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Iowa women’s basketball first round game in March Madness: Prediction for NCAA Tournament opener

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Iowa women’s basketball first round game in March Madness: Prediction for NCAA Tournament opener


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The Iowa women’s basketball program and star guard Caitlin Clark get the liberty of facing the winner of the University of Tennessee Martin or the College of the Holy Cross in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes will tip off their NCAA Tournament on Saturday.

This is the first time since 1992 the Hawkeyes have earned a No. 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament. At 29-4 on the year and coming off a Big Ten Tournament Championship, it’s a tough draw for whichever program finds a way to advance to the Round of 64.

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More: Iowa women’s basketball, Caitlin Clark land first No. 1 seed in NCAA Tournament since 1992

Here’s what to know about both programs and a prediction for how the Hawkeyes’ opening game round will go.

What to know about UT Martin’s basketball program

The Skyhawks (16-16) are into the NCAA Tournament despite losing the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament title game to Southern Indiana, which was was ineligible to compete in the big dance since the program moved from Division II to Division I in 2022. NCAA rules prevent programs that have moved divisions to compete in NCAA championship events for four years.

UT Martin is the beneficiary of that rule, making the final and automatically clinching a spot in the NCAA Tournament despite finishing second in its conference tournament.

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The Skyhawks have been devastated by injuries this season, with seven season-ending injuries, according to the school’s website. As a result, they run just six players in rotation. Kenley McCarn is the team’s leading scorer at 16.7 points per game, closely followed by Anaya Brown at 15.1 points per game.

Its offense, despite playing just six women at times, is fairly efficient from beyond the arc. They rank 16th in 3-point field goal percentage at 36.6% on the season, as well as the top-scoring team from the Ohio Valley Conference.

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Hear from Iowa coach Lisa Bluder after the Hawkeyes learn their NCAA Tournament path

Hear from Iowa coach Lisa Bluder after the Hawkeyes learn their NCAA Tournament path

What to know about Holy Cross’s basketball program

Holy Cross secured a bid into the big dance with a 61-55 win over Boston University on Sunday in the Patriot League title game. It’s the third straight year the Crusaders have won 20 or more games.

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They’re led by senior guard Bronagh Power-Cassidy, who averages 16.6 points per game. A Dublin, Ireland native, she’s the 36th member of the 1,000-point club with Holy Cross and the Patriot League Tournament MVP for the second consecutive season. She’s an elite 3-point shooter, shooting 39.7% from beyond the arc this season.

This is their second consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament. Last year, Holy Cross lost its first-round matchup with Maryland, 91-63.

Prediction for Holy Cross vs. UT Martin

Holy Cross runs a slightly bigger lineup than UT Martin, with eight players in the rotation. They should be able to outrun the Skyhawks in convincing fashion.

Prediction for Iowa vs. Holy Cross/UT Martin

Whoever Iowa gets, they should be the heavy favorite. As long as Iowa prevents the three-ball from falling with consistency from either school and limits turnovers, they’ll be just fine.

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Iowa’s Kate Martin: ‘We have a really tough side of the bracket’

Iowa forward Kate Martin offered her thoughts after the NCAA Selection Sunday show revealed her team as the top seed in Albany 2.

Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him at Emckown@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @EMcKown23.





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17-year-old sought for attempted murder in mass shooting near University of Iowa: police

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17-year-old sought for attempted murder in mass shooting near University of Iowa: police


Police are seeking a 17-year-old on attempted murder charges following a shooting early Sunday in a nightlife district near the University of Iowa campus, authorities said Wednesday.

Five people were treated for gunshot wounds, including three University of Iowa students. One woman remained in critical condition Wednesday after sustaining a life-threatening injury to her head, Iowa City Police Chief Dustin Liston said.

Officials said an arrest warrant was issued for the 17-year-old who was allegedly engaged in the fight, adding that reports indicate as many as 40 people may have been involved. Officers had been dispatched to the fight and arrived within 45 seconds, Liston said.

This image made from video provided by KCRG shows Iowa City police officers working the scene of a downtown shooting near the University of Iowa campus on Sunday, April 19, 2026. AP

After walking away from the other participants, the suspect allegedly fired six times into the crowded pedestrian area, Liston said. Iowa City’s downtown pedestrian mall is lined with shops, bars and restaurants.

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The minor from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, will initially be charged as an adult, as is required by Iowa law for forcible felony charges against an individual aged 16 or older, said Rachel Zimmermann Smith, Johnson County attorney.

The charges, which include five counts of attempted murder, will be brought when the suspect is apprehended, she said.

Liston said the investigation is ongoing and additional charges are expected. About three dozen search warrants have already been executed.


Police crime scene tape reading
The charges, which include five counts of attempted murder, will be brought when the suspect is apprehended. AP

“We will continue to work tirelessly to hold those responsible fully accountable,” he said, adding that anyone with information on the incident or the suspect are encouraged to come forward.

The five victims were not “targets of the shooting,” Liston said. “We have no reason to believe they were otherwise affiliated with the fight that preceded the shooting.”

Liston also provided details about the other four victims’ injuries, including one struck in the arm and chest, two struck in one or both legs and one in the side of their stomach. One is still hospitalized in stable condition and three have been released, he said.

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Wrongful death suit filed for prospective Univ. of Iowa student killed in car crash

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Wrongful death suit filed for prospective Univ. of Iowa student killed in car crash


CHATHAM, Ill. (KCRG) – The families of four children and a teenager killed after a vehicle crashed into an Illinois after-school camp have filed a wrongful death lawsuit, just short of a year after the tragic accident.

The teenager killed, 18-year-old camp counselor Rylee Britton, of Springfield, planned to attend the University of Iowa and would have been finishing her freshman year.

The April 28 accident at YNOT Camp also claimed the lives of 7-year-olds Kathryn Corley and Alma Buhnerkempe, and 8-year-olds Bradley James Lund and Ainsley Johnson. Lund spent five weeks in the hospital before succumbing to his injuries.

At least six other children were severely injured, and numerous children witnessed the accident.

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The crash happened after Marianne Akers, 44, veered off of a county highway, traveled through a cornfield and drove straight through the building. Akers was not charged after an investigation found that she was having a medical episode during the crash, and was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

The lawsuit, filed Sunday, names YNOT Camp, as well as Akers, responsible for their deaths. They claim the building violated multiple safety codes when it was built and was not suitable to protect its occupants.

Legal representatives are holding a press conference Wednesday afternoon to discuss the lawsuit.

Copyright 2025 KCRG. All rights reserved.



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Iowa State football lands 2027 3-star linebacker commit Keaton Wollan

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Iowa State football lands 2027 3-star linebacker commit Keaton Wollan


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After securing multiple commitments on the offensive side of the ball, Iowa State football has landed its first defensive commitment in the 2027 recruiting class.

Keaton Wollan, a three-star linebacker out of Amery, Wisconsin, committed to the Cyclones on April 21. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound linebacker announced his decision on social media.

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He chose Iowa State over other offers from Texas Tech and North Dakota State. He previously visited Ames in March, but he also took recent visits to Minnesota and Wisconsin.

As a junior at Amery High School, Wollan was a two-way standout and earned all-state honors for the 2025 season. Defensively, he racked up a team-high 125 total tackles, including nine for loss and 1.5 sacks. He also had four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, three interceptions and one defensive touchdown.

Offensively, he had a team-high 932 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 160 carries. He also caught 15 passes for 179 yards, and he was an impact player in the return game, logging more than 500 kick and punt return yards.

According to 247 Sports Composite rankings, Wollan is the No. 93 linebacker prospect in the country and the No. 11 overall recruit in his class from the state of Wisconsin.

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Wollan is the sixth player to commit in the Cyclones’ 2027 recruiting class.

Iowa State football 2027 recruiting commitments

As of April 21

  • Gavin Ericson-Staton, OL | Lombard, Illinois/Montini Catholic
  • Isaiah Hansen, RB | Newton, Iowa/Newton HS
  • Koen Hinzman, OL | Hudson, Michigan/Hudson Area HS
  • Will Slagle, OL | Grinnell, Iowa/Grinnell HS
  • Bryson Thompson, WR | San Antonio, Texas/Claudia Taylor Johnson HS
  • Keaton Wollan, LB | Amery, Wisconsin/Amery HS

Eugene Rapay covers Iowa State athletics for the Des Moines Register. Contact Eugene at erapay@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @erapay5.





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