By Michael McCurdy
20 wins and a trip to the elite-8 of the women’s NIT is on the line tonight at 7 p.m. in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, as the Iowa women’s basketball team hosts the Colorado Buffaloes in a sweet-16 matchup.
Not many collegiate women’s teams remain in action this late in March, making the Hawkeyes feel special about competing towards the end of the season.
“It’s late in March and we’re still playing,” Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder said. “Everybody wants to be in those shoes.”
This late in the season, players can experience some wear and tear on their bodies since they have been competing vigorously since mid-November.
When this happens, a search for motivation can be challenging, but according to Bluder that does not seem to be the case.
“Our main motivator is that we want to win and keep going, I don’t care who our opponent is,” Bluder said. “We’re having fun and we’re enjoying this, let’s keep getting better. We’re such a young team that every second we’re on the floor in a competitive mode means so much for the future.”
The Hawkeyes will have their hands full tonight with a Colorado team that defeated heavily ranked teams such as Kentucky, California, and Oregon.
Just by comparing the wins, the Buffaloes’ 17 doesn’t square up to the Hawkeyes’ 20.
However, after taking a closer look at Colorado’s schedule, it is evident the Buffaloes arguably had one of toughest slate of games in the country, competing in the relentless Pac-12 conference and playing a total of 11 games this year against ranked teams.
The most effective strategy the Hawkeyes can employ to defeat the Buffaloes is one that heavily focuses on getting sophomore Megan Gustafson numerous touches in the paint.
In the last outing against South Dakota, Gustafson went off, scoring 33 points on an almost perfect shooting night (15-for-16 from the field).
“There are 16 teams left in the WNIT and 16 left in the NCAA, so we’re one of 32 teams playing,” Gustafson said. “It’s exciting, especially for getting our younger kids ready to play in the NCAA Tournament next year, hopefully.”
Other than Gustafson, the other main contributor so far in NIT for the Hawkeyes has been senior Ally Disterhoft.
In the first round against Missouri State she scored 21 points, passing Cindy Haugejorde to become the all-time leading scorer in program history.
After competing against quality competition all season long, just like Colorado, Disterhoft said she embraces the challenge and welcomes the Buffaloes into Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
“Last year we didn’t attack the WNIT with the optimism and excitement we should have,” Disterhoft said. “We have done a great job of that this year. We recognize these teams are high-caliber teams and any of them could be in the NCAA Tournament.”
The contest will be televised on BTN plus and is $13 for adults and $9 for youth (college students and 18 and under).
“Every game at this point is emotional because it could be your last,” Disterhoft said. “If you win, you keep moving on, if you lose, you go home. There is that added incentive. It is appreciating all the moments you have left.”