IOWA CITY — In a thrilling match, the Iowa women’s basketball team edged out Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) 58-48 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The crowd at Carver-Hawkeye Arena was electric as the No. 2 Hawkeyes faced a determined No. 15 seed. This victory moves Iowa into the next round against No. 10 seed Virginia.
Let’s take a look at what worked well and what didn’t for Iowa in this nail-biting game.
Ava Heiden shines: With tensions running high and the team’s lead shrinking to just two points in the fourth quarter, Ava Heiden stepped up. She scored a game-high 29 points, including 12 crucial points in the final quarter, which helped secure the win.
Defensive boosts: After a shaky start, Iowa increased its defensive intensity in the third quarter, leaving FDU scoreless for nearly seven minutes. Despite their efforts, the Knights remained in contention, making for a tense game.
Strong start: The Hawkeyes quickly surged to an 18-3 lead. The roar of the fans added to the excitement as Heiden scored eight points in the first five minutes.
Kylie Feuerbach’s rebounding: Feuerbach had a standout performance, achieving a season-high of six rebounds in the first half and finishing with a career-high of 11. Her late-game rebounds were vital.
Pressure moments: Iowa’s lack of experience in high-stakes situations showed. Aside from a couple of players, many on the team had never faced pressure like this in the NCAA Tournament, affecting their performance, especially against a determined 15 seed.
FDU’s persistence: FDU’s continuous three-point attempts kept Iowa on edge. While they didn’t shoot well overall (10-for-32), their effort helped them stay in the game.
Offensive struggles: Iowa’s offense stumbled in the second quarter, managing only seven points. This was one of their lowest-scoring quarters of the season. After a strong first quarter, they entered halftime struggling to regain momentum.
Finish lines uneven: After a promising start, Iowa lost its grip as FDU closed the first quarter strong, scoring four straight three-pointers late to slice the lead from 15 to just three points. This hinted that the game would not be an easy ride.
Addie Deal’s debut challenges: Deal faced difficulties in her NCAA debut, scoring just one point and posting a -18 plus-minus rating in the first half. Much of this struggle coincided with the team’s dip in the second quarter.
Free-throw concerns: Free-throw shooting remains a thorn in Iowa’s side, finishing 17-for-29. While they made key shots late, Hannah Stuelke’s 7-for-16 performance was particularly concerning.
The dynamics of the game mirror a broader trend in women’s sports, where upsets and close matches have become more common in recent tournaments. A survey from the NCAA revealed that viewer interest in women’s basketball has been rising steadily, with a 2022 report showing a 16% increase in audience engagement compared to previous years. The excitement surrounding nail-biting finishes is drawing in fans and spotlighting the talent in the league.
Dargan Southard covers Iowa athletics for the Des Moines Register. Connect with him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.
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