No. 6 Iowa women’s basketball zooms by Evansville to set program scoring record

IOWA CITY — Urgency isn’t the appropriate phrase in week one, however the Hawkeye ladies’s sluggish first quarter in Monday’s season opener was a correctable level to hammer residence forward of Thursday’s Evansville matchup.

No have to ship the message twice.

The No. 6 Hawkeyes made fast work of their first of 4 Missouri Valley Convention matchups of the non-conference season, routing Evansville for a 115-62 win at Carver-Hawkeye Enviornment to set this system’s single-game scoring report. Whereas the Iowa Metropolis climate accomplished a loopy 30-degree transformation outdoors, issues inside had been a lot much less chaotic.

“The beginning was so much nicer,” Iowa standout Caitlin Clark mentioned. “While you return and watch the movie with Southern, we realized they weren’t crashing, which form of slowed down our transition offense fairly a bit. Once we get to that, that’s our greatest offense. Each staff is aware of that.

“So I feel once we executed that and performed protection, received the ball inside, it simply felt so much higher. It felt like Iowa basketball. Clearly final time was a bit of uneven, however we knew we had been going to play higher and run our offense so much higher.”

Not that Iowa (2-0) struggled offensively in any means Monday in opposition to Southern — it simply took a bit of bit to warmth up, significantly from deep with a 0-for-9 begin. That wasn’t going to occur twice. Clark drained two early 3-pointers as a part of an eight-point spurt in about 90 seconds as Iowa cruised to a 26-7 benefit after 1 / 4.

The Hawkeyes drained 5 treys in a primary half that noticed the classic Hawkeyes offense rock and roll with little resistance. Compelled turnovers had been in every single place. Fastbreak factors got here in bunches. Evansville utterly light from view in a matter of minutes.

“You do not rating essentially the most factors ever by strolling the ball down the ground,” coach Lisa Bluder mentioned. “You have to run. You have to play quick. We wish to play quick, after which clearly we shot the ball very well. What may now we have completed had we shot the ball properly from the free-throw line (21-for-32)? However once you’re taking pictures 50% from 3-point vary (8-for-16) — and we shot 69% p.c from two-point vary — these are some actually, actually good numbers.”

Clark led the way in which with 26 factors and 12 assists for her twenty seventh profession double-double. Monika Czinano, after taking simply 4 pictures Monday, adopted up with a extra attribute 23 factors on 10-for-14 from the sphere. McKenna Warnock added 15 factors and 7 boards.

With no scoreboard drama within the second half, Bluder once more received an prolonged have a look at how reserve minutes is perhaps allotted shifting ahead. One other sturdy efficiency from Hannah Stuelke — 14 factors and eight rebounds in 14 minutes — supplied a glimpse of what’s to come back with the freshman standout. Sydney Affolter continues to have the largest function change from final season because the second guard off the bench.

“They made it very easy to only are available in right here,” Stuelke mentioned. “It has been identical to one other sport. Simply play arduous and do what we all know to do. “

All in all, these first two video games unfolded because the blowouts they anticipated to be. The identified names regained the momentum they’re used to taking part in with, whereas the newbies — each to school and the Iowa program — dipped their toes in with no ton of strain. That adjustments Sunday with the always-tough journey to Drake, which opened Monday with an 80-67 win over Inexperienced Bay.

The in-state matchup will present a pleasant November take a look at in opposition to improved competitors. Iowa ought to head to Des Moines with loads of confidence after back-to-back routs.

“You do not wish to exit and beat each staff by 50 factors. That is not that enjoyable. It is enjoyable, but it surely’s not that enjoyable,” Clark mentioned. “On the finish of the day, you need to have the ability to come all the way down to the wire and beat groups when it is shut. I feel we’re excited. These are the video games we have been working for all summer season.”

Dargan Southard is a sports activities trending reporter and covers Iowa athletics for the Des Moines Register and HawkCentral.com. Electronic mail him at msouthard@gannett.com or comply with him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.