What’s with Northwestern?

IOWA CITY — Northwestern has been a disappointment, but remains dangerous.

The Iowa Hawkeyes take a renewed hop in their step into Chicagoland for Sunday's Big Ten women's basketball encounter with the Wildcats. Tipoff is 2 p.m. at Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, Ill.

Iowa (14-7 overall, 4-5 Big Ten) snapped out of a six-game, five-loss funk Thursday, defeating Michigan, 85-69.

'It's really exciting,' sophomore center Chase Coley said. 'We showed who we really are (Thursday).'

Northwestern has been the Big Ten's big disappointment through the first half of the season. Ranked in the top 20 through much of the pre-conference slate and projected as a top-five finisher, the Wildcats (13-8 overall) have slumped to a 2-7 league start.

'It's been a surprise, especially how they started the season,' Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder said. 'That's a team that can score a lot of points. Our defense will have to come through.'

Despite the puzzling record, the Wildcats are a veteran, capable crew. They handed league-leading Ohio State its only conference loss, and almost made it a season sweep of the Buckeyes before falling, 76-73, Thursday at Columbus.

Nia Coffey leads the Wildcats at 20 points and 10.2 rebounds per game.

'She's one of the most athletic players in the Big Ten,' Bluder said. 'She's a tough matchup.'

The makeup of the Hawkeyes has changed drastically in the past week.

They have gone bigger, with Coley and Megan Gustafson — both 6-foot-3 — seeing a high number of minutes together. Both registered a double-double Thursday.

They have gone smaller, with Tania Davis (5-4) and Whitney Jennings (5-5) the starting perimeter tandem.

And they have gone younger. Throw Ally Disterhoft in the mix, and Sunday's likely starting lineup will consist of a junior, two sophomores and two freshmen.

'So much is mental at this juncture,' Bluder said. 'Our freshmen are growing up. Our sophomores are getting more experience. They're not babies any more.'

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