Iowa coach Lisa Bluder: Good to finally play someone else
Hear from Hannah Stuelke, Caitlin Clark, Lisa Bluder and Sharon Goodman after Iowa’s win over FDU
IOWA CITY — While it may have seemed ominous to encounter a clock malfunction and referees’ timeout before the season’s first possession crossed halfcourt, Caitlin Clark and the Hawkeyes made sure that was the night’s only hiccup.
No. 3 Iowa women’s basketball wasted zero time dismantling overmatched Fairleigh Dickinson on Monday evening, sticking the Knights with a 102-46 season-opening loss inside a mostly-full Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
No time ticked away after Hannah Stuelke won her first tip as a starter, requiring a delay as several Hawkeyes smiled at the irony. Clark made up for lost time immediately after play resumed.
A 17-point first quarter as part of another quality stat line — 28 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds — headlined Clark’s opening act, as she weaved her way all through FDU’s defense with little resistance. There was an early deep heave and an impressive four-point play. Drives, dishes and everything else showcased the full arsenal from the jump.
“Our transition game really early was good,” Clark said. “As a team, only seven turnovers on 28 assists is really good. That’s kind of what we pride ourselves on, lots of assists and low turnover numbers. Sometimes early in the year, those (turnover) numbers can be a little high.”
With an 18-point cushion after 10 minutes and a 30-point advantage midway through the first half, Monday’s affair soon became whatever the Hawkeyes wanted to make of it. With a treacherous schedule upcoming in this first month, this FDU matchup was really Iowa’s best chance to test things out to start.
That began with Sharon Goodman getting her first collegiate start, a nice moment after two years marred by a torn ACL. The Crestwood High School alum responded with a career-high 19 points on 7-for-8 shooting.
“It’s just been building confidence throughout practice,” Goodman said. “I have great teammates who continue to tell me to keep going.
“(Post) coach (Jan Jensen) always says, ‘You know your money shots.’ So just having confidence with that.”
Elsewhere, all healthy Hawkeyes appeared in the first half as Iowa implemented several four-guard lineups with either Stuelke, Addison O’Grady or Goodman at the five position.
The Hawkeyes are banking on interior growth all throughout this campaign, and Monday was a solid start. Dominant nights from Stuelke (22 points, 9 rebounds on 9-for-10 shooting) and Goodman headlined the down-low effort and showcased why Iowa felt it didn’t need to upgrade that area in the offseason following Monika Czinano’s departure.
“I know it’s one game and everyone is worried about our inside game,” Iowa coach Lisa Bluder said. “But Hannah and Sharon had really good nights. I know the competition is going to get better, but it’s a good confidence boost for everybody.”
With opening night in the rearview mirror, it’s time for Iowa to flip forward toward loftier items. Monday’s win was the only real breather the Hawkeyes will get this month, with games against Virginia Tech, UNI, Kansas State and Drake up next before ending November in Florida.
