(Radio Iowa) – Off to the first 9-0 start in school history Drake opens the Missouri Valley Conference race on Sunday at Indiana State. It will be the first of two games against the Sycamores under the Valley’s format for this season. Drake coach Darian DeVries

Because of the start of conference play the Bulldogs will stay in Des Moines for Christmas.

DeVries says the Bulldogs know the competition will be raised in the Valley.

The fourth ranked Iowa basketball team returns to action with a Christmas evening game at Minnesota. The Hawkeyes opened Big Ten play with a win at home over Purdue. Both teams are
7-1.

That’s Iowa coach Fran McCaffery who says the new look Gophers have made strides.

Iowa senior center Luka Garza does not mind playing on Christmas.

Junior guard Joe Wieskamp says he looks forward to the challenge.

(Radio Iowa) – The Fiesta Bowl will be a homecoming of sorts for Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy. The native of Arizona will lead the Cyclones in their first January bowl game when they plat Oregon on January second.

Purdy was a high school rival of Oregon quarterback Tyler Shough (shuck) and they even train together during the off season.

Purdy says they will put their friendship aside for a few hours on January second.

Sophomore running back Breece Hall says it will be a great way to cap the season.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A federal judge says she will grant an injunction to stop the University of Iowa from dropping women’s swimming for the 2021-2022 school year. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports that U.S. District Judge Stephanie Rose announced the decision Tuesday at the end of a two-day hearing on a Title IX complaint filed by four female swimmers. The lawsuit says the university is exacerbating the situation by dropping women’s swimming and diving teams when it already offers fewer opportunities for women than men.

University leaders have said the cuts are needed to help balance a big budget deficit due in large part to the COVID-19 pandemic.

NEW YORK (AP) — On a nine-game winning streak, the Kansas City Chiefs have retained the top spot in the latest AP Pro32 poll. The Buffalo Bills and Green Bay Packers switched places after earning wins last Saturday. The AFC East champion Bills moved up a place at No. 2 and the Packers slipped a spot to No. 3.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) waves as he walks off the field after an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020. The Chiefs won 32-29. (AP Photo/Brett Duke)

Despite the loss to the Chiefs last weekend, the Saints stayed at No. 4 and the Tennessee Titans gained three spots to No. 5.

The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast with Jim Field.

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(Radio Iowa) – Monica Czinano scored 19 points and Iowa used a 27-17 third quarter to pull away in a 92-65 win over Western Illinois Tuesday afternoon, in Iowa City.

That’s Iowa coach Lisa Bluder. Freshman Caitlin Clark had 13 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists.

The Hawkeyes return to action on New Years Eve by hosting Rutgers.

Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa defensive tackle Jack Heflin is right where he always wanted to be. The Prophetstown, Illinois, native has turned his childhood aspirations into reality, suiting up this season for the No. 17 Hawkeys after four years at Northern Illinois. The 22-year-old Heflin has 21 tackles and a sack playing a key role in anchoring one of the nation’s top defenses, which takes on Missouri in the Music City Bowl next week.

UNDATED (AP) — Quarterback Justin Fields repeated as offensive player of the year and is joined by three of his teammates on the Associated Press All-Big Ten football team. Lineman Daviyon Nixon of Iowa is the defensive player of the year and is among six Hawkeyes players on the first team in voting by 24 media members. Northwestern redshirt freshman safety Brandon Joseph is newcomer of the year and Indiana’s Tom Allen is coach of the year. Fields is a repeat first-team selection along with Buckeyes offensive lineman Wyatt Davis.

UNDATED (AP) — Many of college basketball’s top teams have one thing in common: They are led by veteran players, which has given them an early edge by providing continuity amid the uncertainty around the game amid the coronavirus pandemic. All teams are coping with constant starts, stops and schedule changes. And those that have the most success, like No. 1 Gonzaga, No. 2 Baylor and No. 4 Iowa, have multiple upperclassmen playing prominent roles in their rotations. Teams led by younger players like unranked Kentucky and No. 20 Duke have had bumpier starts. Wildcats coach John Calipari says veteran teams “have a huge advantage this season.”

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Brad Davison had 15 points and a career-high seven assists, and No. 9 Wisconsin overcame a dreadful start to beat Nebraska 67-53 Tuesday night in the Big Ten opener for both teams. Micah Potter added 10 points and 11 rebounds and sparked a key 14-0 run late in the first half. Fifth-year senior Aleem Ford celebrated his 24th birthday with 13 points and eight rebounds to help the Badgers earn their ninth straight conference victory and 15th straight home win. The Badgers closed the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 season by winning eight straight conference games to share the Big Ten regular-season title with Maryland and Michigan State.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Sonya Morris scored 22 points and Dee Bekelja scored 16 to lead 18th-ranked DePaul past Creighton 90-81. The Blue Demons used a 10-0 run to start the last quarter and turned a 63-60 deficit into a seven-point lead in a less than three-minute span. Despite the fact Creighton made half its 14 field goals in the fourth quarter, DePaul went 14-for-16 shooting. The Blue Demons shot 38 for 63 (60.3%) including 12 of 25 from 3-point range. Creighton true freshman Emma Ronsiek registered career highs with 28 points and 10 rebounds. Ronsiek missed just two of 15 attempts.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Hawkeye Ten Conference

Glenwood 49, Lewis Central 46
Harlan 52, Clarinda 49, OT
St. Albert 74, Kuemper Catholic 70

Western Iowa Conference

AHSTW 69, Logan-Magnolia 57
Riverside 62, Missouri Valley 25
Treynor 65, Underwood 48

Rolling Valley Conference

Boyer Valley 75, Paton-Churdan 46
Coon Rapids-Bayard 39, West Harrison 38
Exira-EHK 62, Ar-We-Va 56 OT

Other Scores

ADM 77, Perry 21
Carroll 63, Bondurant Farrar 57
East Mills 36, Bedford 28

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Hawkeye Ten Conference

Glenwood 80, Lewis Central 59
Harlan 64, Clarinda 34
St. Albert 59, Kuemper Catholic 57

Western Iowa Conference

Logan-Magnolia 52, AHSTW 42
Riverside 37, Missouri Valley 21
Treynor 39, Underwood 36

Rolling Valley Conference

Coon Rapids-Bayard 58, West Harrison 9
Exira-EHK 79, Ar-We-Va 42
Paton-Churdan 54, Boyer Valley 34

Other Scores

Dallas Center-Grimes 64, Creston 44
East Mills 58, Bedford 31
Waukee 85, CB Abraham Lincoln 29
Winterset 53, North Polk, Alleman 42

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Shanquan Hemphill had 19 points and seven rebounds as Drake won its ninth straight game to open the season, rolling past North Dakota 88-55. Tremell Murphy added 13 points for the Bulldogs and Roman Penn chipped in 10 points. Gertautas Urbonavicius led the Fighting Hawks with 16 points.