Iowa Women’s Basketball: #22 Hawkeyes Look to Continue Winning Streak

#22 Iowa (13-3) continues their conference schedule this week as they travel to Minnesota (11-5) tonight and then to Wisconsin (9-7) on Sunday. Both games will be live on BTN+. Iowa is on a four game winning streak and with their win over Indiana on Sunday, moved back into the rankings.

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

Thursday, January 16: Iowa at Minnesota @ Minneapolis, 7:00 p.m. (CST)

Sunday, January 19: Iowa at Wisconsin @ Madison, 2:00 p.m. (CST)

Minnesota scouting report from hawkeyesports.com.

Wisconsin notes from uwbadgers.com.

• Minnesota is 11-5 overall and 1-4 in Big Ten Conference action on a four-game drought, losing by an average 6.25 points and less than four in three of the last four.
• Four Gophers average double-figure scoring, including junior guard Destiny Pitts (16.3), senior forward Taiye Bello (13.0), redshirt junior guard Gadiva Hubbard (11.8) and freshman guard Sara Scalia (10.7).
• Pitts leads the Big Ten in free-throw percentage (85.7), 3-pointers per game, and ties for the lead in 3-pointers made (45) with Iowa senior Makenzie Meyer.
• Bello leads the Big Ten in total rebounds (149) and rebounds per game (9.9).
• Minnesota has held its opponents to 63.3 points per game.
• As a team, Minnesota is leading the Big Ten in two categories — free-throw percentage (75.1) and 3-point percentage (39.1).
• Nationally, the Gophers rank in the top 25 in two categories, including ninth in 3-point percentage (39.1) and 25th in turnovers per game, averaging 13.
• Imani Lewis continues to amaze. Recording her eighth double-double and sixth consecutive of the season, she is now the sole holder of third place for most consecutive double-doubles. She needs just one more this season to enter the top 10 for most in a season.
• Also working on their records, are Kendra Van Leeuwen and Suzanne Gilreath. Van Leeuwen dished out five assists against the Spartans and is steadily climbing towards fifth place for career assists. Gilreath claimed fifth as her own for career three-point field goals and is three away from taking over fourth in career attempts. One to note is Abby Laszewski. The senior forward is three blocks away from entering the career top 10.

Last Week’s Results

Iowa 66, #17 Maryland 61

Iowa hosted Maryland in a big conference matchup and came away with the win. Maryland got Iowa center Monika Czinano in foul trouble and held her to just four points on the night, 13 points under her average. Luckily for Iowa, senior guards Kathleen Doyle and Makenzie Meyer scored 21 and 20 points respectively. Junior guard Alexis Sevillian contributed 15 points and the combined effort of the Iowa guards overcame a 40-18 deficit in points scored in the paint. Maryland out-rebounded Iowa 59-35.

Iowa 91, #12 Indiana 85 (2OT)

Indiana came into the game undefeated and in first place in the conference. Iowa trailed late into the fourth quarter but held strong to force overtime, and then double overtime where they ran away from the Hoosiers. With the win, Iowa notched it’s 30th straight win at home. The Hawkeyes shot 54 percent from the field and four players scored at least ten points. Senior Kathleen Doyle led the way with 31 points and was one rebound away from a triple-double. Sophomore Monika Czinano added 23 points, senior Makenzie Meyer chipped in 17, and freshman McKenna Warnock contributed 11 points. Senior Amanda Ollinger pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds. Meyer hit the go-ahead three-pointer in the second overtime and 15 of her 17 points came in the second half or overtime periods.

Season Stats Leader

Points Per Game: Kathleen Doyle (18.1)

Three Pointers Made: Makenzie Meyer (45)

Field Goal % (min 75% games played): Monika Czinano (69.1%)

Free Throw % (min 75% games played): Alexis Sevillian (86.7%)

Rebounds Per Game: Amanda Ollinger (9.1)

Assists: Kathleen Doyle (97)

Steals: Amanda Ollinger (27)

Blocks: Amanda Ollinger (27)