Iowa women host last-place Northwestern in potential trap game
Junior forward Hannah Stuelke expected to play in Tuesday's game
By Hawk Fanatic
IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Iowa women’s basketball team will face last-place Northwestern on Tuesday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in what has the makings of a trap game if the Hawkeyes don’t play well.
The Wildcats are winless in Big Ten play at 7-0, but Tuesday’s game is also the game before the game that Hawkeye fans have been eagerly waiting for since it was announced that Caitlin Clark’s jersey No. 22 would be retired during halftime of this coming Sunday’s game against USC at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Iowa’s ability to take it one game at a time, and to focus solely on the next opponent will be tested on Tuesday against the Wildcats, who come to Iowa City on a six-game losing streak.
The Wildcats have five players that average double figures, but even with balance, it has been a major struggle in Big Ten play.
But Iowa also has struggled in Big Ten play, having lost five straight games prior to defeating Washington 85-61 this past Wednesday in Seattle.
The Hawkeyes are really in no position to take any opponent lightly, and it seems highly unlikely that they would, given Iowa’s culture under first-year head coach Jan Jensen, who has been a member of the Iowa staff for over two decades.
Northwestern is a Big Ten opponent that deserves Iowa’s full attention and respect.
Iowa (13-7, 3-6) has to start stacking wins, but it won’t be easy with opponents such as USC, UCLA and Ohio State still on the schedule.
The Hawkeyes should receive a boost from the return of All-Big Ten junior forward Hannah Stuelke, who missed both games on the West Coast against Oregon and Washington this past week due to a concussion that she suffered late in the loss to Nebraska on Jan. 16.
“Hannah is looking good,” assistant coach Randi Henderson said Monday on a zoom conference. “I think we should expect to see her contribute in the game.”
Iowa split the two games on the West Coast, losing to Oregon 50-49 Jan. 19 in Eugene.
Northwestern (7-11, 0-7) vs. Iowa (13-7, 3-6)
When: Tuesday, 7 p.m.
Where: Carver-Hawkeye Arena
TV: Big Ten Network
Radio: Hawkeye Radio Network
Series history: Iowa leads the all-time series, 61-18. The Hawkeyes have won the last four matchups and five out of the last eight inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa holds a 27-7 series edge in games played in Iowa City.