IOWA CITY — Senior Day.
It’s time to say good-bye.
In some cases, it’s time to say good-bye even though we really didn’t get to know you all that well. Some were here for five years. Most were here for four.
And in the case of Lucy Olsen, a one-year blitz that will probably be seen more often as players look for NIL money and a better chance to raise their stock prices and find a home in the WNBA.
The multi-talented Olsen is nearing 2,000 career points between her time at Villanova and Iowa. She has also retrieved over 300 rebounds and dished out over 500 assists during her vaunted career. She will graduate in May with a degree in communications.
“I am so grateful to be here,” Olsen said in a pre-recorded message to the Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Then she spoke to the assembled crowd. “I’ve only been here a year, but these are relationship I’ll never forget. I’ve learned so much since I’ve been here. I’m so grateful for the experience.”
Syd Affolter collected over 700 points and garnered over 600 rebounds during her tenure.
Kylie Feurbach will graduate in May with a degree in marketing and a masters in strategic communications. Feurbach also contributed 375 points in her career along with over 150 rebounds.
AJ Edinger will also graduate with a degree in Social Justice.
Addison O’Grady finished her career with over 600 points and 300 rebounds. She will graduate in May with a degree in chemical engineering with a minor in mathematics.
“I just want to say thank you all so much,” Affolter said. “It’s been a blessing to play here for four years.”
Iowa coach Jan Jensen wanted to acknowledge all of her seniors on their special day.
“You really helped us get to that 20-win mark,” Jensen said. “I want to give a special thank you to this year’s team. They have weathered a lot. And they were led by this fantastic group of seniors. O’Grady has shined in every role. Edinger, not one time did she get the bright lights, but we wouldn’t be here today without here. Lucy Olsen had the courage to come in and play behind Caitlin Clark, but she showed she has pretty big shoes as well. Kylie Feurbach and Syd Affolter have shown us how it’s done.”
It was the seniors who helped propel Iowa to a strong start, even though they found themselves tied at halftime.
Seniors accounted for 16 of Iowa’s first 20 points.
Ultimately, Iowa outscored Wisconsin 45-30 in the second half.
Iowa’s bench gave them a 20-9 advantage for the game.
Iowa has won eight of their last 10 games and lost to No. 3 UCLA by one basket and lost to Ohio State on the road in overtime.
Iowa’s No. 11 seed belies how well the Hawkeyes are playing as the tournament approaches.
Iowa will again face Wisconsin in the tournament, who fell to 14-15 on the year and fell to 4-14 in the league.
“We’re going to have some fun in March,” Jensen said.
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