The Iowa Hawkeye women are on the road in the Big Ten to take on 14th ranked Michigan State. The Hawkeyes are 7-5 in the conference race and played well despite losing at Big Ten co-leader Ohio State over the weekend.
Iowa coach Lisa Bluder says they need to take it up another level as Michigan State will be ready after losing in the first game. Bluder says it would be a big victory if the Hawkeyes can get it. She says there’s a lot on the line for both teams as every game has an impact on the postseason. The Hawkeyes upset the Spartans in their first matchup in Iowa City and freshman center Megan Skouby played a big role in the win. Bluder says it was kind of Skouby’s coming out party.
Michigan State is 9-4 in the Big Ten and coach Joanne McCallie says revenge is not their motivation, tonight. She says it’s not so much payback, but them trying to play to their level and give their very best, which she says is not what they did in the first game.
McCallie says they are more concerned with how they perform. She says they has some bad games early on, including the Iowa game, and she says they’re anxious to prove themselves. The Spartans are 19-7 overall. The Hawkeyes are 14-9.