Illinois is the largest shock within the Huge Ten thus far. After spending a lot of the previous 15 years at or close to the underside of the convention, the Illini got here into as we speak’s recreation with Iowa at 12-2 total and 2-1 within the Huge Ten.

The Illini in all probability aren’t true Huge Ten title contenders simply but, however they’ve positioned themselves to compete for his or her first NCAA Match bid since 2003. A win over #12 Iowa would give them an enormous signature victory on their resume come March.

These are the video games that assist resolve convention titles. Illinois is a group that Iowa ought to beat, however one it may completely lose to if the Hawkeyes didn’t play their finest. Would Iowa transfer to 4-0 within the Huge Ten, or would Illinois defend its residence court docket and get its signature victory?

The primary quarter was backwards and forwards. Iowa struggled early to adapt to Illinois’ model. The Illini are an athletic group that attempt to sluggish the opposition down and defend effectively within the half court docket. Early on, that protection pressured Iowa into a number of turnovers and dangerous pictures. Illinois additionally obtained its offense going by liberating its guards to assault the basket with perimeter screens.

Iowa lastly went on a late run when it began getting Monika Czinano common touches within the paint. Czinano scored 7 first quarter factors, and her touches freed up capturing house for a Kate Martin three and driving house for Caitlin Clark. Iowa’s late run gave the Hawks an 18-13 lead after one.

Early within the second quarter, Illinois did a greater job at limiting Iowa’s publish entries or difficult Czinano when she obtained the ball inside. Iowa’s offense didn’t get as many attractiveness because of this and the offense went chilly. Illinois capitalized on its stops by pushing offense in transition and getting open layups or jumpers. Iowa lastly referred to as timeout when Illinois pushed its result in 39-31, however Illinois’ offense stored on rolling and the Illini led 44-33 on the half. Illinois scored 22 factors within the remaining six minutes of the quarter.

Illinois pushed the result in 13 factors on its first possession of the third quarter. Then Iowa responded with an enormous run of its personal. The important thing for Iowa was limiting transition alternatives for Illinois. The Hawks had been both making baskets or in a position to get again and set their half court docket protection earlier than Illinois may push issues. A Caitlin Clark step-back three with simply over 5 minutes to go lower the Illinois lead down to 3 factors, 51-48. Iowa then misplaced give attention to each ends within the remaining jiffy of the quarter and let Illinois rebuild the result in 67-58 heading to the fourth quarter.

Iowa got here out firing offensively early within the fourth quarter and lower Illinois’ result in 75-74 with 5 and a half minutes to play. Illinois responded with a number of stops and a pair baskets to push it again to 80-74. Clark hit again with a fast three, however Illinois obtained a basket, a steal, and one other fast basket to take an 84-77 lead with two and a half minutes to go.

Iowa battled again once more and lower the result in 87-84 with lower than a minute to play. Iowa had two possessions within the remaining minute with a shot to tie, however Clark missed a 3 on the primary and obtained referred to as for a foul on a scramble play after a nasty cross within the second. Illinois held on for a 90-86 victory.

Clark led Iowa with 32 factors, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds. She was 7/14 from three-point vary. Czinano had 24 factors on 11/17 capturing and 6 rebounds. Iowa actually missed her offense on the finish of the second quarter when she was on the bench in foul hassle. McKenna Warnock was the final Hawkeye in double figures with 17 factors and 6 rebounds. Kate Martin and Gabbie Marshall didn’t have a big impression offensively, and Iowa’s bench performed simply 23 minutes. A field rating for the sport is right here.

When Iowa is locked in, the Hawkeyes have among the best offenses in ladies’s basketball. They rebound extraordinarily effectively on the defensive finish. They performs adequate protection to assist its offense.

However proper now the flaw retaining this group from being nice is that it has a number of prolonged durations every recreation the place a number of of these areas break down utterly.

Within the second quarter, it was Iowa’s transition protection. Illinois obtained attractiveness in any respect ranges and transformed most of them to go on an enormous run. Iowa’s offense contributed to that by taking dangerous pictures that made transition offense simpler for Illinois.

Within the late third quarter and early fourth quarter, it was defensive rebounding. Illinois had a number of essential possessions the place it missed its first and even second shot solely to get one other board and end. That was the distinction between Iowa tying the sport and nonetheless being down a pair possessions.

Iowa will definitely blame itself for this loss given how shut it was and the way Iowa crumbled throughout its spirals. However Illinois deserves loads of credit score for at all times having a solution. Iowa made loads of runs within the second half and lower Illinois’ lead all the way down to a single possession a number of totally different instances. Illinois at all times responded with an enormous shot or cease that killed Iowa’s momentum.

Iowa returns to motion subsequent Saturday, January seventh at 3:30 PM CT at #14 Michigan. The sport will probably be televised on FOX.

This recreation is huge for a number of causes. First, it’s Iowa’s solely common season assembly with Michigan. The winner will maintain the tiebreaker over the opposite for Huge Ten Match seeding.

Second, it could be an enormous increase for Iowa’s NCAA Match resume. The choice committee values highway wins above all others, and a highway win over a High 15 group would possible be one in all Iowa’s finest victories come March.

Lastly, it’s a recreation Iowa must win if it desires to compete for a daily season convention championship. The highest 5-6 groups within the convention are superb. There are a minimum of three extra video games on Iowa’s schedule after Michigan through which it is going to be the underdog. A second convention loss early on would give Iowa an uphill battle over the remainder of the convention season within the quest to repeat as champions.