Hear from Iowa coach Jan Jensen after Hawkeyes beat Drake
Hear from Iowa women’s basketball coach Jan Jensen after Hawkeyes beat Drake
IOWA CITY — A trip up Interstate 380 is next on the Iowa women’s basketball agenda.
Just three days after routing Drake, the No. 23 Hawkeyes (3-0) head to UNI (0-2) for their first test away from Carver-Hawkeye Arena. This Nov. 16 affair (2 p.m., ESPN+) gives Jan Jensen’s squad another manageable test early in the year.
Here are three things to watch for.
Can Iowa extend what’s been a dominant run in this UNI series?
For all the extra elements in play with these in-state matchups, the Hawkeyes usually finds a way to get it done against the Panthers and Bulldogs. A McLeod Center win would make Iowa 18-1 in its last 19 matchups vs. UNI.
Jensen won’t let this group overlook anyone as they build confidence for tougher games ahead. After all, the one stumble in that 19-game stretch came on a Cedar Falls trip with a mostly young roster still figuring things out. Jensen was obviously in the building for that 88-66 loss on Nov. 17, 2019, one of just three Iowa losses to UNI in 29 matchups.
A safe bet that game came up somewhere in the prep for this one.
What do the Iowans have in store for this familiar affair?
Assuming both teams roll out the same starting lineups they’ve used so far, four Iowans should be on the floor for the opening tip. Iowa’s Hannah Stuelke (Cedar Rapids Washington) along with UNI’s Ryley Goebel (CPU), Jenna Twedt (Benton) and Elise Jaeger (Valley) will get the first cracks at making this in-state battle an unforgettable one.
The Iowan representation doesn’t stop there. Even with Iowa casting a wider recruiting net than ever before, landing freshman Journey Houston (Davenport North) has been just as significant so far with the energy she’s provided off the bench. She should get another good chunk of action against the Panthers.
Can Iowa stack another strong defensive showing on top of the Drake rout?
As much as six in double figures with 100 on the scoreboard screams domination, what Iowa did defensively against Drake was arguably more impressive. The Hawkeyes’ 25-0 run that kept the Bulldogs scoreless for 8:29 saw everyone in the main rotation contribute in some way.
“Usually a team, I feel, when they’re really rolling and rocking, their sense of urgency is really trumping everything else,” Jensen said after the Drake win. “They’re just so urgent to the break both ways, transition defense and transition offense. They’re urgent to get to their defensive positioning. They’re urgent at running the offense with pace. And I thought for early in the season, those stretches when it really was humming, that’s where I was seeing a lot of great growth.”
UNI could be the perfect foe for more defensive advancement. The Panthers didn’t exceed 60 points or 35% shooting in losses to North Dakota State and Saint Louis.
Iowa women’s basketball vs. UNI prediction
Unless there’s some McLeod Center magic hidden in the stands, this one shouldn’t take long to get out of hand. After letting UNI back in the game last season despite a swift start, the Hawkeyes won’t do that again. Iowa 85, UNI 60.
Dargan Southard is a sports trending reporter and covers Iowa athletics for the Des Moines Register and HawkCentral.com. Email him at msouthard@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.
