‘It’s going to be a great battle’: Next installment of Indiana women’s basketball rivalry with Iowa has heightened level of motivation

A snowy, cold and icy Iowa City will play host to likely another terrific installment of the Indiana women’s basketball vs Iowa series on Saturday. But first, Indiana needs to make it there.

On Friday morning, Indiana women’s basketball head coach Teri Moren said the team was still planning on arriving Friday afternoon — but soon after, it was reported that the Hoosiers wouldn’t arrive in Iowa until Saturday morning.

But, that doesn’t stop the anticipation or the preparation for a matchup between No. 3 Iowa and No. 14 Indiana. And, if possible, it just heightens it.

The Hawkeyes and Hoosiers split both matchups last season, including an all-time classic as ESPN’s College GameDay made its first ever appearance in Iowa City for the regular season finale. It was a game-winner for Iowa and National Player of the Year Caitlin Clark.

So heading in to this weekend, will that moment play a motivator this time around?

“I don’t know, we didn’t talk about it,” Moren told reporters on Friday. “We’ve always had great battles when we play. It’s two really, really great teams. And my sense is, it’s going to be another really great battle … if it gives them (Indiana’s players) extra motivation, I don’t know. The motivation of what we’re trying to do in terms of our goals — they are our next team on our schedule that we have to figure out how to beat.”

‘Figure out how to beat’ has been difficult over the last few seasons. Iowa has won four of the last five matchups in the series, in large part to Clark.

After averaging 27 points per game in each of her first three seasons, she’s even better this year. Clark is averaging 31 points per game, 7.3 rebounds and 7.7 assists, all while shooting 40.1 percent from three.

Her growth is noticeable to Moren.

“She’s talked about her strength — the good weight that she’s put on. Her durability is part of it. Her strength. Because so much is on her, in terms of scoring and taking a lot of shots,” Moren said. “But she sees so many different coverages. Mentally, the growth that she’s had and physical growth as well. Those are probably the two things that come to mind. She’s still taking shots from wherever she’s always taking them from and making plays that are always incredible to watch. She’s just matured as a player on the floor.”

While Clark is the headliner, it’s not the only big time matchup that Indiana will face.

In the front court is Hannah Stuelke. The 6-foot-2 forward will match up with Indiana All-American Mackenzie Holmes. She’s averaging 13.8 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Her versatility will provide a new look for Iowa’s front court.

“They’ve always had great post play … Stuelke is a great athlete and her rim running is something we have to be prepared for. She probably has better ball skills than (Monika) Czinano had when you bring her out on the perimeter,” o our ability to be able to sit down and guard her off the bounce from the high post area, Mack (Mackenzie Holmes) will have to do without fouling. Lilly (Meister)will have to do without fouling. She’s physical. She’s a challenge.”

While the Indiana women’s basketball team may not be using last year’s loss as motivation, it’s finding it from an early season matchup this year.

Indiana dropped a top-15 matchup against Stanford by 32 points in the second game of the season. Despite taking down No. 19 Tennessee earlier this season as well, Indiana feels like it still has something to prove.

They’re taking that into this weekend.

“We talked a little bit about that (Stanford loss) yesterday. We just want to perform better than we did the second game of the season. I think we will,” Moren said. “I think we’ve made improvements and grown as a basketball team … One of the things about winning a championship, just because you did that a year ago doesn’t mean you get to start in the middle of the mountain and climb. You have to start at the bottom again.

“We’ve improved as a new team, a different team than a year ago. We’ve improved since the Stanford game. I think for us, it’s a great opportunity to showcase our program, Iowa’s program, the Big Ten on a national stage. I feel like it’s going to be a great battle … These are two teams that know each other quite well.”

So as Indiana hits the road, it will look for a signature win this season — and one against one of its biggest rivals.

And in order to do that, they’ll lean on each other and the chemistry they have. Something Teri Moren feels is even better than last year’s Big Ten Championship team.

“They feel like it’s even better than it was a year ago. And last year was really good.”

The two team’s matchup on Saturday night at 8:00 pm ET on FOX.

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