free throws. This game we do a good job rebounding; the next game we don't do a good job rebounding.”

You get the picture.

The Hawkeyes (17-7, 5-6) are out of the national rankings and out of the Big Ten title race. With five games left in the regular season, they're playing to make a run and re-establish some momentum. The final five opponents have a combined Big Ten record of 20-34.

Iowa faces resurgent Minnesota (11-12, 3-7) at 8 p.m. Thursday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, then travels to Northwestern (16-8, 5-6) for a Sunday game.

“It would do us a lot of good to get a win (Thursday),” said leading scorer Jaime Printy. “We need to put 40 minutes together. We're struggling with that now.”

A late-season surge could give Iowa a top-five Big Ten finish - and thus, a first-round bye for the conference tournament - and enhance the Hawkeyes' NCAA tournament seed. Despite the recent struggles, Iowa has an RPI of 15.

Alexander, who suffered a twisted tendon in her foot in the first half against Penn State, was hobbling Tuesday but is expected to play against Minnesota. Reserve guard Hannah Draxten missed Sunday with an eye infection and “is going to get some beautiful eye goggles,” according to Bluder, because she will be unable to wear contacts for a month.