Iowa and Iowa State Women Both Selected For NCAA Tournament
The Hawkeye and Cyclone women are both NCAA Tourney Bound. Each team will be led into the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament by a leading scorer who played their high school basketball in Iowa.
The Hawkeyes are the #5 seed in the River Walk Region. Iowa will play the 12th seed Central Michigan, 18-8 on the season, on Sunday, March 21 at 11 a.m. Iowa time on ESPN.
Iowa's leading scorers are freshman Caitlin Clark, from West Des Moines, and junior Monika Czinano. Clark averaged 26.7 points on the season, while Czinano averaged 19.5. Iowa's other player that averages in double figures is sophomore McKenna Warnock, at 11.8 points per game. The group of Iowa players that has seen the bulk of the action this season doesn't include a single senior.
The Hawkeyes, 18-9 on the season, lost to #7 Maryland, 104-84, in the Big Ten Championship game on Saturday. Iowa was 11-8 in Big Ten play during the regular season. The Iowa Sports Information Department says the Hawkeyes are making their 27th appearance in the NCAA tournament, and their 15th under coach Lisa Bluder.
The Iowa State Cyclones are headed to the Mercado Region. The 7th seeded Cyclones will play 10th seed Michigan State. The Spartans are 15-8 this season. The game will be televised by ESPN on Monday, March 22 at 5 p.m. Iowa time.
Iowa State's leading scorer is junior Ashley Joens, an Iowa City High grad, who averages 23.6 points per game. The Cyclones' other double-figure scorers are freshman Lexi Donarski and senior Kristin Scott. Donarski averages 12.9 and Scott 11.8.
The Cyclones, 16-10 on the season, lost 84-82 in overtime to Texas in a Big 12 Women's Tournament quarterfinal game last Friday. Iowa State was 12-6 in the Big 12 during the regular season.
This is Iowa State's 12th appearance in the NCAA Tournament in the last 15 years, according to the Iowa State Sports Information Department. Bill Fennelly has coached Iowa State in all 19 of the school's NCAA Tournament appearances.
A printable bracket is available HERE.