Women's Basketball: Week without games still busy

IOWA CITY - No games this week, but the Iowa Hawkeyes haven't exactly been idle.

They've lifted. They've conditioned. And they've bonded in a dark theater.

“Our coaches surprised us and we went to see ‘The Fighter,'” said Kelly Krei, referring to a recent film about boxer “Irish” Micky Ward.

As for competition, that will have to wait. And medically speaking, that's just as well.

Starting point guard Kamille Wahlin is battling the flu, and backup post Kelsey Cermak had four wisdom teeth removed. Had the Hawkeyes played Thursday, both probably would have been inactive.

“The bye came at a good time for us,” Coach Lisa Bluder said.

No. 18 Iowa (15-4 overall, 3-3 Big Ten) returns to action Monday at No. 25 Ohio State to begin a week that could put the Hawkeyes back into the Big Ten title picture - or knock them out altogether. They host league co-leader Michigan State next Thursday.

“We face them both, boom, boom, boom,” Kachine Alexander said. “It will be pretty significant to (determine) who comes out on top.”

Bluder said the Hawkeyes “have lifted and conditioned” harder this week than game weeks allow. And, she said, ”We've worked a lot more on fundamentals, a lot of full-court scrimmaging against the practice squad.”

Minnesotan commits

The Minnesota recruiting pipeline continues to gush.

Kayla Timmerman, a 6-foot-3 junior post from Wayzata (Minn.), has orally committed to the Hawkeyes.

“I really liked the atmosphere on campus, and the team has been in the top 20 all season,” said Timmerman, who is averaging 14.7 points for a 10-4 team. “When I go down there, Iowa just feels like home.”

Iowa has four Minnesotans on the roster, plus senior signee Bethany Doolittle. Kali Peschel, a 6-1 junior guard, committed to the Hawkeyes two days before Timmerman.