Lisa Bluder

Lisa Bluder

Iowa women’s basketball coach Lisa Bluder hopes the home court remains an advantage when the Hawkeyes host Iowa State. The home team has won the last nine games in the series.

“Everybody gets excited about this game”, said Bluder. “Fans get excited about it and our players get more amped for it. It is just a great rivalry.”

The Hawkeyes are 6-3 while the Cyclones have been impressive in a 6-1 start and with a victory will sweep their in-state foes. It would also be Iowa State’s first win in Carver-Hawkeye Arena since 2006.

“This series has gone that way for quite a while”, said Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly. “In these kinds of rivalries there is such a great sense of pride in protecting your home court.”