March 17, 2011
- Iowa NCAA Tournament Central
- Spokane First/Second Round Site Information
- ‘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
SPOKANE, Wash. — The University of Iowa women’s basketball team didn’t take much time staring at the scenic mountains in the distance while getting off the plane Thursday in Spokane. The team stopped to pose for a quick team picture on the tarmac before quickly boarding the bus. Making the NCAA Tournament is a reward, but this trip is all business for the Hawkeyes.
The team departed the Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids around 1 p.m. Central time Thursday and arrived in Washington at approximately 2:30 p.m. Pacific time. Student-athletes, coaches and support staff passed the time on the nearly 3.5 hour flight by playing cards, watching movies and listening to music. Once the plane touched down, thoughts turned to business.
“We need to soak in the scenery a little bit,” senior Kachine Alexander said. “But this is a business trip for us. We are out here to win basketball games. We will have fun as a team, but everyone is focused right now on Saturday’s game against Gonzaga.”
Head coach Lisa Bluder is excited to get on the court Friday for the first practice at the McCarthey Athletic Center.
“We had a good flight here (to Spokane),” Bluder said. “It was a smooth flight and you can tell the team is excited to be here. I know I’m ready to get back to work tomorrow with our first practice at Gonzaga.”
The Hawkeyes head to a local restaurant Thursday night for dinner and return to the team hotel to catch some of the men’s NCAA Tournament games on television. Friday’s agenda includes a 10:50 a.m. press conference and an 11:30 a.m. practice.
Continue to check hawkeyesports.com, as daily stories, videos and photo galleries will highlight the Hawkeyes in the NCAA Tournament.