Ignatius L Hoops
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Streaking in Iowa City
(Enough is Enough)
(Enough is Enough)
Iowa (13-3) warmed up for Minnesota’s (5-11) visit by crushing Penn State 100-57. It was the Hawkeyes 35th consecutive win at Carver-Hawkeye solidifying their hold on third place in the B1G. Meanwhile, the Gophers dropped their fourth straight losing to Indiana 75-69 and thus solidifying Minnesota’s hold on 11th place. The Hawkeyes were brutally efficient; Monika Czinano scored 23 points in 24 minutes and Kathleen Doyle scored 18 points in 25 minutes and added 7 assists just to spice up the proceedings. As if the Iowa needed more incentive, Thursday’s game will be Senior day for the Hawkeyes including team leader Kathleen Doyle. Fun. The former Nebraska commit who bailed on the Huskers after Connie Yori was axed has become the quintessential Hawkeye.
A recent article on Kathleen Doyle from the Daily Iowan: “It’s fun as a guard [playing in this offense]”.
https://dailyiowan.com/2020/02/20/doyle-continues-to-lead-iowa-past-expectations/
Doyle has been a key part of the program since she arrived on campus, but the senior from Illinois has taken her game to another level this season. ESPN has even dubbed her the 17th best basketball player in the country.
Doyle has always been a great distributor of the ball, reaching 148 assists in each season as a Hawkeye. The biggest jump in her game has been offensively, where she has become the focal point of a successful Hawkeye attack.
The senior’s scoring output has ballooned up to 18.5 points per game this season as she has been tasked to come up with clutch moments for Iowa. Despite her higher shot volume, Doyle’s shooting percentage has also increased this season up to 45 percent.
“I have so much confidence in her and so much belief in her, and I think her teammates absolutely do as well,” Bluder said.
…
The restructuring of the offense has allowed Doyle to play to her strengths, as well. With a more guard-oriented style of offense that focuses on the offense driving to the basket, the change could not be more tactically suited for Doyle.
“It’s fun as a guard [playing in this offense],” Doyle said. “Just all of us getting to attack the basket, and it just opens it up a little more for us.”
The stats are impressive enough, but Doyle’s leadership and charisma off the court have been a major part of her role on the team. Always upbeat, Doyle’s spirit and tough-minded nature has allowed her to become the clutch player Iowa leans on at the end of a game.
So, who defeated the Hawkeyes?
In the B1G opener, the Huskers took out Iowa 78-69. It was an anomaly. The Hawkeyes won their next nine games including defeating Maryland 66-61 in Iowa City. Later in the season Iowa avenged the Husker loss with a 76-60 win in Carver Hawkeye.
A 78-63 loss to Michigan in Ann Arbor terminated the nine game win streak. However, it was Monika Czinano’s first game back from injury. Czinano did not start and only played 16 minutes. Make of it what you will.
The third loss was at Maryland 93-59. The Hawkeyes had won three straight from the Terps; so I’m assuming Maryland was taking out some frustration.
Streakly Speaking:
Corbu mentioned on the post-game that he’d never called a Gopher victory in Iowa City. I hadn’t really thought about it; but, of course, he’s right. Minnesota has lost NINE straight at Carver-Hawkeye. The last Gopher win came in January 2007. It was a hard fought 80-78 overtime victory. Emily Fox score 30 points; but I remember the game for several other occurrences. Minnesota led 60-45 with about nine minutes remaining. Then Kelly Roysland left the game with a broken collarbone. (I think Kelly was accidentally whacked by a Korinne Campbell elbow during a rebound). Iowa staged a comeback, forced OT and then with time running down Lisa Bluder put the ball in Kristi Smith’s hands. Smith, a master of forcing in-the-lane blocking fouls, drove the lane, bounced off Ellis-Milan and missed the shot. If I recall, Bluder, who was upset at the no-call, immediately left the bench and went to the locker room. No post game handshake for her; but an enjoyable win for the Gophers tempered by Roysland’s injury.
Iowa Offense
Not only do the Hawkeyes run the B1G’s highest scoring offense at 79.9/game. It is also the league’s most efficient. Iowa’s league leading field goal percentage (.497) is bolstered by Czinano’s league leading .688. Always noted for their three point prowess, the Hawkeyes are 2nd in three point percentage (.365) and three pointers made at 7.4/game.
Last Meeting between Minnesota and Iowa:
In Williams Arena on the 16th of January, Iowa’s Monika Czinano went 10-11 from the field producing 21 points in 33 minutes. Minnesota’s Taiye Bello went 3-6 from the field with 6 points in 15 minutes. (It was the “Whalen makes a point” game). Nevertheless, Minnesota led 72-63 with 4:19 remaining. Then a 13-2 Iowa run bookended by a pair of Alexis Sevillian threes gave the Hawkeyes a 76-74 lead at :08 on the clock. Subsequently, Gadiva Hubbard was fouled, stepped to the line with a chance to tie; but went 1-2 and that was that. Minnesota had its fifth straight loss. A second loss to Iowa will duplicate that earlier losing streak.
Kathleen Doyle last six games:
Team | Pts | Reb | Asst | Min | Foul | ||||
Michigan | 14 | 4 | 5 | 31 | 4 | ||||
Nebraska | 15 | 5 | 15 | 36 | 1 | ||||
Purdue | 22 | 3 | 6 | 39 | 1 | ||||
Maryland | 10 | 4 | 3 | 34 | 4 | ||||
Wisconsin | 22 | 5 | 3 | 33 | 4 | ||||
Penn State | 18 | 5 | 7 | 25 | 0 |
Monika Czinano’s last six games:
Team | Pts | Reb | Asst | Min | Foul | ||||
Michigan | 6 | 3 | 0 | 16 | 5 | ||||
Nebraska | 23 | 8 | 2 | 34 | 1 | ||||
Purdue | 20 | 4 | 0 | 32 | 4 | ||||
Maryland | 15 | 7 | 0 | 30 | 3 | ||||
Wisconsin | 19 | 6 | 0 | 26 | 1 | ||||
Penn State | 23 | 7 | 1 | 24 | 3 |
Probable Starters (B1G Stats):
HGT | POS | YR | PLAYER | MIN | AVG | REB |
5’9” | G | Sr | Kathleen Doyle | 33.9 | 20.4 | 4.8 |
6’3” | F/C | So | Monika Czinano | 25.4 | 15.2 | 5.3 |
5’9” | G | Sr | Makenzie Meyer | 35.1 | 13.1 | 3.6 |
6’1” | F | Sr | Amanda Ollinger | 29.4 | 6.9 | 8.8 |
5’5” | G | RJr | Alexis Sevillian | 26.7 | 6.4 | 2.3 |
Bench (B1G Stats):
HGT | POS | YR | PLAYER | MIN | AVG | REB |
6’1” | G/F | Fr | McKenna Warnock | 21.5 | 9.4 | 4.9 |
5’9” | G | Fr | Gabbie Marshall | 13.9 | 3.1 | 0.7 |
5’10” | G | So | Tomi Taiwo | 6.4 | 1.9 | 0.4 |
5’8” | G | Fr | Megan Meyer | 2.7 | 1.6 | 0.3 |
6’0” | G | RFr | Kate Martin | 5.1 | 1.8 | 0.8 |