As the 23rd-ranked Iowa women’s basketball (2-0) squad enjoyed a dominant offensive performance in a 119-43 blowout win over Evansville (0-2) on Sunday afternoon for its second win of the season, beloved former Hawkeye role player-turned Purple Aces graduate assistant, Molly Davis, shared her thoughts on her first visit back to Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Davis, who spent two seasons with the Hawkeyes from 2022-24 after three previous years at Central Michigan, is in her second campaign as a graduate assistant under Robyn Scherr’s coaching staff at Evansville.
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As expected, Davis received a thunderous applause from the passionate Hawkeyes faithful during a first-quarter stoppage, with many fans sharing their appreciation for the role that the Midland, Mich., native played en route to the program’s back-to-back national championship game appearances in 2023 and 2024.
Davis caught up with Hawkeye Report afterwards to share her reaction to her Carver return and the fans’ reception.
“It was super special, and to see the standing ovation, it really means a lot,” Davis said after the game about her warm reception from Hawkeyes fans.
“I’m just so appreciative of the time that I’ve spent here, my two years here, and just to see all the amazing relationships that I’ve built and things like that. So it felt really good to be back.”
When asked whether she ever envisioned coaching against Iowa and receiving such a heartfelt reception from the fans, Davis once again expressed gratitude for her time with the Hawkeyes’ program and for the lasting relationships formed among former teammates, coaches, and even a few current Iowa players.
“No, absolutely not. Like I said, I’m just so grateful to have even spent two years here. You know, I was at Central Michigan, a small Division I, and then being here and playing in Iowa in front of 15,000 people…
“I always say it all the time, I never, you know, little me would have never anticipated that. So to be back here and get that same ovation, like I said, seeing all the people in the jerseys and things like that, it really meant a lot.”
During her time with the Hawkeyes, she averaged 4.7 points, 2.3 assists, and 1.9 rebounds per game on 49.8% shooting from the field, 36.2% from 3-point territory, and 86.8% from the free-throw line. Davis made 29 starts and played in 69 games with the Hawkeyes.
Following the loss on Saturday, Davis and the Purple Aces will look to rebound on Wednesday, Nov. 12, at Eastern Kentucky (0-1).
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Iowa’s next opponent will be the Drake Bulldogs (1-1), who will travel to Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Thursday, Nov. 13. That game will begin at 7:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Former Iowa women’s basketball guard thankful for fans’ reception in return
