Dec. 12, 2025, 10:38 a.m. CT
IOWA CITY — There is a sporadic nature to non-conference scheduling that largely disappears as soon as groups dive into league play. So contemplate it lucky Iowa ladies’s basketball has a direct likelihood to reply after its Cy-Hawk stumble.
Lower than 72 hours after the Hawkeyes‘ 74-69 loss at No. 10 Iowa State, No. 12 Iowa (9-1) will likely be again on the ground in entrance of what must be a powerful weekend crowd. A Dec. 13 rout of Lindenwood (2 p.m. , BTN+) clearly is not as glamorous as a top-10 highway win, however the Hawkeyes’ response continues to be important as they construct again as much as larger issues forward.
The Lindenwood showdown is Iowa’s closing mid-major sport this season and supplies the one likelihood to get proper earlier than the large matchup with top-ranked UConn on Dec. 20. Then, after one other week off, the Hawkeyes plunge again into Massive Ten play on Dec. 28.
So technically, Iowa can have only one sport in a 14-day stretch after Lindenwood (7-2) leaves city. Jan Jensen’s squad should take full benefit of the Lions’ first go to to Carver-Hawkeye Enviornment.
With that, listed below are three issues to observe.
Can the Hawkeyes ship a powerful displaying on the line?
Whereas a well-rounded efficiency could be very best for Iowa’s collective bounce-back, there are particular person objects that want quick correcting. What’s occurring on the free-throw line could be precedence No. 1.
It turned an even bigger speaking level after the Hawkeyes’ 6-for-12 charity-stripe displaying in Ames. Iowa as a workforce is taking pictures 65% on the line, a quantity certain to price the Hawkeyes once more if it does not enhance.
There must be alternatives in opposition to Lindenwood. In its six mid-major wins over Southern, Evansville, Drake, UNI, Western Illinois and Fairfield, the Hawkeyes averaged 22 free-throw makes an attempt per sport. The Lions seem a bit higher than most of these squads — and hitting low-pressure free-throws at dwelling actually is not the identical as draining them whereas rallying on the highway — however confidence restoration can begin small.
How a lot upset potential lies with Lindenwood?
Checking in at No. 79 within the newest NET rankings, Lindenwood already appears just like the Ohio Valley Convention frontrunner in its fourth season on the Division I degree. After dropping a mixed 45 video games within the first two of these, the Lions made the WNIT final yr and may very well be on observe for extra success.
Iowa and Lindenwood have already got two widespread opponents. The Lions picked up a 68-52 highway win over Drake on Dec. 3 and suffered a mildly aggressive 76-63 loss at Baylor on Nov. 9. Iowa beat each of these groups.
Additionally on the resume is a 2-1 displaying on the Rainbow Wahine Showdown, the place Lindenwood dropped the opener to Santa Clara earlier than rebounding with wins over Hawaii and Vermont.
Nationally, Lindenwood ranks twenty third in 3-point share (37.5%) and fortieth in assists per sport (16.9). Upperclassman guards Aleshia Jones (15.9 ppg), Ellie Brueggemann (13.4 ppg) and Brooke Coffey (12.6 ppg) account for practically 60% of the Lions’ scoring.
As with many mid-major squads, Lindenwood affords up little measurement to counter Ava Heiden, Hannah Stuelke and Layla Hays. Just one participant taller than 6-foot-1 performs important minutes. After a rugged battle with Iowa State’s Audi Crooks, Iowa’s inside trio has a grand likelihood to get again on observe.
Can Chit-Chat Wright stack one other productive day to proceed her point-guard ascent?
As emphatic as Chit-Chat Wright’s return was inside a hostile Hilton Coliseum, her 21-point outing was solely the fifth time in 10 video games she completed a complete sport.
It is shortly change into clear how important Wright is to make this offense movement. With barren stretches of productiveness nonetheless plaguing Iowa’s offense, no alternative is insignificant with regards to furthering on-court chemistry and cohesion.
Wright is certainly glad to have the early adversity behind her. Now comes time to maintain pushing ahead.
Iowa ladies’s basketball vs. Lindenwood prediction
The Hawkeyes ship a stable rebound from the Cy-Hawk loss, with Ava Heiden main the scoring cost for what could be the sixth time this yr. Iowa will get proper earlier than its huge UConn showdown in Brooklyn. Iowa 85, Lindenwood 69.
Dargan Southard is a sports activities trending reporter and covers Iowa athletics for the Des Moines Register and HawkCentral.com. E-mail him at msouthard@gannett.com or observe him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.
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