Freshman Journey Houston Ignites Iowa Hawkeyes Off the Bench On Sunday, Freshman Journey Houston ignited the Iowa Hawkeyes once more.
Houston “makes an impact every time she steps on the floor,” as evidenced by her 7 points on 2-of-4 shooting, 3 assists, and 2 rebounds in just 16 minutes of action. Her timely contributions gave a bench-heavy Iowa team that ultimately lost their most recent game a boost. Freshman Journey Houston continued to take advantage of her opportunities while the team was paced by experienced guards and forwards.
Lucy Olsen, a senior guard, led Iowa’s offense with a team-high 14 points and seven assists. In the close 60-59 defeat to Ohio State in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals, junior forward Hannah Stuelke also recorded a double-double (14 points, 12 rebounds).
Olsen’s late-game three-pointers and Stuelke’s second double-double of the season kept Iowa within striking distance, according to the official Iowa Athletics website. Ava Heiden, a remarkable freshman, scored 10 points, and Sydney Affolter, a sophomore, scored 14 points with four 3-pointers. Houston’s little run of seven points and three assists during those games stretched the Owls defense and gave Iowa a jolt off the bench.
Freshman Journey Houston’s Impact Grows
Throughout the season, coach Jan Jensen has relied on the Hawkeyes’ depth, and Houston has responded. She “brings energy” to every game, even when she loses to tough opponents. For instance, Houston “brought energy” and made crucial plays off the bench as Iowa faced the Bruins in their previous away defeat at UCLA.
In that game, Houston and sophomore Taylor Stremlow both sparked runs against the formidable Pac-12 opponent by igniting the Iowa second unit. Despite the loss, “bench scorer Stremlow and Journey Houston brought energy” for Iowa, according to sports pundits. Such compliments highlight the freshman guard’s rapid development into a reliable sparkplug.
Dynamic ballhandling and offensive rebounds have been Houston’s mainstays. She provided three assists on drives and kickouts on Sunday in addition to grabbing two defensive rebounds (mostly by boxing out larger opponents). Though not a volume shooter, she’s efficient: her 2-of-4 shooting included a clutch long jumper late in the game that kept Iowa within range.
Teammates have commended her poise; even star players like Heiden credit Houston for “pushing the pace and keeping the defense honest.” “We know we can count on Journey she’s fearless and plays hard every minute,” an Iowa player stated.
Fans have noticed in the interim. Comments regarding Houston’s progress flooded one Iowa fan forum, stating that “even in just 16 minutes, she changes the game.” “That freshman guard is a secret weapon – she helps control the clock and hits shots when we need them,” another person commented.
The statistics support this hype: Houston has scored in double figures in many games this year, and her excellent play has helped Iowa win 20 or more games for the eighth straight season. The club has actually won 10 of its last 13 games overall, according to Iowa’s official notes, in part due to contributions from players across the roster.
The Hawkeyes intend to use Houston’s bench energy to help them win more games in the future. With the Big Ten Tournament still underway, any extra scoring punch or assist can swing close games. The Hawkeyes can rely on Houston in crucial situations if she maintains her efficiency (she scored seven points off the bench today).
One thing is evident as the season progresses: Iowa is benefiting from the fearless energy of freshman Journey Houston, who isn’t just playing but making an impact each time she visits.
