The Iowa Hawkeyes host Wisconsin in Kinnick Stadium and the Hawkeyes need a victory to keep their division title hopes alive. Not only do the Badgers have the Big Ten’s best running game they also have the top ranked defense and Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz says the Hawkeyes must avoid third and long. Running back Melvin Gordon gets most of the attention but Ferentz says Badger quarterback Stave (stah-vay) gets overlooked. Ferentz says the Iowa offense will need to execute and be patient. Iowa is 7-3.

Friday’s Scores

GIRLS BASKETBALL
Albia 48, Montezuma 46
Alburnett 57, Midland, Wyoming 45
Alta/Aurelia 44, Ruthven-Ayrshire 30
B-G-M, Brooklyn 52, Sigourney 48
Ballard 60, Gilbert 30
BCLUW, Conrad 48, GMG, Garwin 28
Cascade,Western Dubuque 52, Anamosa 36
Central Decatur, Leon 69, Lamoni 34
Central Elkader 56, East Buchanan, Winthrop 34
Colo-NESCO 48, West Marshall, State Center 38
Columbus Community, Columbus Junction 61, West Liberty 59, 2OT
Council Bluffs, Thomas Jefferson 58, Heartland Christian 15
Decorah 75, Edgewood-Colesburg 26
East Sac County 65, Storm Lake 31
English Valleys, North English 52, Belle Plaine 44
Fort Dodge 79, Des Moines, Hoover 46
Grinnell 60, East Marshall, LeGrand 34
Indianola 66, Norwalk 36
Iowa Valley, Marengo 64, H-L-V, Victor 43
Kee, Lansing 61, Waukon 39
Keota 46, Tri-County, Thornburg 23
Knoxville 54, PCM, Monroe 47
Lynnville-Sully 50, North Mahaska, New Sharon 29
Martensdale-St. Marys 64, Colfax-Mingo 33
Mason City 57, Clear Lake 40
Pella Christian 38, Van Meter 37
Sumner-Fredericksburg 51, Oelwein 36
Newton Tournament
First Round
Bondurant Farrar 47, Newton 38
Carlisle 59, Des Moines Christian 54

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Melissa Dixon scored 20 points with six 3-pointers, and Ally Disterhoft added 14 points with 10 rebounds as No. 18 Iowa defeated Pepperdine 97-68 in the Hawkeye Challenge Friday night. Iowa (3-0) shot 53 percent — including nearly 58 percent from 3-point range — to steadily pull away from cold-shooting Pepperdine (39.4 percent). Disterhoft’s double-double was her fourth at Iowa.

The Waves (1-2) hung with the Hawkeyes for much of the first half — tied twice and holding a one-point lead — until Iowa ended the with a 10-3 run into halftime. Pepperdine, behind 16 points from Allie Green and 14 from Ea Shoushtari, couldn’t close the gap after halftime. Shoushtari, a senior, came into the game with 600 career points.

Dixon hit six of 11 3-pointers rising to fourth all-time in 3-pointers at Iowa (225). Iowa plays Dayton (2-2), Pepperdine meets Tennessee-Martin (1-4) in the tournament finale Saturday.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – The Chiefs have signed veteran Jason Avant to help a beleaguered and injury-prone group of wide receivers. The move reunites Avant with Andy Reid, his longtime coach in Philadelphia. Kansas City cleared roster space by placing wide receiver A.J. Jenkins on injured reserve on Friday.

Avant was drafted by Reid’s Eagles and spent his first eight seasons there before signing with Carolina in the offseason. He was the Panthers’ third receiver and caught 21 passes for 201 yards and a touchdown before getting released this week.

Avant had criticized the Panthers for their offensive approach in last week’s loss to the Falcons, but coach Ron Rivera insisted that was not the reason for his release. Rivera said the Panthers were simply trying to get younger at wide receiver.