Hawkeyes’ non-conference chapter ends Tuesday vs. Kent State

IOWA CITY — Lisa Bluder finds herself in conflict.

She wants offensive balance. Yet, she wants Megan Gustafson to touch the ball as much as possible.

'That's been a focus since practice No. 1, and it will be a focus in practice No. 100,' Bluder said of Gustafson, a member of the all-Big Ten freshman team who continues to blossom.

'Somebody as good as Megan is in the middle, you want to try to utilize her. On the other hand, we only had two players in double figures (in an 81-76 loss to Drake on Sunday).'

The Hawkeyes (8-4) had only one day to leave the Drake loss behind and prepare for their non-conference finale against Kent State (6-4).

Tipoff is 5 p.m. Tuesday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

'We watched Drake film (Monday), and we found some things we need to work on,' Bluder said. 'It was a disappointing loss, but Drake is a really good team.'

A 6-foot-3 sophomore post, Gustafson is averaging 16.3 points (second on the team to Ally Disterhoft's 17.8) and 10.5 rebounds per game.

It's awfully early to discuss, but she is on pace to eventually become Iowa's all-time career rebounding leader. And she's shooting 67.2 percent from the floor and 80 percent from the free-throw line.

On the other hand, she's only taking 10.7 shots per game.

'We love her, and we want to get the ball to her,' Bluder said. 'Otherwise, we become very, very predictable.'

The Hawkeyes did a decent job defending Drake's Lizzy Wendell on Sunday, holding her to 15 points. They draw another prolific scorer Tuesday in Kent State's Larissa Lurken (23.0 ppg).

'She's a lot like Wendell,' Bluder said. 'They both wear No. 3, they're both seniors. Lurken might not be as big as Lizzy, but she shoots the 3 ball a little better.'

Coach Todd Starkey is in his first year at Kent State; he served the past two seasons as an assistant at Indiana.

After Tuesday's game, the Hawkeyes will practice Wednesday, then scatter for four days. They'll resume practice next Wednesday in preparation for their Big Ten opener, Dec. 28 at Illinois.

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