The University of Iowa Hawkeye Women’s basketball team has reached the Final Four after 30 years with their eyes set on winning the national championship – an ultimate goal which the team has never achieved before. This is a huge step forward for the team, especially considering the difficulties of non-blueblood programs in making it to the national championship.
The Challenge Ahead Against South Carolina
The Hawkeyes have worked hard to close the gap between programs with massive talent pools and those without, and now they are two wins away from making history. Their first challenge is defeating the South Carolina Gamecocks, who are 12-point favorites and ranked as the top team in the country.
South Carolina presents a tough matchup for Iowa with their slow pace, smothering defense, and size advantage with 6’5″ Aliyah Boston and 6’7″ Kamilla Cardosa. Additionally, there might be a potential chip on their shoulder due to losing the national Player of the Year award to Caitlin Clark.
How Iowa Can Overcome South Carolina
Despite these odds being against Iowa, they have a chance to win due to the unpredictability of March Madness and their ability to exploit South Carolina’s weaknesses. One way they could negate Aliyah Boston’s impact is by denying entry passes and speeding up the game to make it a track meet.
Monika Czinano can be impactful by catching and scoring from the block and being aggressive enough to put Boston or Cardosa into foul trouble. Also, Caitlin Clark presents a unique challenge to Gamecocks due to her ability to penetrate, dish, and pull up from anywhere on the court.
A Historic Streak That Could Be Repeated
If Iowa can beat South Carolina, they will then face either Virginia Tech or LSU for the national championship, both of which present their own unique challenges. Nevertheless, Iowa has a chance to win it all and repeat the historic streak from the 1992-93 season- the zenith of the University of Iowa women’s basketball program.
Remembering the 1992-93 Season.
The team had to deal with multiple tragedies, including the death of coach Vivian Stringer’s husband, a player’s father, and a car accident that killed a men’s basketball player. Despite these difficult circumstances, the team grew mentally tough and determined after these setbacks, going on a 17-game winning streak.
The team made it to the Final Four for the first time in school history but lost in overtime to Ohio State in the national semifinal game. However, that team contained standout players like Tia Jackson and Laurie Aaron who went on to have successful careers after college.
The Amazing Journey by Lisa Bluder
Likewise, Coach Lisa Bluder has had an amazing journey from St. Ambrose to becoming a successful Division One Coach. She was a dynamic person who built her program into an NAIA Power during her time at St. Ambrose by winning more than 82% of her games and leading the Queen Bees to 4 National Tournaments and 2 Final Fours.
Melissa Kallenberger, one of Bluder’s athletes at St. Ambrose, praised her for building good player and coach relationships. Bluder got her Masters in Sports Management during her twenties while coaching at St. Ambrose but couldn’t afford to attend the Final Four in her first five years as a coach.
Now at age 61, she is able to coach in the biggest game of her career with great support from St. Ambrose and the community – a testament to hard work, dedication, and sacrifice.
In conclusion, all eyes are set for tonight’s game as Iowa Hawkeye Women’s Basketball team takes on South Carolina, and they are only two wins away from the National Championship – a historic feat. With their impressive skills, resilience and determination, these ladies could become the first women’s basketball team to bring home the National Title to Iowa in 30 years.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
