By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – One of Lisa Bluder’s last significant accomplishments before retiring as the Iowa women’s basketball coach last May was getting Lucy Olsen to sign with the Hawkeyes in April.

Jan Jensen, of course, played a huge role in getting Olsen to transfer from Villanova where last season Olsen finished third nationally in scoring, averaging more than 23 points per game.

Iowa’s unprecedented success, which included finishing as the NCAA runner-up in each of the past two season with generational talent Caitlin Clark leading the way, also played a role in landing Olsen, who stayed committed to Iowa after Jensen was promoted to head coach on the same day Bluder announced her retirement in May.

Olsen wasn’t being recruited to fill Clark’s massive void because that would be asking too much, even for a player as talented and accomplished Olsen.

But Olsen was recruited to be a star player right away, and to help fill the gap that was created by multiple personnel losses from last season as three full-time starters and one part-time starter had moved on.

Olsen was recruited to do exactly what she did in Wednesday’s 75-69 victory over No. 18 Iowa State at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

The 5-foot-10 guard from Pennsylvania played 36 minutes, scored 25 points, had five assists and did not record a single turnover or foul.

She was the guiding force for her team, what Bluder and Jensen envisioned when they recruited Olsen.

“It was really fun, they’re such a great team,” Olsen said of Iowa State. “I think we came out tonight with a lot of energy and the crowd really helped with that. It was so loud in there. We were just talking about how loud. She’s like we’re not switching the screens and I’m like I can’t hear the screen being called.

“It was really fun. I’ve never been in anything like it.”

The she to whom Olsen was referring is Iowa senior guard Syd Affolter, who sat next to Olsen in Wednesday’s post-game press conference.

Affolter earned a seat at the table after having scored 16 points and grabbed six rebounds while playing 30 minutes. She also matched Olsen with zero turnovers.

Affolter, who is from Chicago, had her knee scoped in September, and had been struggling on offense. She only took two shots in the 78-68 loss to Tennessee in New York City.

But against the Cyclones, Affolter played the way she did for much of last season, aggressive and efficient on both ends.

The fans also played a role in Wednesday’s victory as Olsen pointed out.

She didn’t play in front of sellout crowds at Villanova, so Wednesday’s atmosphere inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena was a new and exciting experience.

It also gave Iowa a significant advantage against an opponent that has now lost nine straight games inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

“Obviously, a phenomenal environment,” said Iowa State head coach Bill Fennelly. “It was very cool to be in this environment. It’s a tribute to what they have going here. What coach Bluder, and now what Jan are doing.”

Iowa overcame a 10-point deficit against Iowa State in the second half.

Instead of unraveling after falling behind, Olsen and her cohorts just started playing better and steadily chipped away at the deficit.

Iowa had committed 30 turnovers in the loss to Tennessee, which ran a full-court press throughout the game, but then only had nine against the Cyclones.

Iowa improved to 9-1 with Wednesday’s victory and will now start Big Ten play with No. 17 Michigan State (9-0) up next Sunday in East Lansing, Michigan.

And while Olsen was the star in Wednesday’s game, along with Iowa State’s terrific sophomore center Audi Crooks, who scored 31 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, multiple players contributed to the win, including junior forward Hannah Stuelke, who scored 13 points, grabbed nine rebounds and made all four of her field-goal attempts.

Freshman point guard Aaliyah Guyton also made both of her shots from 3-point range, the second coming late in the game to help secure the win.

After making her second three, Guyton ran to mid-court where she jumped into the waiting arms of Olsen, who was so happy for her new teammate.

Lucy Olsen is proving to be one of the most important additions from the transfer portal for any Hawkeye sports team.

She continues to prove it with her performances on the court, and with how well she has fit into Iowa’s culture, which was all on fully display in Wednesday’s victory.

The only downside to Olsen being a Hawkeye is that she only has one season of eligibility.

But if Wednesday’s victory is any indication, it could be a fun and rewarding season.