UNI and Iowa set to meet again in Women’s basketball

An in-state rivalry that had gone dormant for nearly two decades is being revived this fall. The women’s basketball teams from the University of Iowa and Northern Iowa will meet on the hardwood for the first time since the 1983-84 season. Hawkeye coach Lisa Bluder was a player for the Panthers when the two teams last met. She says it’s good to play UNI again as it was the only rivalry that was missing.Bluder says the matchup was dropped as Iowa’s teams grew into a national power under then coach Vivian Stringer and the Hawkeyes didn’t feel they gained anything from playing a struggling UNI team.Bluder is entering her third season in Iowa City, and says there are several things she likes about the upcoming schedule, including three games at home to start the season.She says a tough pre-season schedule will get them ready for the Big Ten season and is beneficial when the NCAA starts handing out tournament bids.Iowa opens the season November 23 with a home tournament in Iowa City.