IOWA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TAKES ON CREIGHTON IN NCAA TOURNAMENT: PREVIEW, GAME THREAD, HOW TO WATCH

For the first time since 2016, the Iowa women’s basketball team finds itself in the NCAA Tourney, this time taking on 11th-seeded Creighton tonight in Los Angeles.

Both teams face each other after a relatively long period of dormancy. Iowa last played March 2 (a 90-89 loss to Minnesota in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament) while the Blue Jays last played March 5, a 76-70 loss to Marquette in the Big East Tourney.

Creighton boasts an 18-12 record, going 11-7 in conference. Their best win of the season came they took down then-No. 18 Villanova on Dec. 28.

The Blue Jays aren’t led by a single player like Iowa is a la Megan Gustafson, which makes preparing for them a little tougher. Forwards Audrey Faber and Jaylyn Agnew each average 14 points a game for Creighton, while Agnew also leads the team in rebounding.

On paper, Iowa is the superior team here. The Hawkeyes are averaging about 10 more points a game over the Jays, but Iowa does give up about one more point a game on the defensive end. Creighton does also come in to the tourney a little awkwardly; the Jays have lost three of their last four, though the long break between games could render their coldness irrelevant.

The last time these two teams faced off was all the way back in 2006, when Iowa beat Creighton 75-60 in Omaha. Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder and Creighton head coach Jim Flanery have kind of a fun history, as detailed by the Gazette.

The winner of this one will go on to play the winner of the UCLA/American matchup.

How to watch:

Time: 5 PM, God’s Time

Where: Pauley Pavillion, Los Angeles

TV & Online: The game will be televised on ESPN 2 in Iowa and Nebraska. Watch ESPN will have the game for online streaming.

Radio: Hawkeye Radio Network

Online Radio: HSN