By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com
Women’s College Basketball: Williamson Officially Introduced as Wesleyan’s Women’s Basketball Coach:
Yesterday afternoon, all the the loose ends were tied up.
Iowa Wesleyan Vice President of Athletics Derek Zander officially introduced Steve Williamson as the next head coach as the Iowa Wesleyan women’s basketball program, marking Williamson’s second stint as the leader.
Williamson said the timing just felt “right” to get back to his alma mater and hometown.
“I just feel like Iowa Wesleyan has been a huge part of my families life, you know it’s home for us and I realize that with my wife’s career we weren’t going to move from the Mount Pleasant area” Williamson said.
Williamson’s next move is getting recruiting underway.
Interim head coach Jasmine Laskey will continue to coach for the remainder of the season before Williamson takes over after the conclusion of this year’s season.
He met with the team yesterday and hopes to bring in 12-15 new recruits for the 2021-22 season.
“You have to find players that will buy into the system. We are making phone calls, reaching out to contacts that I have — it’s almost like you’re starting a program over, but that’s what you do anywhere you go” Williamson said.
The Tiger women are 1-9 thus far this year.
Men’s College Basketball: Wesleyan’s Fernandes Named SLIAC POW:
Iowa Wesleyan senior men’s basketball player Jarryd Fernandes has been named the SLIAC Player of the Week, the league announced yesterday.
Fernandes recorded his sixth double-double of the season this weekend, scoring 22 points, grabbing 15 rebounds, while rejecting three shots.
Fernandes is currently leading the conference in rebounds per game (12.2).
He is 11th in the league in points per game, averaging 15.2.
The Australian born forward currently sits at No. 6 in Iowa Wesleyan history in career rebounds and is only four rebounds shy from cracking the Top-5. F
Fernandes is also just 13 points away from reaching 1,000 career points.
The Wesleyan men and women are back in action today when they travel to take on Westminster.
The women will tip at 5:00 p.m., with the men to follow at 7:00 p.m.
Men’s College Basketball: Iowa Ran Through by Oregon:
Oregon went on a 21-5 run covering the first and second half as the Ducks cruised to a 95-80 win over Iowa in a Round of 32 matchup.
The loss ends Iowa’s season shy of the Sweet 16, extending their drought to 22 years.
Luka Garza was terrific, despite the loss, ending his Iowa career with a game-high 36 points and nine boards.
Chris Duarte led Oregon with 23 points and seven boards.
Oregon will now take on USC, who throttled Kansas late last night.
Here’s the rest of the scoreboard:
- No. 5 Creighton 72, No. 13 Ohio 58
- No. 6 USC 85, No. 3 Kansas 51
- No. 2 Alabama 96, No. 10 Maryland 77
- No. 4 Florida State 71, No. 5 Colorado 53
- No. 1 Michigan 86, No. 8 LSU 78
- No. 11 UCLA 67, No. 14 Abilene Christian 47
- No. 1 Gonzaga 87, No. 8 Oklahoma 71
Women’s College Basketball: Iowa State Holds On, UNI Wins in NIT:
The Iowa State women’s basketball team received 33 points and nine rebounds from Ashley Joens as the Cylcones held on for a 79-75 win over Michigan State in the first round of the women’s NCAA Tournament yesterday in San Antonio.
Kristin Scott chipped in with 12 points and seven glassers.
Iowa State, now 17-10, will meet up with second-seeded Texas A&M in the Round of 32 tomorrow evening at 6:00 p.m.
Meanwhile in the Women’s NIT, the UNI Panther women’s basketball team advanced to the semifinals as they defeated the Billikens of Saint Louis University, 58-50.
Kam Finley paced the Panthers with 14 points while Bre Gunnels added 10 points, 11 boards and five blocks.
The Panthers will take on Ole Miss on Friday night.
Tip is set for 7:00 p.m.