Iowa women's basketball resume has a good early start

IOWA CITY — The Iowa women's basketball team has been on the wrong side of the NCAA tournament bubble each of the last two years.

They understand that good November wins can make a difference in March.

And these were two good November wins.

'Two great wins for our NCAA resume,' Megan Gustafson said.

The Hawkeyes (2-0) defeated Quinnipiac and Western Kentucky to capture the Hawkeye Challenge championship last weekend. Both of those teams reached the NCAA tournament last year.

'A lot of people went 2-0 without the competition we played this weekend,' Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder said.

The Hawkeyes host Northern Illinois (1-0) at 7 p.m. Wednesday. They are likely to be without guard Kathleen Doyle, who sprained her left ankle late in the Western Kentucky game.

'The good news, we're going to get her back, the question is when we'll get her back,' Bluder said. 'We'll go through practice before we have to make a decision (on a likely replacement in the starting lineup).'

Gustafson earned Big Ten player-of-the-week honors after posting 51 points and 32 rebounds in the first two games. She went over the 1,000-point mark for her career.

'Megan is a phenomenal player,' said redshirt freshman Alexis Sevillian. 'She's one of the best in the country, and to be one of her teammates, to play alongside her is an exciting thing.'

The Hawkeyes averaged 93.5 points in their first two games. Northern Illinois defeated Eastern Illinois in its opener, 93-64.

'Hopefully, (the team) understands that Northern Illinois can score,' Bluder said.

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