Iowa WBB Tip Time Preview - Purdue

BIG TEN TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINALS

PURDUE BOILERMAKERS (19-9) (9-8) vs #7 IOWA HAWKEYES (23-6) (15-3)

TIME: 5:30pm

TV: Big Ten Network – Sloane Martin, Christy Winters Scott and Meghan McKeown

SERIES: Purdue leads the series 43-34 (Iowa won 83-68 on Dec 29)

THE NUMBERS

OFFENSE: IOWA: 87.5 PPG, 50.9% FG, 37.0% 3PT, 14.2 TO PURDUE: 71.1 PPG, 45.3% FG, 32.8% 3PT, 15.4 TO

DEFENSE: IOWA: 71.3 PPG, 40.2% FG, 29.6% 3PT, 14.4 TO, +6.3 REB MARGIN PURDUE: 65.0 PPG, 38.9% FG, 31.1% 3PT, 15.6 TO, +0.7 REB MARGIN

PROJECTED LINEUPS

IOWA HAWKEYES

6’0 PG Caitlin Clark – 27.2 PPG, 7.4 REB, 8.2 AST, 37.7% 3PT

5’9 G Gabbie Marshall – 5.0 PPG, 35.1% FG, 32.0% 3PT

6’0 G Kate Martin – 7.3 PPG, 4.0 REB, 3.4 AST, 47.5% FG

6’1 F McKenna Warnock – 10.9 PPG, 5.7 REB, 41.1% 3PT

6’3 C Monika Czinano – 17.2 PPG, 6.5 REB, 66.5% FG

PURDUE BOILERMAKERS

5’6 G Abbey Ellis – 11.5 PPG, 48.1% FG, 37.5% 3PT

5’11 G Jeanae Terry – 6.7 PPG, 7.6 REB, 2.1 AST, 43.6% FG

5’10 G Cassidy Hardin – 7.7 PPG, 35.0% 3PT

6’0 G Lasha Petree – 14.8 PPG, 3.3 REB, 37.9% 3PT

6’2 F Caitlyn Harper – 10.5 PPG, 3.9 REB, 54.6% FG

IOWA PLAYER TO WATCH: G Kate Martin

Kate Martin seems to always show up in big games. 20 pts against UConn, 13 pts against Iowa State, 13 pts and 11 reb against Ohio State. Then most recently, Martin scored 19 points in the Hawkeyes upset win of #2 Indiana.

Kate was also a big part of the Hawkeyes run to the Big Ten Tournament Title last year. She averaged 12.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 6.3 assists, while shooting 55.6% from the floor over three games.

Iowa is gearing up for another run in the Big Ten Tournament and Kate Martin could once again be a big factor.

PURDUE PLAYER TO WATCH: G Lasha Petree

Petree is the biggest offensive threat for the Boilermakers. She is averaging 14.8 points per game and has scored 20+ points a team-leading eight times this season. She has also knocked down 3+ three-pointers in six games.

In the three games leading into the tournament, Petree scored 72 points (24.0 ppg) and shot 27/57 (47.4%). She scored just six points against Wisconsin last night, but is still the biggest name to watch.

KEY MATCHUP: C Monika Czinano vs Caitlyn Harper and Rickie Woltman

The Hawkeyes scored 83 points in the first matchup against Purdue, including a combined 30 points and 19 rebounds from McKenna Warnock and Hannah Stuelke. Monika Czinano was held to 3/8 from the floor and need six free throws to reach 12 points for the game. While it is possible, it is unlikely that Warnock and Stuelke put up the same numbers, so they will need more out of Czinano.

Both Monika and Caitlyn Harper are among the best in the country in field goal percentage. Czinano is fourth in the country, while Harper is 37th.

THE BREAKDOWN

The Boilermakers come into the game with a 19-9 record and are coming off a win over Wisconsin 57-55 in their Big Ten Tournament opener last night. Purdue is looking to get a ranked win to ensure themselves a spot in the NCAA Tournament and came into the week in the Last Four Byes on the ESPN Bracket Projection. The Hawkeyes defeated the Boilermakers 83-68 earlier in the year, but that game came way back on December 29th.

It was already noted that Lasha Petree is the top scoring threat for Purdue, but the Boilermakers have pretty balanced scoring attack. Abbey Ellis averages in double figures and can shoot it from outside, but is an efficient 55.6% from inside the three-point line. She has scored in double figures ten times in Big Ten play, including 19 against Wisconsin yesterday.

Jeanae Terry is the do it all player for the Boilermakers. She is averaging 6.5 points, 7.6 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game. Terry has scored in double figures just four times, but has also recorded 8+ assists in ten games and 8+ rebounds in 14 games.

Rounding out the guards is Cassidy Hardin, who is the top three-point shooter, averaging 2.1 three-point makes per game. 86.7% of her shots on the year are from behind the arc, so the Hawkeyes have to keep an eye on her. She has knocked down 3+ threes in 12 games.

6’2 F Caitlyn Harper is the post presence in the starting lineup. She is shooting 54.6% from the floor, which ranks 37th in the country. She has scored in double figures 15 times, but is just 2/12 over her last two games. Defensively, she helped hold Monika Czinano to 3/8 shooting and just 12 points in the first matchup.

Off the bench, HC Katie Geralds uses four players for a range of minutes. G Jayla Smith is averaging 7.5 points and 18.8 minutes per game. She has scored in double figures eight times and had the game winning three-pointer against Wisconsin in the second round.

G Madison Layden averages 6.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 29.7 minutes per game. Layden has struggled from three-point range (26.9%) this season, despite making 108 in her first two years with the Boilermakers. She is just 8/33 (24.2%) from the floor over her last seven games. G Ava Learn (9.6 mins) and 6’4 F Rickie Woltman (12.4 mins) will both see the floor as well.

Here are some important stats to know for tonight’s game…

2pt FG: Iowa 1st (59.4%) Purdue 13th (53.2%)

3pt FG: Iowa 15th (37.0%) Purdue 97th (33.0%)

3pt Rate: Iowa 72nd (38.1%) Purdue 77th (37.7%)

TO: Iowa 86th (14.2) Purdue 98th (14.5)

FORCED TO: Purdue 198th (15.5) Iowa 269th (14.4)

Off Pts/100 Possessions: Iowa 5th (113.2) Purdue 47th (103.0)

Def Pts/100 Possessions: Iowa 172nd (92.2) Purdue 200th (93.5)

Possessions Per Gm: Iowa 6th (76.7) Purdue 208th (68.7)

Off Rebounding: Iowa 278th (27.2%) Purdue 294th (26.6%)

Def Rebounding: Iowa 6th (76.4%) Purdue 157th (69.9%)

THE PICK

March has begun. After coming up short of their goal to win the Big Ten regular season title, the Hawkeyes will be looking to make a run in Minneapolis this weekend. On the other hand, the Boilermakers are on the NCAA Tournament bubble and they didn’t exactly make strong case in their first game against the Badgers. They will be looking for a ranked win to end any doubts of an at-large bid.

“They’re playing for a lot,” said Lisa Bluder. “They are absolutely fighting for an NCAA Tournament bid and do these are very important games for them…a win over Iowa would solidify their chances to be in the NCAA Tournament.”

Normally, you would worry about a letdown off a win like the Hawkeyes experienced against Indiana, but this is veteran led squad. The starting five has a lot of tournament experience and it will show tonight. IOWA 83 PURDUE 73