Hawkeyes adjust to life without Tania Davis

IOWA CITY — Life goes on. And, for the Iowa Hawkeyes, so does the chase.

'Obviously, we're devastated for Tania (Davis),' said freshman Kathleen Doyle, who will assume point-guard duties after Davis' season was cut short due to a torn ACL to her right knee.

'It hit us hard. But we're staying positive, and we're going to keep playing hard.'

The Hawkeyes (14-9 overall, 5-5 Big Ten) face their first women's basketball game without Davis on Thursday, when they host Michigan State (16-7, 6-4).

Tipoff is 6 p.m. at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in a contest televised by the Big Ten Network.

'It's a very important game to us, and the loss of Tania is a blow to the team,' Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder said. 'I wish we had more time to adjust to it.'

A sophomore from Flint, Mich., Davis was injured late in Iowa's 72-70 loss at Michigan on Sunday, and will undergo surgery Feb. 17.

Davis had started all of the Hawkeyes' first 23 games, and was averaging 10.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game. Those numbers will be missed. Her energy and leadership, even more so.

The coaching staff considered several options, including that of pulling the redshirt tag off freshman Alexis Sevillian, Davis' high school teammate.

'It's a discussion we had for about an hour,' Bluder said. 'It might have been the best (option) for the team, but ethically ... it wouldn't have been fair to (Sevillian). We never approached her about it.'

A point guard in high school, Doyle will move back to her natural position.

'This could be a benefit to her,' Bluder said. 'She probably plays better as a point guard than an off guard.

'It will give us a little more size. But we lose a lot of depth.'

Doyle said, 'I've played the point my whole life. We have a deep team. We can do this together. We have a lot of people that can do a lot of different things. We can mix it up and give you a lot of different looks.'

The starting lineup will consist of Doyle, Ally Disterhoft, Megan Gustafson, Makenzie Meyer and a player yet to be determined.

'Everybody's going to have to step up a little bit,' Disterhoft said. 'One person isn't going to be able to make up for what's missing.'

Michigan State has won three straight games (two on the road). Tori Jankoska, a 5-foot-8 senior guard, averages 21.6 points, 8.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com