WBB Preview – vs 11-Seed Murray State in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament

FOLLOW LIVE
Radio: Games air on the Hawkeye Radio Network with Rob Brooks (play-by-play) and Kathryn Reynolds (color) on the call. The network includes more than 40 stations that blanket the state of Iowa and include portions of Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin. The Hawkeye Radio Network includes a 30-minute pregame show.
Streaming: Saturday's game will air on ESPN.

PROGRAM QUICK HITS
» Iowa was the first program in the Big Ten conference to compete in back-to-back National Championships.
» Iowa tied Purdue (1998-99) and Maryland (2014-15) for most wins in B1G history in 2023-24. (34)
» Iowa has been ranked in the national attendance top 10 each of the past five seasons with fans (2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2019).
» Iowa won four of the last six Big Ten Tournament titles (2019, 2022, 2023 and 2024).
» Over the last two seasons, Iowa has won 65 games which was the best two-year stretch in program history.
» Iowa has earned nine straight 20-win seasons, which is the second longest streak in program history. (1984-94)
» The Hawkeyes are 127-20 in Iowa City dating back to Nov. 11, 2016.
» In Big Ten play, Iowa is 65-19 over the last four years.
» The Hawkeyes return eight letterwinners and welcome six newcomers to the 2024-25 roster.
» Iowa has the longest active streak in the nation scoring at least 80 points per game in four consecutive seasons.
» Five Hawkeyes drafted have been into the WNBA since 2019, following Kathleen Doyle, Megan Gustafson, Monika Czinano, Kate Martin, and Caitlin Clark.
» Jan Jensen became Iowa’s sixth head coach in program history on May 13, 2024.
» Jensen is the third coach in Iowa women’s basketball history to notch 20+ wins in her first season.
» Jensen owns a 22-10 (.688) record and a 10-8 (.556) conference mark at Iowa.

SCOUTING MURRAY STATE
» Rising to No. 1 in NCAA D-I scoring prior to Sunday’s win, the Racers enter the NCAA’s as the highest scoring team in the nation with an average of 87.8 points per game.
» MSU enters the week with 25 wins, a program record and they’re riding a 10-game winning streak that is one from the program record of 11 set in 2009.
» Murray State won the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament against Belmont, 83-62 on Sunday.

SERIES HISTORY
» This will be the first meeting between Iowa and Murray State. 

WHAT’S TRENDING
» Iowa’s last five out of seven victories have come against Quad 1 opponents.
» Iowa’s last six wins have come by double figures.
» The Hawkeyes are 10-3 when Olsen records six or more dimes.
» Affolter has notched all six of her double-doubles in the last 15 games.
» Against Nebraska, Olsen put together her best game as a Hawkeye registering 32 points, seven assists, and six rebounds. She became the second Hawkeye since 2009 to record 30+ points, 5+ assists, and 5+ rebounds in a single game. (Caitlin Clark)
» Iowa is 6-2 on a neutral floor this season.
» Over the last 13 games, Olsen is shooting 31-of-66 from 3-point range.
» Iowa has won 10 out of their last 13 games overall.
» Ava Heiden has registered 10+ points in back-to-back games.

NCAA TOURNAMENT NUGGETS
» Iowa is 16-5 in the NCAA Tournament dating back to 2019.
» The Hawkeyes are 24-4 in a tournament setting since 2022-23.
» Iowa has won five straight opening round games at the NCAA Tournament.
» The Hawkeyes have been a 6-Seed or better in nine consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.
» Iowa has made seven straight NCAA Tournaments.
» Iowa is 2-0 all-time with first year head coaches in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.