HAWK TALK

Feb. 2014

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27 "at is what makes this win special; we're on the road, we took it," said Bluder following the win at Ohio State. "ey kept coming back at us and we withstood their challenges. ey got within two points, and we came up with a big bucket, or a big rebound." Indiana was the first team Iowa faced twice this season. e Hawkeyes were eager to face the Hoosiers again, and respond following the early- season loss. "It feels good to get that one back," said Bluder. "at's kind of been bugging us for a long time, and that's the nice thing when you get to play a team twice is you get the opportunity to get that one back." Bluder challenged the Hawkeyes following the tough loss to the Spartans. "Michigan State, obviously a good team, but we didn't play to the best of our ability," said Bluder. "When you lose to a team that is better than you that night, OK, so be it. But when you do not put your best foot forward, that really ticks me off. I thought that's what happened against Michigan State. "e way we bounced back from it was very good. I was not a pleasant person to be around in practice for a couple of days, and they responded well to that." Iowa continues to respond. In the process, its confidence continues to grow. "We have confidence from winning at Ohio State and Wisconsin, and I think that gives us a lot of confidence going to play on the road," said Bluder. "I feel like right now our team is feeling good about itself, and it is like a snowball. It keeps getting bigger and bigger as you roll it along, and that is the way our team is flowing right now." Women's Hoops Responds, Builds Con fi dence By Patrick Sojka F ollowing an 0-2 start in Big Ten play, the University of Iowa women's basketball team returned to its winning ways, taking four of its next five games to improve to 16-5 overall, 4-3 in the league. e Hawkeyes finished the nonconference slate with a 12-2 mark, including two top-25 victories. Iowa's 12 wins prior to the start of conference play equaled the most in a season under UI head coach Lisa Bluder. e Hawkeyes were used to winning. Aer dropping its first two league games at Indiana and at home to nationally ranked Penn State, the women's hoops team responded. "I guess if there is one good thing about losing, it makes winning feel a whole lot better," Bluder said following Iowa's first conference victory against Minnesota on Jan. 8. "at was a happy locker room. We needed to get back on the winning track, and I am really happy with the way we did it." Following a 78-71 win over the Gophers in Iowa City, the Hawkeyes won at Wisconsin, 82-65, on Jan. 12. Iowa took a step back in its next outing, dropping an 88-72 decision to Michigan State in Iowa City on Jan. 16. Iowa responded again, winning at Ohio State on Jan. 18, 81-74, in Value City Arena, earning its first win in Columbus since 1998. On Jan. 25, Iowa avenged its conference-opening loss at Indiana, defeating the Hoosiers 84-75 inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. e Hawkeyes never trailed during wins over the Badgers, Buckeyes and Hoosiers, but the contests were not without challenges.

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