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Personnel again focus for HawksBy Jeff LinderThe GazetteThese days, the games aren’t the news. The roster is.Iowa hosts Wisconsin in a Big Ten women’s basketball game at 5 p.m. today. In Wednesday’s 20-minute teleconference, the Badgers received merely passing mention.“They’re coming off a big win (over Michigan State),’’ said Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder. “They’re a much-improved team. They’re a veteran group.”OK. So much for that.Bluder confirmed that sophomore Shante Jones is finished as a Hawkeye. | Jones played ! in four games this season, the last Nov. 22 at Northern Iowa. Since then she was suspended indefinitely for undisclosed reasons. Bluder wouldn’t specify why Jones was released.Iowa’s roster is at eight players. JoAnn Hamlin (blood clot, leg), Hannah Draxten (herniated disc) and Theairra Taylor (torn ACL) will miss the rest of the season.“But we’re still competing, and I’m happy with that,” Bluder said.Bluder said she’ll apply for a red-shirt season for Draxten. Taylor’s injury happened in the 10th game, so it’s unclear whether she’ll blt;* granted an additional year.Bluder is talking to Megan Considine — a sophomore and sister of former Iowa football player Sean Considine who is interested in joining the team as a walk-on. The NCAA offices are closed until Monday, so Bluder couldn’t add Considine to the roster until then.Despite the distractions, Iowa (7-6 overall,0-2 Big Ten) has been reasonably resilient. It had a chance to win Monday at Penn State before bowing, 77-73, in overtime.“We just have to go with whatever is thrown at us.” said leading scorer Kamille Wahlin.Bluder said, When you’re faced with this much adversity, you have to worry about the team’s psyche. As coaches, we come to practice with lots of enthusiasm and hope it rubs off on the players.”ShanteJonesOff the team■ Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff. I i nder@gazcomm .com
Newspaper Details
Cedar Rapids Gazette
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, US
Thu, Dec 31, 2009
Page 117
Full Page
Clipped by
Jim C.
NA, 19 Jan 2024
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