Iowa Women’s Basketball: Opens Conference Play at Nebraska

Iowa (9-2) begins their conference schedule today as they travel to Lincoln to play the Cornhuskers (10-1) at 1:00 p.m. The game will be on BTN+. While Nebraska has an impressive win/loss record, their strength of schedule leaves a lot to be desired. Arguably, their best victory was a home win over a 7-4 Duke team. According to realtimerpi.com, Iowa is ranked 16 with a strength of schedule of 31 while Nebraska is ranked 101 with a strength of schedule 281.

As a reminder, the university announced that January 26, in a home game against Michigan State, Megan Gustafson will return and have her number retired. Hopefully the place will be packed to show appreciation for what Gustafson accomplished while at Iowa.

Upcoming

Saturday, December 28: Iowa at Nebraska @ Lincoln, 1:00 p.m. (CST)

Tuesday, December 31: Iowa vs. Illinois @ Carver-Hawkeye, 2:00 p.m. (CST)

Nebraska scouting report from hawkeyesports.com.

Illinois scouting report from fightingillini.com.

• Nebraska is 10-1 on the season -- it’s one loss was against Creighton, 79-74.
• The Cornhuskers are leading the Big Ten in blocked shots (5.9 per game), second in offensive rebounding (42.2 per game), and third in free throw percentage (71.9).
• Junior center Kate Cain is second in the conference, blocking 3.0 shots per game.
• Sophomore forward Leigha Brown leads Nebraska and ranks 11th in the Big Ten in scoring (14.7 ppg) after her season-high 25-point effort against Manhattan (Dec. 22). Brown added five rebounds and four assists against the Jaspers to earn a spot on the Big Ten Weekly Honor Roll (Dec. 23). She is the only non-starter in the Big Ten averaging more than 12 points per game.
• Two additional Huskers are averaging double-figure scoring, including sophomore guard Sam Haiby (10.7) and Cain (10.1).
• Sophomore forward Ashtyn Veerbeek averages 6.4 rebounds per game, leading Nebraska. Cain follows with 6.2.
• As a team, Nebraska averages 74.2 points per game, while holding opponents to 59.4.
• Amy Williams is in her fourth season with the Cornhuskers. Williams captured 2018 Big Ten Coach-of-the-Year honors after the Huskers earned a bid into the 2018 NCAA Tournament and finished with a 21-11 record - a nation-leading 14-game turnaround in the win column over 2016-17.
• The Illini have won three-straight and finished the nonconference with a 9-2 record, the best start to a season since 2006-07.
• Illinois is third in the Big Ten in steals (10.8 per game).
• Illinois is fourth in the Big Ten in three-point field goal percentage (.373).
• Freshman Kennedi Myles leads the Big Ten and third among Division I freshmen in rebounding (10.5 rpg).
• Redshirt junior Petra Holešínská is second in the Big Ten with a .480 three-point shooting percentage. She is 8th in Illinois history with 126 career three-pointers made.
• Senior Brandi Beasley is fourth in Illinois history with 400 career assists.
• Senior Ali Andrews ranks seventh in Illinois history with 129 career three-pointers made.
• Illinois has three freshmen - Myles, Jeanae Terry, and Jada Peebles - contributing major minutes. Those three have combined for 34% of the team’s points, 36% of rebounds, 44% of assists and 60% of blocks.
• Head coach Nancy Fahey ranks 11th among NCAA active head coaches in career victories (765).

Last Week’s Results

Iowa 79, Drake 67

Iowa defeated Drake 79-67 in the Hawkeye’s last non-conference game of the season. Four Hawkeyes scored in double figures led by senior guard Makenzie Meyer who scored 24 points. Senior guard Kathleen Doyle had 19 points and added ten assists to record a double-double. Sophomore Monika Czinano added 17 points and senior Amanda Ollinger scored 11.

Season Stats Leader

Points Per Game: Makenzie Meyer (15.9), Kathleen Doyle (15.5), Monika Czinano (15.1)

Three Pointers Made: Makenzie Meyer (31)

Field Goal % (min 75% games played): Monika Czinano (72.3%)

Free Throw % (min 75% games played): Alexis Sevillian (90.9%)

Rebounds Per Game: Amanda Ollinger (8.7)

Assists: Kathleen Doyle (71)

Steals: Amanda Ollinger (18), Kathleen Doyle (17)

Blocks: Amanda Ollinger (17)