Hawkeyes Aim for 3rd Straight Win

Feb. 16, 2011

PARDON OUR PROGRESS! As friends of the UI and fans of the Hawkeyes know, the UI Athletics Department is well into a multi-million dollar revitalization of Carver-Hawkeye Arena. This important and exciting project has reduced for this season the number of ticket windows that are operational on game nights. Fans attending the home events of the 2010-11 UI men’s basketball, women’s basketball and wrestling teams are invited to avoid game night delays by purchasing their event tickets online or in advance of game day. If your schedule doesn’t allow for an advance purchase, we recommend you consider arriving at the Arena a little earlier than originally planned. Go Hawks!

Editor’s Note: The following first appeared in the University of Iowa’s Hawk Talk Daily, an e-newsletter that offers a daily look at the Iowa Hawkeyes, delivered free each morning to thousands of fans of the Hawkeyes worldwide.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — High energy. High production. The University of Iowa women’s basketball team’s energy level rose in the second half of the come-from-behind win at Northwestern on Feb. 13. The Hawkeyes look to carry over that energy and production against third place Wisconsin tonight on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

“I think we felt a change in our energy,” said junior Kamille Wahlin who, according to UI head coach Lisa Bluder, was the catalyst for the team in the second half surge. “I told the girls after the game that you have to get that feeling, you have to know what it feels like to have that intensity and energy day-in-and-day out.

“I hope the second half was a big learning point, a big changing point in the season for us and that we’re able to carry it over into 40 minutes.”

At the half in Evanston, Iowa had managed to score 23 points and trailed by 11 points (34-23) after shooting 29 percent. Over the second 20 minutes, the Hawkeyes netted 63 points, making 19-of-27 field goals, 7-of-10 3-pointers and 18-of-22 free throws.

“When we went into the locker room, it was extreme disappointment after the first half,” said Wahlin, who finished the game with 10 points and nine assists in 38 minutes. “We all felt it; we knew it and talked about how we were playing a little starry eyed with a deer in a headlight look.

“We chose to come out and change our attitude. A lot of this game is mental and you have to make the little mental switches. Once we got back on the court and got a few fast breaks, we started realizing this is how we need to play, and we all came together that way.”

The Hawkeyes banded together at Northwestern to notch their 19th victory. All wins are important, but senior Kelsey Cermak thinks the fashion of this win was key for the squad.

“One of the most important things about that win was we were able to come back, on the road,” said Cermak, who made 3-of-5 shots for nine points off the bench.

The road victory gives the Hawkeyes a two-game winning streak heading into tonight’s contest with Wisconsin. A win would not only put Iowa in a position to move up the Big Ten standings, but it would also give the program 20 wins for the fourth consecutive season.

“I think getting 20 wins is an accomplishment in that it is a testament to the last four years,” said Wahlin. “It says that the program has done a good job of building and competing at the highest level.”