An early deficit doesn’t stop Iowa for the second time this season.
By Rod Engblom
The Iowa women’s basketball team’s victory on Sunday against Robert Morris was another win in which things started off poorly for the Hawkeyes.
This was the second time this season that the Hawkeyes went down 10-0 to start off the game. Tennessee-Martin was the other team to go up 10-0 on the Hawkeyes and eventually lose.
“The first half we didn’t do a great job shooting the ball but I think that we relaxed in the second half,” freshman Megan Gustafson said.
Although the Hawkeyes are 8-1 this season, the team has been winning close games.
Along with the Tennessee-Martin game, Iowa had a back-and-forth game against Western Illinois where they began the game down 5 points before eventually gaining the lead. They then gave it up again in the fourth quarter before eventually tying the game with a last-second 3-pointer to send the game into overtime, where it eventually won.
The comeback victories prove that the team can adjust even when its opponent is playing a style of basketball they aren’t used to.
“Robert Morris came out in a very good zone defense,” Bluder said. “We kind of played into that the first half. We didn’t get high percentage shots, so we weren’t shooting well from 3. Second half, we did a much better job of getting higher-percentage shots, and our shooting percentage went up.”
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Robert Morris played a type of defense that it doesn’t play normally. It played a zone defense that closed the center lanes, which restricted the Hawkeyes to shooting from the 3-point line, which they weren’t able to do at first.
Along with their ability to adjust playing styles, the Hawkeyes’ depth in their bench also continues to be key.
“At this point, I think that my role is to provide that spark for us when Whitney doesn’t have it going, when can’t get out and push like we usually want to,” freshman Tania Davis said. “So I just come in and try to provide that spark try to get it out and push get open lay-ups and get open 3s.”
Davis went 4-of-6 from the field, scoring on back-to-back fast breaks during the second quarter to take the lead for the Hawkeyes, giving Iowa control of the pace of the game.
The Hawkeyes also proved to be better conditioned as the game progressed, with Robert Morris slowing down toward the end of the game with Iowa not skipping a beat.
“I thought we were in better shape, and I think that shows with the fast break,” Bluder said. “We were 19-5 fast-break points. Those are high percentage points. We want to push the ball and we were able to do it as the game went on.”
Iowa likes to play a fast-paced game with quick transitions up and down the court. This requires the team to be fast and remain fast throughout the team giving them the benefit of outpacing teams towards the end of the game. It showed in the last game against Robert Morris, which was noticeably slower towards the end.
While the team’s goal isn’t to come back every time, the team’s numerous victories after trailing early has given the Hawks the experience they need to win.
“Well, we’re disappointed in it,” Bluder said. “But we also know there’s plenty of time. It’s not a one-quarter game, it’s a four-quarter game.”
Follow @RodEngblom for Iowa women’s basketball news, updates, and analysis.
