Talking to the media after Iowa women’s basketball’s (24-5, 15-3 Big Ten) 81-52 win over Wisconsin (13-16, 5-13) on Sunday at the Kohl Center, head coach Jan Jensen provided the latest injury update on Hawkeyes senior forward Hannah Stuelke.
The 6-foot-2 native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was held out of Sunday’s contest against the Badgers with a right-elbow injury.
Jensen said Stuelke hasn’t practiced yet since sustaining the injury versus Illinois, but Iowa and Jensen are hopeful she can return for Iowa’s Big Ten Tournament opener on Friday.
“No, not at all,” Jensen said of Stuelke’s ability to practice. “So, as long as we get her healthy. If that could be by game time on Friday, I’m gonna be grateful for that instead of stressed out about what may or may not happen.”
Given that she hadn’t practiced, Jensen said Iowa didn’t expect Stuelke to be available for its regular-season finale at Wisconsin on Sunday. The Hawkeyes are taking a positive approach to Stuelke’s situation, focusing on the opportunity to get more of its younger players extended minutes before the NCAA Tournament.
“Well, I had a feeling that it was gonna be one of those things that when you wake up, if excitement’s down, it’s gonna be swollen.
“I’m hopeful, but I just decided to kind of give that to the good Lord. I knew we were not gonna have her today, and I just have to keep getting everybody ready because, regardless of when she comes back, I’ve got a pretty young team. Any minutes now we get in March, and we can keep going, that’s gonna just help us, I hope, to remain on the top of the Big Ten, where everybody wants to be,” Jensen said.
Iowa’s No. 2 seed in the Big Ten Tournament means the Hawkeyes have earned a double-bye and will not play until approximately 5:30 p.m. CT on Friday, March 6.
With an extra couple of days’ rest, Stuelke’s recovery progress will be one to keep an eye on as the week moves along. In the case that Stuelke is unable to play on Friday, promising freshman Journey Houston will likely be called upon again in Iowa’s starting lineup.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa women’s basketball provides Hannah Stuelke injury update
Reporting by Scout Springgate, Hawkeyes Wire / Hawkeyes Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
