Feb. 3, 2011
- ‘Kash’ Alexander: All-America Candidate
- Vote ‘Kash’ For Premier Player Award
- Women’s Basketball – W.I.N. Video
- Buy Women’s Basketball Tickets
- Iowa and the Big Ten Network
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
IOWA CITY, Iowa — The Iowa women’s basketball team has won three of its last four games heading into tonight’s game at Purdue, but according to one Hawkeye, the team hasn’t yet hit its stride.
“We know we haven’t hit our stride yet,” said senior Kachine Alexander, who is averaging 14.2 points and a team-best 9.2 rebounds per game. “We know we haven’t reached our peak and that is driving us even more because we know we could have won every game (in Big Ten) that we have played.
“That gives us even more motivation to know that we haven’t had a game that we are all on. It should be interesting when it happens.”
Iowa, which enters the game with a 17-5 overall and a 5-4 conference record, looks to make it three straight victories and back-to-back road wins when they travel to Mackey Arena to face the Boilermakers. It will be a difficult challenge considering Purdue has won the last 10 meetings in the series in West Lafayette.
“Their arena is the reason why (it is so difficult to play there),” said Alexander. “You feel like everyone is on top of you. The arena itself is a difficult place to play and their band is pretty wild up there.
“They’re very loud and they have a big band, a really big band. They are right behind the basket, so whenever you are shooting they’re right there.”
Alexander has the opportunity to join an elite list in the game against Purdue. With just a pair of assists, the guard will become the first player in Iowa history and the fifth in Big Ten history to have 1,000-career points, 800-career rebounds and 300-career assists.
“After you graduate from a place that you put your blood, sweat and tears in to, it will be nice to look back and know that you made your mark in a bunch of different categories,” said Alexander. “I think to be in the record books with so many great Hawkeyes is a great honor.”
For Iowa to continue to move up the Big Ten standings, the team knows the importance of tonight’s game against the Boilermakers as well as Sunday’s home date against league co-leader Penn State.
“I’ve been saying this every week, but this is a big week for us,” said Alexander. “I still want to be at the top (of the conference), I want to be No. 1. I think we’re still in the position to do that.”
The Hawkeyes, however, are not getting too far ahead of themselves.
“Penn State will be a big game,” said junior Kelly Krei. “I haven’t even focused on Penn State, it’s all about Purdue right now.”
Tonight’s game will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network beginning at 5:30 p.m.