The intensity began in practice, culminating in flying elbows and eventually, a get-right win.
Following Iowa’s 91-85 loss to Minnesota on Feb. 5, the Hawkeyes hit the gym the next day, focusing not on their next opponent, but themselves. With four days until playing host to Washington, Iowa took the practice as a rare chance to look in the mirror rather than at the upcoming schedule.
The Hawkeyes had just conceded their most points in a game from the Gophers, who snapped an 11-game losing streak in the rivalry and extended Iowa’s in-season skid to three. Granted, the trio of defeats arrived against the Big Ten’s top-three defenses in opponent points per game, but the results still stung, especially for a team looking to host in the NCAA Tournament. Rather than panic, Iowa looked inward.
“When you get into the throes of a season, you can never really work on yourself,” Iowa head coach Jan Jensen said.
The labor centred on defense and its building blocks – close outs, help rotations, and classic conditioning. Jensen said her team did plenty of running before consecutive off days over the weekend. By Tuesday the following week, first-year center Layla Hays appeared at media availability with a bandage above her left eye – a souvenir from a sharp elbow from senior Hannah Stuelke. Incidental contact, of course, but a symbol of renewed energy.
“Don’t mess with me,” Stuelke said, fist raised and face casting a smile when asked about the event.
Stuelke received little resistance in Iowa’s victory over Washington on Wednesday night, recording 14 points and grabbing 16 of Iowa’s 26 rebounds on the night. The Hawkeyes still lost the rebound battle to the Huskies, same as they did to the Gophers, but the discrepancy didn’t impact the final score. Rather, Stuelke’s ferocity in the paint mirrored Iowa’s defensive effort. Jensen said she wanted her group to be more assertive, and the Hawkeyes made themselves known.
“We weren’t messing around,” Jensen said.
The first quarter appeared eerily similar to Minnesota, with the Gophers scoring 24 points on 70 percent shooting from the floor. Guards Sayvia Sellers and Avery Howell – Jensen’s two points of emphasis in the scouting report – combined for nine points on 4-of-6 shooting. Jensen said her team was lost in transition, but found itself in the second quarter.
A 6-0 Iowa run suddenly lost momentum after a questionable foul on Ava Heiden, who responded with a deflection on the ensuing in-bounds play. Taking the ball out of bounds again, Washington struggled to find an open look, resulting in an airball and an Iowa transition bucket from who else but Heiden.
Iowa held Washington to just five points in 10 minutes of basketball. The Huskies committed more turnovers (8) than made baskets (2). In Jensen’s eyes, she saw more communication, more pointing, calling out assignments, and directing through traffic. Fighting through ball screens and rotating quickly and efficiently.
“It started to look a little bit more of that gritty, blue-collar mentality coming out,” Jensen said.
The performance held consistent when Washington threatened a comeback in the fourth quarter. Up just five points, the Hawkeyes forced a shot clock violation. Stuelke prevented a pass down low on the possession, and Wright rotated to the corner for an effective close-out.
Making her 10th career start, Taylor Stremlow displayed the maturity and instinct she gained from her freshman season. Drifting down from the three-point line to collect the defensive rebound, the 5-foot-10 second-year rejected 6-5 Yulia Grabovskaia’s putback attempt.
Then, with Iowa ahead, 60-54, Stremlow closed out along the wing and forced a pass to the corner, which she then rotated over to force another poor shot from the Huskies. Stuelke grabbed her 16th rebound, and minutes later, Iowa held its opponent under 60 points for the first time in a month.
“I thought the key to winning this was going to have to be our defense, and it certainly was the case,” Jensen said.