A closed scrimmage against Oklahoma State over the weekend might have given Iowa women’s basketball fans a huge sigh of relief. Newcomer Dani Carnegie, a transfer from Georgia, went absolutely off, tallying a massive double-double with 31 points and 13 rebounds, hinting at a potential solution to one of the Hawkeyes’ biggest preseason concerns. Iowa walked away with a 93-86 victory, but it was Carnegie’s performance that really grabbed attention.
The Newcomers’ Scoring Explosion
Carnegie wasn’t the only fresh face making an impact. McKenna Woliczko, a freshman and a five-star recruit, dropped 19 points and grabbed four rebounds, showing why she’s so highly touted right out of the gate. Add Ava Heiden’s 12 points and seven rebounds to the mix, and it’s clear this Iowa squad has some serious offensive punch from its new blood. The team’s overall 93 points against a tough Oklahoma State team speaks volumes about their early season form.
Rebounding: From Concern to Confidence?
Before the scrimmage, Iowa coach Jan Jensen openly shared her worries about rebounding, especially after losing Hannah Stuelke to graduation. Stuelke was pulling down 6.7 boards per game last season, and Jensen admitted, “That’s hard to replicate.” She mentioned seeing “growth in the weight room” and liked Journey Houston’s “good nose for the rebounding.” Jensen also noted Woliczko was “looking very strong, but she’s also looking like a freshman. She needs to get bigger, faster, stronger and she will and she is.”
That’s why Carnegie’s 13-rebound effort is such a monster deal. She averaged 17.8 points and 5.3 rebounds last season at Georgia, earning first-team All-SEC honors. Her ability to crash the boards like that, right out of the gate in a closed scrimmage, is exactly what Jensen and Hawkeyes fans needed to see. It’s an early sign that maybe, just maybe, that rebounding concern is already finding its answer.
Depth Chart Takes Shape
The scrimmage also gave us a glimpse into who’s stepping up and who’s still on the sidelines. Taylor Stremlow got the start, and Amari Whiting, playing against her former team, came off the bench for about 26 minutes and put up 12 points. On the flip side, Bria Medina and Ella Strömdahl were the only Iowa players who didn’t get any court time. Meanwhile, Oklahoma State brought some serious firepower with their own transfers, as former Iowa State star Audi Crooks scored 25 points, Liv McGill (from Florida) added 24, and Stailee Heard chipped in 21. It was a high-scoring affair all around, but Iowa’s newcomers really shined.
This early scrimmage gives us a ton to think about heading into the official season. Seeing Carnegie and Woliczko deliver immediately, especially Carnegie tackling that rebounding question head-on, is massive. What a start for these Hawkeye newcomers!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply