Iowa vs. Murray State women’s basketball glance: Time, TV, game notes (March 22, 2025)

What: Iowa (22-10) vs. Murray State (25-7), NCAA women’s basketball, first round

When/where: 11 a.m. Saturday, Lloyd Noble Center, Norman, Okla.

TV: ESPN

Radio: Hawkeye Radio Network affiliates

Iowa’s next game: The winner faces No. 11 Oklahoma or Florida Gulf Coast in the second round Monday (time TBA)

What to know: Six-seed Iowa is a 9 1/2-point favorite over the 11-seed Racers in the first meeting between the two teams.

Iowa has won in the first round in the last five tournaments. The Hawkeyes’ most recent Round 1 loss was 2018, to Creighton.

The Hawkeyes are in the tournament for the 31st time, the Racers for the second.

At 87.8 points per game, Murray State is the nation’s top scoring team. Fifth-year senior Katelyn Young leads the team at 22.2 points per game and has score more than 3,000 in her career.

Point guard Halli Poock is a Waterloo native and a Bradley transfer. She adds 17.1 points per contest.

The Racers were automatic qualifiers by winning the Missouri Valley Conference tournament. They were MVC regular-season co-champions and have won 10 straight games.

This is Iowa’s first game in 15 days. The Hawkeyes have won of 10 of their last 13 games.

Lucy Olsen leads the Hawkeyes at 18.0 points per game. Hannah Stuelke adds 12.8.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com