Hawkeyes Dance On Ballroom Basketball Court

Nov. 23, 2010

Caribbean Challenge Day 2 Photo Gallery

CANCUN, Mexico – One of the goals that Iowa women’s basketball coach Lisa Bluder has for her 2010-11 team is to make the Big Dance in March. The Hawkeyes are having a little dress rehearsal for the Big Dance in Cancun, as the practice and competition courts for the Caribbean Challenge are set squarely in ballrooms.

Iowa had its first official practice in Cancun Tuesday with the unique court setup. Triple Crown Sports, the host of the tournament, brought in two regulation basketball courts and placed them in large banquet ballrooms at the Aventura Cove and Spa Palace. Divider walls separate the practice gym from the competition court.

“It’s definitely a unique arrangement,” Kamille Wahlin said. “But once you step on the court you can’t really tell. We were glad to get back on the court today and get through a practice. Everyone is anxious to get out and play a game.”

The “arena” for the Caribbean Challenge is a few hundred yards away from the lobby of the resort. The players were able to walk over to the courts around 1 p.m. today for practice, stopping to get a few pictures of iguanas that were passing by.

Two Hawkeyes are also able to say they celebrated their 21st birthdays in Cancun, as Kelly Krei’s birthday was today and Megan Considine’s is Thursday.

“It’s pretty cool to celebrate a birthday at a place like this,” Krei said. “My family is down here as well, so I was able to celebrate with them, too.”

The players plan on relaxing by the pool for the rest of the afternoon before heading to one of the seven restaurants for dinner. After a good meal, most of the team is planning on catching a magic show at the resort before possibly taking the stage in a karaoke contest.

Be sure to check hawkeyesports.com or www.facebook/iowawomenshoops for the latest photo galleries, stories and videos from the 2010 Caribbean Challenge.