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No. 11 Iowa vs. No. 1 UConn is the marquee matchup of the second Women’s Champions Classic, tipping off at Barclays Center on Saturday, Dec. 20 at 1:30 p.m. ET (FOX).
UConn, the undefeated defending champs, is THE team to beat in the country. Iowa, however, isn’t exactly a pushover.
But can the Hawkeyes actually beat the Huskies? They’ll be giving it their best shot this Saturday.
How Iowa could upset UConn
This will be an uphill battle for the Hawkeyes.
UConn isn’t just winning; they are blowing teams out. So far, the Huskies have just one game decided by single digits. With Sarah Strong averaging 17.9 points and 8.5 rebounds per game and Azzi Fudd scoring 17.7 every night, UConn has been too much to handle.
To make the Huskies appear mortal, the Hawkeyes will need Ava Heiden to have her best game of the year. She’s averaging 15.2 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. If Heiden can go beserk, it could overwhelm UConn and be enough to give Iowa a shot at an upset.
Controlling the glass will also be important for Iowa.
Strong dominates in part by grabbing rebounds and creating second-chance opportunities for her team. If the Hawkeyes win the rebounding battle, they can keep things close. On the boards, Hannah Stuelke will be crucial for Iowa. Stuelke is averaging 8.7 rebounds per game. She is also scoring 13.1 points in every contest, so a big game from her can help turn the tide in Iowa’s favor.
Another key will be establishing control early in this game.
The first quarter has to be a close if Iowa wants a shot at victory. UConn is a focused, professional team. If they go on a run early, they won’t let go of the rope, and this game will be over by halftime. The Huskies allow no time to ease into a game or find a rhythm. The Hawkeyes have to be as sharp right away.
If they start strong, get great performances from Stuelke and Heiden, and control the boards, the Hawkeyes could give the Huskies their toughest test yet. And maybe Iowa even will have a chance to leave New York with an early Christmas present: a win over the defending champions.
