The state of Iowa saw one women’s basketball coaching legend exit the state as — just days later – a young prodigy entered.

It was July of 1995, and ISU head coach Bill Fennelly had just arrived for his first season in Ames as the University of Iowa watched C. Vivian Stringer bolt for her current position as head coach of Rutgers.

The two have a combined 25 years of coaching experience in the state of Iowa with a total of 1,348 career victories, but have faced each other head-to-head just once.

Rutgers knocked the Cyclones out in the second round of the 1998 NCAA Tournament with a 62-61 victory in Ames. Fennelly vs. Stringer Part Two will occur in a similar setting ten years later in the second round of this year’s NCAA Tournament at 8:30 p.m. Monday in Des Moines.

Stringer, who recently became the third women’s basketball coach to reach 800 career wins, led Iowa to the 1993 Final Four and has taken Rutgers just as far twice in her 13 years with the program.

Her 802 career wins trail only Tennessee’s Pat Summitt (976) and former Texas coach Jody Conradt (900) in the all-time list.

“It’s certainly a tremendous challenge,” said Fennelly. “We’re talking about a hall-of-fame coach and one of the greatest programs in the country.”

Stringer’s No. 7 Scarlet Knights bring a 25-6 record into Monday night’s second-round matchup with the Cyclones (21-12) two days after an 85-42 dismantling of Robert Morris in the first round.

Like Iowa State, Rutgers is driven by its defense. The Scarlet Knights are 226th in the country in scoring offense (60.4 points per game), while they rank third scoring defense (allowing 51.3 points per game). The Cyclones rank 186th in scoring offense (62.4) and 19th in scoring defense (55.6).

The brightest spot thus far in a successful season for the Scarlet Knights came on Feb. 5, when they defeated No. 1 Connecticut, 73-71, at home. Rutgers lost the rematch in March but is still the only team to hand a loss to the 33-1 Huskies this season.

While the Cyclones are excited to play what essentially is another home game at Wells Fargo Arena on Monday night, the Scarlet Knights are continuing an unlucky trend of away games in the NCAA Tournament. Monday night will mark the fifth time in the last six tournaments that Rutgers will face the host team on its home court in either the first or second round.

“It’s a challenge we’re glad we have,” Fennelly said. “Especially when it’s in front of our great fans and on national television.”

And with an Iowa State fan base that ranked fifth in average home attendance this season, Wells Fargo Arena is sure to be packed full of cardinal and gold on Monday.

“I know all of the fans will be cheering for Iowa State,” Stringer said.

“But we’d rather have a full arena than an empty one.”