During a bit of a rest this week, the Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball team is enjoying some time to get fully healthy, get back in the gym, and get on the same page after a week that saw them drop one to Iowa State, but rebound with a dominant win over Lindenwood.
Being Iowa’s only loss of the year, the Hawkeyes remain as one of the top teams in the country, but have some work to do to prove they can stay among the elites with ample chances to pick up marquee wins.
While those opportunities loom, ESPN has not punished Iowa in its power rankings this week. Iowa only slid two spots to No. 11 in this week’s version of the rankings.
11. Iowa Hawkeyes (10-1)
Previous ranking: 9
Next seven days: vs. UConn at Barclays Center in Brooklyn (Dec. 20)
The Hawkeyes suffered their first loss of the season last Wednesday, 74-69 at rival Iowa State. Starting post players Hannah Stuelke and Ava Heiden combined for 18 points, which wasn’t enough vs. the Cyclones. Then Saturday in a 102-68 win over Lindenwood, Stuelke (31 points) and Heiden (14) shot a combined 20-of-25 from the field. Iowa’s toughest opponent is next: UConn.
Iowa’s next chance, and biggest of the season so far, is a road trip to take on the No. 1 UConn Huskies from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The game is Iowa’s toughest remaining game on paper this season, but it is also the best opportunity for the Hawkeyes to make a national statement.
Tipoff for Iowa versus UConn is set for 12:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 20, in a game that is going to be aired nationally on FOX.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Where is Iowa women’s basketball in the latest ESPN power rankings?
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