Iowa Women's Basketball Tip Time Preview: Florida Gulf Coast

GULF COAST SHOWCASE SEMIFINALS – HERTZ ARENA – ESTERO, FLORIDA

FLORIDA GULF COAST EAGLES (4-1) VS #5 IOWA HAWKEYES (5-1)

TIME: 6:30pm CT

TV: FloHoops ($)

SERIES: First Ever Meeting – Iowa is 2-0 all-time against the ASUN Conference

THE NUMBERS

OFFENSE: IOWA: 90.8 PPG, 50.9% FG, 32.0% 3PT, 13.5 TO FGCU: 70.8 PPG, 42.8% FG, 30.0% 3PT, 13.8 TO

DEFENSE: IOWA: 64.8 PPG, 36.1% FG, 27.4% 3PT, 15.0 TO, +8.8 REB MARGIN FGCU: 57.8 PPG, 41.2% FG, 31.5% 3PT, 16.0 TO, +5.8 REB MARGIN

PROJECTED LINEUPS

IOWA HAWKEYES

6’0 G Caitlin Clark – 30.7 PPG, 6.7 REB, 8.0 AST, 36.4% 3PT

5’9 G Gabbie Marshall – 4.2 PPG, 25.9% 3PT, 1.8 STL

6’0 G Kate Martin – 10.2 PPG, 5.0 REB, 59.5% FG

5’11 G Sydney Affolter – 5.3 PPG, 7.5 REB, 47.8% FG

6’3 C Sharon Goodman – 11.0 PPG, 4.2 REB, 73.0% FG

FLORIDA GULF COAST EAGLES

5’6 G Dolly Cairns – 12.0 PPG, 3.8 AST, 33.3% 3PT

5’8 G Casey Santoro – 8.3 PPG, 35.0% FG

5’10 G Maddie Antenucci – 14.4 PPG, 5.4 REB, 31.4% 3PT

6’0 F Uju Ezeudu – 14.2 PPG, 9.2 REB, 50.8% FG

6’1 F Ajulu Thatha – 8.4 PPG, 5.0 REB, 51.9% FG

IOWA PLAYERS TO WATCH: F Sydney Affolter and C Sharon Goodman

The status of Hannah Stuelke is up in the air for tonight, but if she cannot go, Sydney Affolter will likely take the open spot in the starting lineup. If Stuelke is out, the Hawkeyes will take a hit in the scoring department (12.7 PPG) and the rebounding department (6.7 RPG). Affolter is second on the team in rebounds per 40 minutes (14.08), but will likely need to be a bigger threat on the offensive end (5.3 PPG).

Sharon Goodman has been exceptional this season for the Hawkeyes given that she was out for an entire season with a torn ACL and then played in just 13 games last season. She has scored in double figures three times this season and is shooting 73.0% from the floor. FGCU does not have a player over 6’1, so Goodman will have an advantage on the offensive end. If Iowa is down a player, don’t be surprised if they player that steps up with a big night is Sharon Goodman.

FGCU PLAYERS TO WATCH: F Uju Ezeudu and G Maddie Antenucci

The fifth-year senior in her second year with the Eagles after transferring in from Denver, Uju Ezeudu is nearly averaging in double figures through five games. She has scored in double figures in four games, including 24 points in the season opener against Brown and 15 points in the tournament opener against Delaware. Rebounding wise, Ezeude leads the Eagles with 31 defensive rebounds and is averaging 3.0 offensive rebounds per game. She will be a tough matchup.

Guard Maddie Antenucci is in a similar boat to her teammate Ezeudu. Played minutes off the bench last season, but is in the starting lineup this year. The redshirt junior out of Ohio is averaging 7.0 three-point attempts per game and while she is shooting just 31.4% so far this year, Antenucci shot 41.1% from long distance over the last two years, so she can knock it down at a high rate. Over the first two games of the season, she was 7/15 from behind the arc and is just 4/20 over the last three games, so she will be looking to heat up against a top five opponent.

KEY MATCHUP TO WATCH: FGCU 3pt Shooting vs Iowa 3pt Defense

Plain and simple, the Eagles love to shoot it from three-point range. Last season, they ranked 8th in the country in three-point percentage (37.8%) and 1st in three-point attempt rate (51.2%). They subscribe to the “shoot to get hot, shoot to stay hot” mantra. That has not changed with five new starters this season, as the Eagles three-point attempt rate is at 50.5% through five games. They are shooting just 30.0% from long range, but were 16/42 (38.1%) against Brown and 13/35 (37.1%) against Delaware. Maddie Antenucci (7.0), Dolly Cairns (6.6) and Uju Ezeudu (4.4) are the ones with the most attempts per game. Three-point defense will be incredibly important.

THE PICK

This is a really intriguing game, starting with the status of Hannah Stuelke. Will she be able to give it a go? If not, the Hawkeyes will lose their top rebounder and second-leading scorer. On top of that, FGCU is a hot and cold team. If they are hitting from the three-point line, they are a tough out. If they aren’t hitting from deep, they struggle to score (51 pts in the loss to USC). Iowa’s three-point defense and rebounding will decide how close the game is. I think Sharon Goodman puts together another good game, while Sydney Affolter pulls down double digit rebounds. Caitlin Clark has found her shot from three-point range the last couple of games (11/20) and will hit a few more. IOWA 82 FLORIDA GULF COAST 67