The Wisconsin women's basketball team is riding high.
Coming off two straight wins by at least 20 or more points and a much needed Sunday off, the Badgers (9-3 Big Ten, 14-10 overall) march in to Iowa City to face the Hawkeyes (7-6, 19-7) Wednesday evening.
Wisconsin head coach Lisa Stone knows her team will take confidence from its recent successes, but with a measure of focus.
""We won't be complacent,"" Stone said. ""Iowa is one of most aggressive, attacking offenses in the country. We have to really execute.""
If the Badgers need any extra incentive to focus Wednesday, they need not look further than their recent struggles against Iowa. Wisconsin has not beaten the Hawkeyes in over four years and is just 2-8 in the two team's last ten meetings.
""I have not been a part of the two [wins],"" senior forward Tara Steinbauer said. ""I don't believe in my four years, we have ever beaten Iowa. This is obviously a game I really look forward to.""
And while Iowa's record in the Big Ten, just barely over .500, suggests a vulnerable team, senior forward Lin Zastrow warns 7-6 doesn't exactly indicate a poor opponent.
""No. Not at all,"" Zastrow said with a laugh. ""[They are a] hard team to beat, probably had some games in there that didn't go their way, so we got to be ready for them, bring a lot of energy. They're going to want it. We're going to want it.""
Since sitting out on the road at Michigan State Jan. 6, Zastrow has been on a tear offensively. She has scored in double figures eight of the nine games since that point, including three performances of over 20 points.
Zastrow also figures to be a key defensive player against Iowa. The Hawkeyes have four players averaging double figure scoring this season, and the Badgers must be ready for any one of those four to take over the game.
""With Iowa, they've got so many people who are threats, and for us, it's just pack the rim,"" Steinbauer said. ""We know their personality, and I think that's the key for us.""
Steinbauer and fellow forward, Zastrow, will also have their hands full on the glass. The Hawkeyes average an astounding 40.7 rebounds per game. Stone, a four-year starter with Iowa in the early 1980s, knows to win, the Badgers will have to be aggressive on the boards and prevent second chance opportunities for Iowa.
""We got to limit them to one shot,"" Stone said. ""We got to be tuned in for 40 minutes. You can't let up, you can't give in. You got to play every possession like it's your last.""
A victory in Iowa City would not only be a huge boost in the conference standings, but would also go far in helping the team's national recognition with the NCAA Tournament looming in the near future. Already, the Badgers are rising in national statistics—up from 47 in the NCAA RPI to 42 this week.
