Iowa vs FDU: 3 Keys for Hawkeyes’ NCAA Tournament Opener & Prediction

IOWA CITY — After a 13-day layoff, the No. 2 seed Iowa women’s basketball team returns to the court Saturday afternoon, hosting No. 15 seed Fairleigh Dickinson in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The game, scheduled for 3 p.m. CT at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, follows an earlier contest between Georgia and Virginia, with the winners of both matchups slated to meet March 23.

Iowa is heavily favored against the Knights, who arrive in Iowa City on a 22-game winning streak, having secured their spot in the tournament by winning the Northeast Conference (NEC) championship. The Hawkeyes, however, are focused on shaking off any rust accumulated during their extended break and establishing a dominant tone early in the tournament.

“Because we haven’t played for a couple weeks, (being at home) helps because you can be a little rusty (to start),” senior Kylie Feuerbach said. “So when you have your crowd behind your back, that helps get things flowing as well.”

The Hawkeyes’ extended rest comes as senior Hannah Stuelke continues to manage discomfort in her right elbow, an injury first sustained against Illinois on February 26. Athletic tape was visible on Stuelke’s elbow during practice on March 20, but she expressed a determination to push through the pain.

“Basketball is just here for a short time,” Stuelke said. “So I feel just cherishing every moment and pushing through it is what’s best for me. It doesn’t seem as hard once you get out there. The adrenaline is pumping.”

This tournament run marks the final appearances for Stuelke and Feuerbach at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Fellow seniors Taylor McCabe and Jada Gyamfi are sidelined with injuries. Stuelke recalled watching Iowa’s 2023 NCAA Tournament victory over Missouri and committing to the program shortly thereafter.

Iowa coach Jan Jensen emphasized the importance of the home-court advantage, noting the enthusiastic support of the Hawkeye fanbase. “It is a really, really special element of our program,” Jensen said. “So to be able to get a top seed — to be a 2 seed and get to host — I’ve just felt just a lot of gratitude. And also just a lot of happiness because of our fan base that really helps us all year long — that they get to have another game for sure in Carver.”

Fairleigh Dickinson enters the game with a contrasting experience, having not faced an atmosphere comparable to Carver-Hawkeye Arena during their successful season. The total attendance for all of FDU’s 19 home games barely reaches half the capacity of the Iowa arena. The collective attendance of all FDU road games is only slightly more than a single Iowa home game.

Iowa is expected to overwhelm Fairleigh Dickinson, with a projected final score of 82-52. A Virginia victory over Georgia in the preceding game would set up a second-round rematch between Iowa and Virginia, mirroring a 2023 contest.