Jan Jensen stays positive after Iowa’s road loss to No. 10 Iowa State
The Hawkeyes dropped a 74-69 decision after which star sophomore Ava Heiden fouled out and played less than 16 minutes.
IOWA CITY — There’s a sporadic nature to non-conference scheduling that largely disappears once teams dive into league play. So consider it fortunate Iowa women’s basketball has an immediate chance to respond after its Cy-Hawk stumble.
Less than 72 hours after the Hawkeyes’ 74-69 loss at No. 10 Iowa State, No. 12 Iowa (9-1) will be back on the floor in front of what should be a strong weekend crowd. A Dec. 13 rout of Lindenwood (2 p.m. , BTN+) obviously isn’t as glamorous as a top-10 road win, but the Hawkeyes’ response is still significant as they build back up to bigger things ahead.
The Lindenwood showdown is Iowa’s final mid-major game this season and provides the only chance to get right before the massive matchup with top-ranked UConn on Dec. 20. Then, after another week off, the Hawkeyes plunge back into Big Ten play on Dec. 28.
So technically, Iowa will have just one game in a 14-day stretch after Lindenwood (7-2) leaves town. Jan Jensen’s squad must take full advantage of the Lions’ first visit to Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
With that, here are three things to watch.
Can the Hawkeyes deliver a strong showing at the line?
While a well-rounded performance would be ideal for Iowa’s collective bounce-back, there are individual items that need immediate correcting. What’s happening at the free-throw line might be priority No. 1.
It became a bigger talking point after the Hawkeyes’ 6-for-12 charity-stripe showing in Ames. Iowa as a team is shooting 65% at the line, a number bound to cost the Hawkeyes again if it doesn’t improve.
There should be opportunities against Lindenwood. In its six mid-major wins over Southern, Evansville, Drake, UNI, Western Illinois and Fairfield, the Hawkeyes averaged 22 free-throw attempts per game. The Lions appear a bit better than most of those squads — and hitting low-pressure free-throws at home certainly isn’t the same as draining them while rallying on the road — but confidence restoration can start small.
How much upset potential lies with Lindenwood?
Checking in at No. 79 in the latest NET rankings, Lindenwood already looks like the Ohio Valley Conference frontrunner in its fourth season at the Division I level. After losing a combined 45 games in the first two of those, the Lions made the WNIT last year and could be on track for more success.
Iowa and Lindenwood already have two common opponents. The Lions picked up a 68-52 road win over Drake on Dec. 3 and suffered a mildly competitive 76-63 loss at Baylor on Nov. 9. Iowa beat both of those teams.
Also on the resume is a 2-1 showing at the Rainbow Wahine Showdown, where Lindenwood dropped the opener to Santa Clara before rebounding with wins over Hawaii and Vermont.
Nationally, Lindenwood ranks 23rd in 3-point percentage (37.5%) and 40th in assists per game (16.9). Upperclassman guards Aleshia Jones (15.9 ppg), Ellie Brueggemann (13.4 ppg) and Brooke Coffey (12.6 ppg) account for nearly 60% of the Lions’ scoring.
As with many mid-major squads, Lindenwood offers up little size to counter Ava Heiden, Hannah Stuelke and Layla Hays. Only one player taller than 6-foot-1 plays significant minutes. After a rugged battle with Iowa State’s Audi Crooks, Iowa’s interior trio has a grand chance to get back on track.
Iowa’s Taylor McCabe, Chit-Chat Wright react to 74-69 loss to Cyclones
Wright and McCabe helped lead Iowa’s charge back from a 17-point deficit.
Can Chit-Chat Wright stack another productive day to continue her point-guard ascent?
As emphatic as Chit-Chat Wright’s return was inside a hostile Hilton Coliseum, her 21-point outing was only the fifth time in 10 games she finished an entire game.
It’s quickly become clear how essential Wright is to make this offense flow. With barren stretches of productivity still plaguing Iowa’s offense, no opportunity is insignificant when it comes to furthering on-court chemistry and cohesion.
Wright is definitely happy to have the early adversity behind her. Now comes time to keep pushing forward.
Iowa women’s basketball vs. Lindenwood prediction
The Hawkeyes deliver a solid rebound from the Cy-Hawk loss, with Ava Heiden leading the scoring charge for what would be the sixth time this year. Iowa gets right before its big UConn showdown in Brooklyn. Iowa 85, Lindenwood 69.
Dargan Southard is a sports trending reporter and covers Iowa athletics for the Des Moines Register and HawkCentral.com. Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.
