Doolittle, Gustafson battle in the paint

NORTH LIBERTY - Bethany Doolittle speaks a little French.

'I took it in high school. My dad speaks it. But I'm definitely not fluent in it,” she said Wednesday.

Doolittle, who last March helped lead the Iowa women's basketball team to their first Sweet 16 since 1996, leaves for France in August to begin her professional career.

She may not know the language well, but she'll know one of her teammates. Samantha Logic, currently with the Atlanta Dream of the WNBA, will join Doolittle on a team in Calais.

Doolittle's preparation includes this summer's Game Time League. She posted 28 points and seven rebounds Wednesday as her team (Comfort Care Medicare/L.L. Pelling) dropped an 89-67 decision to Beat the Bookstore/Westport Touchless Autowash at the North Liberty Recreation Center.

'I'm trying to expand my range,” said Doolittle, who hit a number of perimeter shots, including a 3-pointer. 'I need to work on driving to the basket and being more of a defensive presence.”

Doolittle's contract in Calais could last nine months, if the team advances to the playoffs. Her contract is 'for a few thousand dollars a month,” she said.

'It's not too bad for just playing basketball for a living.”

She hopes to eventually go to graduate school - either medical or dental. Her nose, broken in the NCAA loss to Baylor, has healed nicely.

Doolittle matched up with Iowa's post of the future Wednesday. Incoming freshman Megan Gustafson, the all-time leading scorer for Wisconsin high school girls' basketball, collected 16 points and 15 rebounds.

'She's a good player, pretty physical,” Doolittle said. 'She makes a lot of putback shots. She has a lot of potential, and if she gets quicker and stronger, she can be a force in the Big Ten.”

Gustafson called her matchup with Doolittle 'a really fun experience. I've been watching her on (the Big Ten Network) for years.

'She has such a good jump shot, and she's so quick. She's hard to guard.”

The 6-foot-3 Gustafson is the 81st-ranked incoming college freshman by ESPN, and the No. 12 post. She is expected to battle for a starting spot as Iowa rebuilds after the graduation of Logic, Doolittle, Melissa Dixon and Kathryn Reynolds.

'Hopefully, I can help out and contribute, play hard and get better,” she said. 'Everybody has to work hard at it. There are no guarantees.”

Another incoming freshman, guard Tania Davis, scored 34 points for the winning team.

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