It’s ‘slodgy’ at times, but Iowa gets past Western Illinois to reach 7-0

IOWA CITY -- “Slodgy.” It’s an adjective in The Dictionary of Jan Jensen, First Edition.

The definition?

“It’s when it isn’t fluid. Tough sledding. Making the simple hard,” Jensen said.

No. 11 Iowa was slodgy at times Wednesday night, but triumphant.

Freshman Addie Deal broke out with 17 points, and the Hawkeyes got past Western Illinois, 86-69, in a non-conference women’s basketball game before an announced crowd of 14,998 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

“I think in the last week, Addie was able to step back, and let herself develop and improve,” Jensen said.

Deal hit 7 of 10 shots from the floor and distributed five assists. It looked like a five-star performance.

So, Addie ... breakthrough?

“Definitely, yeah,” she said. “We’ve had a lot of great practices.”

Taylor McCabe drilled five 3-pointers (in 10 attempts) and scored 15 points. Ava Heiden also tallied 15, and snagged 10 rebounds. Hannah Stuelke scored 12.

Iowa (7-0) scored the first six points and led 20-9 after a quarter, 44-25 at halftime.

Western Illinois (4-1) more than held its own in the second half.

Thus, “slodgy.”

“That’s a hard team for a team like us to guard,” Jensen said. “We should have played better, but they’re all guards. Layla (Hays) and Ava had to come out of their comfort zone defensively.”

McCabe hit four of her five triples after intermission.

“They switched their game plan because our bigs were so dominant in the first half,” she said. “I was able to get some looks.”

And when they’re good looks, McCabe usually capitalizes.

“I know the team has confidence in me,” she said. “When I’m hunting for shots, it opens up other people.”

Iowa was without three of its top 11 players, Chit-Chat Wright, Emely Rodriguez and Teagan Mallegni, due to various medical reasons.

The first two, Jensen described as “day-to-day;” Mallegni is “probably a week.”

Their absence opened up court time for Callie Levin. The sophomore from Solon saw her most extensive and most meaningful action of her collegiate career, logging 13 minutes.

Levin scored six points and snagged three rebounds.

Mia Nicastro scored 20 points to lead Western Illinois. Raegan McCowan added 16.

The Hawkeyes host Fairfield at noon Sunday.

Iowa 86, Western Illinois 69

At Iowa City

WESTERN ILLINOIS (69): Mia Nicastro 8-19 1-1 20, Allie Meadows 1-7 0-0 2, Raegan McCowan 6-14 2-3 16, Addi Brownfield 2-6 5-6 10, Kaylen Reed 0-2 0-0 0, Mallory Shetley 5-8 0-0 10, Madison Davis 1-3 2-2 4, Sidney Skrobot 0-2 1-2 1, Shelby Bowman 1-2 0-0 3, Katelyn Eggena 0-2 1-2 1, Ainsley Holthaus 0-0 0-0 0, Kennedy Herrig 0-0 2-2 2. Totals 24-65 14-18 69.

IOWA (86): Hannah Stuelke 5-8 2-2 12, Ava Heiden 6-7 3-4 15, Taylor Stremlow 2-3 2-2 7, Taylor McCabe 5-11 0-0 15, Kylie Feuerbach 1-4 2-2 4, Addison Deal 7-10 0-0 17, Layla Hays 3-3 1-2 7, Journey Houston 1-3 1-3 3, Callie Levin 2-4 2-2 6, Kennise Johnson 0-0 0-0 0, Jada Gyamfi 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 32-53 13-17 86.

Western Illinois 9 16 19 25 -- 69

Iowa 20 24 18 24 -- 86

3-point goals: WIU 7-27 (Nicastro 3-6, Meadows 0-5, McCowan 2-6, Brownfield 1-4, Reed 0-2, Skrobot 0-2, Bowman 1-2), Iowa 9-20 (Stremlow 1-2, McCabe 5-10, Feuerbach 0-3, Deal 3-4, Levin 0-1). Team fouls: WIU 19, Iowa 20. Fouled out: McCowan. Rebounds: WIU 25 (Nicastro 7), Iowa 41 (Heiden 10). Assists: WIU 13 (Brownfield, Reed 4), Iowa 22 (Deal 5). Steals: WIU 14 (Brownfield 5), Iowa 11 (Stuelke 4). Turnovers: WIU 14, Iowa 21.

Attendance: 14,998.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com