Lisa Bluder provides injury update on guard Molly Davis ahead of Elite 8 game vs. LSU
Iowa will not be at full strength for its highly-anticipated matchup against LSU in the Elite Eight. On Sunday, Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder revealed fifth-year senior guard Molly Davis will not be available.
“I’m really disappointed,” Bluder said. “Really thought she’d be back for the tournament, so that’s too bad. But, I don’t expect her tomorrow.”
Davis suffered a right-knee injury against Ohio State on March 3 and has not played since. She averaged 6.1 points, 2.6 rebounds and 3.1 rebounds per game this season while shooting 53.9% from the field and 40.7% from beyond the arc. She started in 27 of her 30 appearances.
Bluder’s update on Sunday is an unfortunate shock to Iowa fans. After Davis initially suffered the injury, Bluder seemed confident the Michigan native would be back before the season ended.
“While we feel for Molly that she got injured during Senior Day, we are so thankful that the injury she sustained is not season ending,” Bluder said in early March. “Our program has appreciated everyone’s support and prayers as we look forward to her return at some point during the postseason.”
Iowa and LSU will face off at 7 p.m. ET on Monday. It will be a heated rematched for the two programs. Last season, Iowa fell to LSU in the national championship.
Kim Mulkey heaps praise on Caitlin Clark
Although Iowa will be without Molly Davis, the Hawkeyes will still boast standout Caitlin Clark. The superstar guard is a national sensation, hauling in record-shattering ratings while recording jaw-dropping statistics.
LSU head coach Kim Mulkey knows how dangerous Clark will be to her team’s postseason run.
“The biggest same is Caitlin Clark,” Kim Mulkey said. “That’s the same. The difference is the personnel. The difference is those that were role players are big players, which is what all coaches hope is that you respect the process and when your time arrives, you take advantage of it. They’re still gonna shoot a lot of 3s. But Caitlin Clark is a generational player.”
“She’s not all about 3s. She can pass the ball,” Mulkey said. “She can take you off the dribble. Obviously, our focus will be on her, but not solely on her. Caitlin’s gonna do what she does. You’re not gonna stop her. You just hope that you can contain her a little bit and make sure that you do your job on the other four players.”