Iowa women postpone game with Maryland due to inauguration safety concerns

The Iowa women’s basketball team opted not to travel to Maryland for Thursday’s game against the Terrapins over security and violence concerns in the Washington D.C. area this week during President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration, the program announced.

The game has been postponed, and both teams will attempt to reschedule.

The contest was initially set to be held at the XFINITY Center in College Park, which is about 30 minutes northeast of the White House. It would have been held without fans, as the program has done all year, and Maryland students have still not returned to campus.

The Hawkeyes have lost two of their last three, but are fresh off a six-point win over Purdue on Monday in Iowa City. They are next set to host Northwestern on Jan. 28.

Game postponed due to inauguration concerns

Though the game wouldn’t have been held in the nation’s capital directly, it’s proximity to the White House was enough to warrant a postponement after the deadly riots at the U.S. Capitol earlier this month.

A violent pro-President Donald Trump mob stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6 in an effort to try and overturn the results of the Presidential election. Five people were killed in the attacks, including a Capitol Police officer — who was struck in the head with a fire extinguisher.

The House of Representatives impeached Trump for a second time last week, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell condemned Trump for his role in the insurrection on Tuesday.

Biden’s inauguration is set for Wednesday, though the ceremony has been clouded with security concerns. 25,000 National Guard members were brought in to Washington D.C. to protect the capitol, though several have since been removed — some after making threats toward lawmakers, according to The New York Times.

While it’s unknown what type of demonstrations, if any, will take place on Wednesday, the Hawkeyes and Terrapins are clearly not going to take any chances.

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