Iowa Women’s Basketball Dominates Evansville,87-57,in Homecoming for Former Hawkeye Molly Davis
IOWA CITY,Iowa – The Iowa Hawkeyes delivered a commanding performance Sunday,defeating the Evansville Purple Aces 87-57 in their first home game of the season. The victory was particularly poignant as former Iowa guard Molly Davis returned to Carver-Hawkeye Arena as a graduate assistant coach for Evansville, receiving a warm welcome from Hawkeye fans.
The Hawkeyes showcased steady improvement, particularly from their younger backcourt players, building on positive strides made in their season opener. Iowa is looking to continue its success after reaching the Final Four in the past two seasons.
Here are three things to watch as the Hawkeyes move forward:
1. Defensive Focus: Iowa is prioritizing improvements on the defensive end,specifically addressing gap defense from game one to game two. Sophomore Taylor Stremlow noted,”We’ve taken big steps already… One thing we’re focusing on is our gap defense.”
2. Shooting Efficiency: The team demonstrated improved shooting accuracy in their opener compared to their exhibition game. stremlow also highlighted, “Free-throw percentage was way better (in the opener than the exhibition).”
3. Molly Davis’ Impact – From Player to Coach: The return of fan favorite molly Davis,now a graduate assistant with Evansville,provided a nostalgic moment for Iowa fans. Teammate Kate Feuerbach reflected on Davis’ influence, stating, “I think about her randomly all the time… Chit-Chat (Wright) kind of reminds me of Molly to an extent, with how they play – just that calm, composed kind of point guard.” Feuerbach anticipates a quiet but meaningful reunion, adding, “She’s very nonchalant, so she’ll probably just say a few words. But they mean a lot.”
