The Iowa women’s basketball team (2-0) didn’t do itself any favors by putting the No. 14 Dayton Flyers on its schedule for the second game of the season.

But the Hawkeyes prevailed in a 97-93 overtime thriller that knocked Dayton down nine spots in the polls — all the way to No. 23 — and helped the Hawkeyes to start receiving votes in the AP poll.

“This is a special group,” Bluder said Nov. 10 after the win. “I think we’re going to have a special year. They just enjoy each other. They enjoy coming to practice, they enjoy working hard. We’re going to keep riding it as long as we can.”

And, barring something drastic, they will ride the momentum. Now, the women face a more favorable stretch of the schedule with Arkansas-Pine Bluff coming into the not so friendly confines of Carver-Hawkeye Arena tonight.

The Golden Lions come into the game with a 1-1 record, after a home-opening win against Philander Smith College and a road loss at Marquette.

Momentum will also play a factor on the court as the Hawkeyes continue to try to establish its up-tempo style of offense. The style of play has been successful so far — the team has scored 167 points in two games, 97 of which came against Dayton.

Guard Sam Logic leads the way for the Hawkeyes. Although the junior has 12 turnovers to go along with her 19 assists, it’s largely a factor that goes along with the offense Iowa is running.

“We’re pushing the ball this year,” freshman Ally Disterhoft said. “We’re looking to run. It’s really exciting, it’s fun to play, it’s fun to watch. But also you’re going to have a few more turnovers.”

It’s clear that point guard Logic is still working on finding an immediate comfort level with all of her players while still trying to run the offense at the pace the coaching staff is looking for.  Logic said she wants to get in more of a rhythm and getting used to how the team moves up and down the floor.

“You can work on it in practice, but it’s hard when our team knows what we want to do,“ Logic said Nov. 6. “Getting that against defense that doesn’t necessarily know is a little different.”

Iowa’s matchup against Dayton will be its last game against a ranked opponent until the Hawkeyes travel to Boulder, Colo., to play the No. 17 Buffaloes. For Bluder, the Dayton demonstrates that her team is capable of not only beating good teams but coming back from deficits as well.

“This early in the year, you just never know,” Bluder said on Sunday. “I think we proved to ourselves we can do it, and being able to come from behind and get the win, I think that’s always really good for your confidence … confidence is what allows them to keep coming back from being down. They’re winners, and they know how to win games.”