Iowa Women's Basketball Tip Time Preview: Fairleigh Dickinson

FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON KNIGHTS AT #3 IOWA HAWKEYES

TIME: 6:30pm CT

TV: BTN+ – A.J. Reisetter and Vivian Sumoski

SERIES: First Ever Meeting – Iowa has never faced an NEC school

THE NUMBERS (2022-23)

OFFENSE: IOWA: 87.3 PPG, 51.1% FG, 38.0% 3PT, 14.3 TO FDU: 65.1 PPG, 41.6% FG, 34.3% 3PT, 14.2 TO

DEFENSE: IOWA: 71.8 PPG, 40.1% FG, 30.3% 3PT, 14.2 TO, +4.2 REB MARGIN FDU: 53.2 PPG, 36.6% FG, 22.1% 3PT, 15.6 TO, +3.5 REB MARGIN

PROJECTED LINEUPS

IOWA HAWKEYES

6’0 PG Caitlin Clark – 27.8 PPG, 7.1 REB, 8.6 AST, 38.9% 3PT

5’9 G Gabbie Marshall – 6.2 PPG, 37.9% 3PT, 62 STLS

6’0 G Kate Martin – 7.7 PPG, 4.2 REB, 3.6 AST, 41.4% 3PT

6’2 F Hannah Stuelke – 6.5 PPG, 3.9 REB, 61.0% FG

6’3 C Addi O’Grady – 2.0 PPG, 1.4 REB, 62.2% FG

FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON

5’7 G Abby Conklin – 3.4 PPG, 1.6 REB, 35.4% 3PT

5’6 G Abaigeal Babore – 1.4 PPG, 36.0% FG

5’7 G Nickie Carter – 19.2 PPG, 4.3 REB, 3.1 AST (Montclair State)

6’2 F Lilly Parke – 5.3 PPG, 3.4 REB, 41.7% FG (Auburn at Montgomery)

6’2 F Teneisia Brown – 10.5 PPG, 6.6 REB, 47.8% FG (Merrimack)

IOWA PLAYER TO WATCH: F Hannah Stuelke

If you have read my season previews, you know that Hannah Stuelke is my breakout player for the Hawkeyes this season. In their exhibition game against Clarke University, she went for 27 points and ten rebounds, as well as 4/5 from the free throw line. A much tougher test awaits on Thursday against Virginia Tech, but as for the opener tonight, look for Stuelke to have be in double-double territory against the Knights.

FDU PLAYER TO WATCH: F Teneisia Brown

The player with the most starting experience at the DI level for FDU, Teneisia Brown averaged in double figures at Merrimack during the 2021-22 season. She transferred to FDU last season and was a preseason All-NEC selection, but ended up missing the entire season. It’s hard to say what the Knights will get from Brown in her first game since March of 2022, but she scored in double figures 14 times that year, so she knows how to put the ball in the basket.

THE BREAKDOWN

Fairleigh Dickinson put together a good season last year and it nearly ended with an NCAA Tournament appearance. The Knights went 24-8, with a 14-2 mark in NEC play. They advanced to the NEC Tournament Championship, but fell to Sacred Heart. FDU was selected to play in the WNIT, but lost to eventual runner-up Columbia in the first round. Now, forget all of that information. Scratch it all out because it doesn’t matter.

The Knights are a completely different squad this season. They lose all five starters from last season, including First Team All-NEC forward Chloe Wilson who averaged nearly 20 points last season. On top of that, they are under the direction of first year head coach Stephanie Gaitley who came over from Fordham after spending 11 seasons there.

“It’s really hard. I think we can focus more on our own game preperation because not only do they have all new players, they have a whole new coach,” said Lisa Bluder. “I can’t even look at last year’s film and see what style they run.”

As head coach of Fordham, Stephanie Gaitley led the Rams to two NCAA Tournaments and seven WNIT’s. She led her team to seven 20+ win seasons and won 108 conference games over 11 seasons. Her 684 career wins ranks 12th amongst active head coaches.

Looking at the roster, the Knights top returning player is senior guard Abby Conklin. She has appeared in 62 games over the course of her career, averaging 3.4 points, 1.6 rebounds and 14.4 minutes per game. Conklin is not afraid to shoot it from outside, as she averaged 2.6 three-point attempts per game, despite playing half the minutes of a starter. She scored 14 points and shot 4/5 from behind the arc in the Knights exhibition win over Molloy.

Also returning is forward Teneisia Brown. She averaged 10.5 points and 6.6 rebounds at Merrimack in 2021-22, before transferring to FDU last season. She missed the entire season last year, but finished with 17 points and six rebounds in the Knights exhibition win over Molloy. At Merrimack two years ago, Brown scored in double figures 14 times and pulled down 8+ rebounds ten times.

The other two big names to watch are a bit of a mystery because they come from lower level schools. Guard Nickie Carter comes over from DIII Montclair State. Carter was the top scorer for the Red Hawks, averaging 19.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. Much like Abby Conklin, Carter will shoot it from three-point range. She averaged 5.9 three-point attempts per game last season and shot 35.3% from distance.

Finally, foward Lilly Parke comes over from DII Auburn University at Montgomery. As a freshman last season for the Warhawks, Parke averaged 5.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 18.8 minutes per game. She put up a season-high 15 points against West Georgia and scored in double figures five times. Parke started the exhibition game against Molloy, finishing with eight points and three rebounds.

THE PICK

There are a lot of unkowns with this FDU team coming into the season opener against Iowa. Five new starters, two non-DI transfers and a brand new head coach. Ultimately, this will be one final tune up game for the Hawkeyes before their top ten showdown against Virginia Tech in Charlotte on Thursday. Expect Caitlin Clark to push triple-double numbers, while a couple other players will score in double figures. WarrenNolan.com predicts Iowa to win 84-52. The Hawkeyes will pick up a dominating season opening victory and then turn their focus towards the Hokies. IOWA 95 FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON 50