Nemesis Nebraska visits the Hawkeyes

IOWA CITY - The 'N” in Nebraska also stands for something else.

Nemesis.

The Huskers have owned the Hawkeyes since their arrival into the Big Ten, racking up an 8-0 record in the past three seasons.

At Lincoln, at Iowa City, at the Big Ten tournament. It hasn't mattered. It's been a Big Red domination.

'More than anything, they've been good, really good,” said Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder. 'The main thing, they're an excellent team with a very good coach.

'They've simply outplayed us.”

The 18th-ranked Hawkeyes (15-3 overall, 6-1 Big Ten) get another crack at it Monday, when No. 15 Nebraska (14-3, 5-2) visits Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

'We feel like we owe them,” said Iowa's Melissa Dixon.

Tipoff is 8 p.m., and it's cheap entertainment - tickets are $1.

The Hawkeyes own sole possession of second place in the Big Ten, a game behind Maryland. It's a critical game for Iowa's title hopes, because the schedule is about to flip.

After Monday, six of Iowa's following eight games are on the road.

The Hawkeyes carry a four-game winning streak. All five starters scored in double figures in a 76-70 win over Michigan on Thursday.

Nebraska has won five in a row after an 0-2 Big Ten start. Rachel Theriot leads the Huskers at 17.1 points per game. Emily Cady adds 12.7 points and 9.7 rebounds per contest.

Dixon continues to lead the nation in 3-point goals, at 3.83 per game. Dixon's 15.9 points per game paces the Hawkeyes, followed by Ally Disterhoft at 14.8.

It's a big game, probably the biggest to date this season for the Hawkeyes. It's an opportunity to end a jinx and stay in the title hunt.

'As a competitor, you want to play in these games,” Samantha Logic said. 'We'll be ready. We're going to have to be clicking on all cylinders.”

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