It’s been a tough month for the Iowa women’s basketball team. After starting the year 8-1, the Hawkeyes have gone just 1-3 in their last four games. Part of Iowa’s struggle has been the quality of its opponents -- each of those three losses came against ranked teams.
Another part of their problem has been their struggles to finish out close games. Each of Iowa’s losses were competitive into the game’s final few possessions, and Iowa actually trailed late in the Purdue game until a run in the final few minutes earned the Hawks a win.
Today’s game against Minnesota offered Iowa an opportunity to work on turning the ball over less offensively, as well as an opportunity to work on earning stops and forcing turnovers on defense. The game was relatively close early. Iowa led 21-17 after one, but both teams struggled to establish momentum as the referees were quick to call fouls and stop play.
Iowa fared better for most of the second quarter, as it briefly jumped out to a 14-point lead thanks to good shooting offensively and defense that largely kept Minnesota out of the paint aside from offensive rebounds.
But then Minnesota went on a run to end the half. A late three-pointer cut Iowa’s halftime lead down to just six at 47-41.
Iowa’s late quarter struggle didn’t carry over to the third quarter. Instead, the Hawks locked in on defense, earning stops and forcing Minnesota into bad passes that led to turnovers. Iowa continued to shoot well offensively, especially in the final few minutes of the quarter. And at the end of three quarters, Iowa led Minnesota 75-49. The Hawkeyes won the third quarter 28-8. Iowa coasted home in the fourth quarter, and won the game 94-68.
Monica Czinano followed up her historic performance against Northwestern by scoring 23 points on 11-14 shooting. The most impressive part of her scoring is that she can make a variety of shots. If her opponents are guarding her close, she can shoot a hook shot over top of them. If they leave space, she can step out and knock down a short jumper with confidence. And like Megan Gustafson before her, she’s nearly automatic on layups around the basket.
Caitlin Clark finished just behind Czinano with 22 points and 11 assists. McKenna Warnock also notched a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Gabbie Marshall was the last Hawkeye in double-figures with 11. A box score for the game is here.
Thoughts
This was a much-needed victory for Iowa. The Hawks really needed a game where they didn’t turn the ball over a lot and could get stops on defense, and they got just that.
The game also come in the midst of a tough stretch in Iowa’s schedule. The Hawkeyes just finished up three of four games against ranked opponents, and will face two more ranked opponents in Ohio State and Indiana in the coming week. It was good to bank another victory, especially one on the road.
Now that’s its basically February, it’s time to start checking in on bracketology predictions. Over at ESPN, Charlie Crème had Iowa projected as an 8 seed coming into the week. Rutgers, a team Iowa beat earlier in the season, was projected as a 10 seed and one of the last 4 in. Iowa’s best win of the season is probably over Iowa State, a projected 7 seed.
If Charlie Creme’s projections are right, Iowa has some breathing room between itself and the bubble. That said, the Big Ten is really deep this year, and Iowa will face plenty of tough opponents down the stretch. They'll need to take care of business against the opponents they should beat, then take at least a game or two against quality opponents to stay off the bubble.
Next Up
Iowa returns to action on Thursday, February 4 at 5 PM CT on the road at Ohio State. The Hawkeyes dropped an 84-82 overtime game against the Buckeyes at Carver two and a half weeks ago. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network.
