IOWA CITY, Iowa– A brand new team is going to have its ups and downs and that’s what was showcased during Iowa’s 91-73 win over Northern Illinois.
Things got started in a hurry for Jensen’s Hawkeyes. Kylie Feuerbach got things started with a three-pointer from the corner. The Huskies were doing everything they could to shut down things inside, so Iowa shot seven three-pointers in the first five minutes. The Hawkeyes had no problem securing extra opportunities with five offensive rebounds in that span, but couldn’t get anything at the rim. They were knotted up at eight after five minutes.
Iowa missed eight straight shots before Teagan Mallegni got the lid off the basket with a fast break layup. Senior center Addison O’Grady hit back-to-back baskets to help provide a much-needed boost to her squad as they took a 15-11 lead.
Jensen is replacing an all-time great set of leaders and players in the Hawkeye program and it looked like it could take some time to piece things together. After they went down by one, Iowa went on a quick 10-0 run. All four buckets in the sequence were scored by different players. Freshman Taylor Stremlow brought a lot of energy on both ends of the floor to give them a much-needed spark.
Kylie Feuerbach is emerging as an early story for the Hawkeyes. When things were stagnant in the first-half, Feuerbach made things happen on both ends of the floor. She was actively defensively, drill three-pointers and on the glass. She had a game-high 11 points through the first half. Despite forcing 15 turnovers in the first 20 minutes, Iowa only managed a 45-34 lead.
Olsen came out of halftime in attack-mode with two quick buckets to provide some confidence. Feuerbach was a pest on defense. She was diving for loose balls, grabbing rebounds and getting a handful of steals that helped get Iowa out in transition.
Hannah Stuelke only played six minutes in the first half due to an ankle injury, but did play in the second-half. She was a step slow, but kept a number of possessions alive with her rebounding ability and kept the defense honest. Iowa would go up by double-digits, but they couldn’t put away the Huskies in the third quarter. Northern Illinois converted seven of its first 14 shots from deep.
The Hawkeyes put together a strong run to increase the lead to as high as 25 in the third-quarter. Olsen led the way in the third quarter with eight points and three assists while freshman Teagan Mallegni added eight third-quarter points.
Northern Illinois wouldn’t throw in the towel and would have a strong opening six minutes to the fourth quarter as they outscored Iowa 16-12. The Hawkeyes wouldn’t allow them to get back into the game. A couple of big plays by Feuerbach and a few buckets from Stuelke cemented the final result.
Star(s) of the Game:
Kylie Feuerbach- The fifth-year senior has had a great start to her final year. There’s a new calmness about her game and she has allowed herself to play with more freedom than ever. She didn’t hesitate when a shot presented itself and she was active on the boards. Feuerbach is lanky and has the capability of being a defensive pest. If she can continue to hit threes at a high rate, she could be a weapon on that end of the floor.
She finished with 14 points, nine rebounds, five assists and six steals.
Lucy Olsen- The honorable mention all-American from Villanova started off her Hawkeye career strong on Wednesday. She didn’t shoot the ball well early, but there’s a great deal of confidence in her game and she didn’t change it despite struggling early. Olsen has a completely different game than some of the past Iowa point guards, but she has a keen understanding of what Jensen wants and what Iowa needs.
She ended with 19 points, seven assists and four rebounds.
Up Next: The Hawkeyes won’t be staying in Carver-Hawkeye Arena and will head out east to take on Virginia Tech in a ‘neutral’ site game. The Hokies are in the midst of a new head coach and are looking to continue to build what Kenny Brooks started.
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