July 20, 2011
Wednesday Practice Photo Gallery
IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa women’s basketball team wrapped up its third practice Wednesday morning in preparation for its trip to Europe, scheduled for Aug. 8-20. The Hawkeyes practiced for three-straight days this week and will resume practices Aug. 1.
The coaches continued to stress fundamentals during the three days of ball-handling, shooting and defensive drills. Early stages of both the offensive and defensive systems were also reviewed for the upperclassmen and introduced to the incoming freshmen.
Senior Kamille Wahlin was happy to get back on the court earlier than normal.
“It was great to be in Carver-Hawkeye Arena with all my teammates,” Wahlin said. “It felt kind of strange being in an organized practice in the summer, but it’s really going to benefit our team. We already have three more official practices than most Division I teams out there.”
Wahlin and the rest of the Hawkeyes spent most of the summer lifting weights and playing against each other in the Game Time League in North Liberty. These practices gave Wahlin and her teammates a chance to play on the same team.
“In Game Time League you have one or maybe two Hawkeye players on your team,” Wahlin said. “It was good for us to have all the players on the same court at the same time with the coaches there. You can really start to see our team coming together.”
Junior Jaime Printy was ready to get back to practice to start testing her wrist. Printy had a cyst removed from her right wrist earlier in the summer and has not been able to play in the Game Time League. Practices gave her a chance to take some shots and condition in an organized environment.
“Not being able to play actual games this summer has been tough,” Printy said. “I just like to play basketball. It’s been nice to do some drills and see how my wrist feels. Everything has been going good with it so far.”
Printy has been impressed with how the team has looked so far in the extra summer workouts.
“I think the team was pretty anxious to get going,” Printy said. “There was a lot of energy in the first three practices. We are looking forward to getting back at it in a couple weeks.”
The NCAA allows teams that are taking a foreign trip to hold 10 practices leading up to the departure. The Iowa coaches decided to have three practices this week, when the summer recruiting calendar pauses for a few days. The recruiting calendar picks back up next week, so no practices will be held while the coaches are on the road.
The Hawkeyes will resume practice Aug. 1 and practice for seven-straight days through Aug. 7. The team is scheduled to leave Iowa City for Europe the morning of Aug. 8.
To follow the Hawkeyes while they prepare for Europe and while they are on their foreign tour, click the “Hawkeyes in Europe” link on the top of the page.