The Hawkeyes (15-7, 8-3) were last beaten Jan. 10 by none other than MSU (13-10, 5-6). The 73-65 victory came after Iowa was leading by 13 points at the break, along with most of the second half, before the Spartans put together a 25-9 run to end the game and clinch the win.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever been part of a game where we played so well for 32 minutes and had everything fall apart in the last eight,” Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder said in a press release. “I don’t think it will take a whole lot to get our team focused for the (game). This one really sticks in our craw a little bit.

“We’re very excited to have the opportunity to get this one back.”

MSU head coach Suzy Merchant said Iowa’s upperclassmen, namely forward Johanna Solverson, have been stepping up for the Hawkeyes as of late, which is a big reason for their recent streak.

Hawkeye Wendy Ausdemore is another player Merchant wants her players to keep an eye on tonight on both ends of the court.

“(Winning) always starts defensively,” Merchant said. “(Iowa) has been doing a great job finding the open shooters and they have quick releases. Ausdemore is one of the quickest shooting guards I’ve seen in a long time, she really can put the ball in the basket quickly.”

Ausdemore leads the Hawkeyes in made 3-pointers with 52, and averages 2.4 a game. She also is right behind Hawkeye guard Kristi Smith with her average points per game at 11.

The Spartans are looking to improve their dribble-drive from the first time around against the Hawkeyes as well as their focus, which is something that has plagued them on and off since the beginning of the season.

Those things, along with getting off of their win-loss pattern are a goal for the Green and White.

“It has definitely been frustrating because you have a really good game and you want to build off it,” sophomore guard Mandy Piechowski said. “At some points we’ve relaxed after wins and now we just have to continue our momentum. Coming to practice after the Michigan win, we kind of changed our attitude a little bit and we’re trying to keep it more consistent and hopefully we do that with the games as well.”

Piechowski, who has been a big contributor to the team the last two games, said Iowa has not been the hardest place to play in the past but that the revenge factor might change that.

“People are going to step up their game when we come in,” Piechowski said. “We’ve had some good practices this week and we just have to be focused on us.”

Tip-off is tonight at 8 p.m. in Iowa City, Iowa.