Iowa’s Women’s Basketball Team Suffers 17-Point Loss to Indiana
Iowa’s women’s basketball team experienced a crushing 86-69 defeat against Indiana at Assembly Hall. This loss marked the largest margin of defeat for the team during the season. The game against Indiana revealed a blueprint that could lead to further letdowns for the team. The strategy employed by Indiana was similar to the one used by Nebraska during a game earlier in the month.
During the game against Nebraska, the opposition used a box-and-one defense primarily to stop Caitlin Clark, which ignited a comeback leading to a disappointing loss for Iowa. Indiana found success by employing a similar strategy, face-guarding Clark in the halfcourt while playing man-to-man. The Hoosiers also transitioned to a zone defense, similar to Nebraska’s strategy.
The game against Indiana highlighted the challenge of stopping Caitlin Clark, who finished with 24 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists. However, her scoring came on an inefficient 8-of-26 from the field, including 3-of-16 from deep, and she committed five turnovers. Indiana’s strategy of putting a lot of attention on Clark worked because the other players didn’t make the Hoosiers pay for it.
Iowa coach Lisa Bluder acknowledged Indiana’s great game plan, which frustrated Caitlin at times. The game against Indiana exposed a blueprint that could be used by other teams to beat Iowa. The team’s reliance on the sheer talent of one person has been a concern throughout the season.
The departures of key players from last season’s team raised questions about whether Clark would have enough help around her. At times this season, the answer has been yes, with other players stepping up to support Clark. However, there have been instances where the answer has been no, as seen in the game against Indiana.
The game against Indiana highlighted the need for Iowa to counter the blueprint that was exposed. Indiana’s physical play and the team’s ability to make Clark uncomfortable while covering holes everywhere laid the foundation of a game plan to beat Iowa. The loss to Indiana made Iowa’s path to a Big Ten regular-season title unlikely. However, the team remains a contender nationally and still has a chance to make a run in March.
The biggest loss for Iowa wasn’t the defeat against Indiana, but the exposure of the blueprint for beating the team. It’s now time for Iowa to make the necessary adjustments and prepare for the challenges ahead.
