By JOHN BOHNENKAMP

Iowa’s women’s basketball nonconference schedule has the Hawkeyes in plenty of different places in the first two months of the season.

The Hawkeyes, coming off a run to the national championship game last season, only have five home games in the nonconference schedule, but play two additional games within the state — December 6 at Iowa State and December 16 in Des Moines in a neutral-court game against Cleveland State.

Iowa also has a neutral-court game against Virginia Tech, another Final Four team, on November 9 in Charlotte, N.C., as well as three games in the Gulf Coast Showcase in Estero, Florida on November 24-26.

Iowa plays two exhibition games — the October 15 “Crossover at Kinnick” game against DePaul at Kinnick Stadium and an October 22 game against Clarke.

A breakdown of the schedule:

Oct. 15 — DePaul at Kinnick Stadium (exhibition). The Blue Demons went 16-17 last season and lose their top three scorers. Anaya Peoples (9.5 ppg) returns.

Oct. 22 — Clarke University (exhibition). The Pride, who went 33-4 last season, won the NAIA national championship. Two-time NAIA All-America honorable mention selection Nicole McDermott is one of the top returners. 

Nov. 6 — Fairleigh Dickinson. The Knights, who went 24-8 last season, lost their five top scorers.

Nov. 9 — vs. Virginia Tech in Ally Tipoff at Charlotte, N.C. The Hokies are loaded after last season’s run to the Final Four. Elizabeth Kitley (18.2 ppg) and Georgia Amoore (16.3 ppg) are back.            

Nov. 12 — at Northern Iowa. The first of the in-state rivals on the schedule. The Panthers won 23 games last season, and bring back their top three scorers in Grace Boffeli (16.1 ppg), Maya McDermott (14.7) and Emerson Green (11.4).

Nov. 16 — Kansas State. The Wildcats handed the Hawkeyes a road loss last season, but finished 19-17. Gabby Gregory (18.5 ppg), Serena Sundell (13.9), and Jaelyn Green (11.3) return.

Nov. 19 — Drake. The Bulldogs took the Hawkeyes to overtime in a game in Des Moines last season. Grace Berg (12.8 ppg), Katie Dinnebier (11.7) and Anna Miller (10.3) are back.

Nov. 24-26 — Gulf Coast Showcase in Estero, Fla. The Hawkeyes get Fort Wayne (14-19) in the opener. Kansas State and North Carolina are on the other side of the bracket.

Dec. 2 — Bowling Green. Bowling Green made it to the WNIT semifinals last season, winning 31 games. Morgan Sharps (10.4 ppg) is the leading returning scorer. 

Dec. 6 — at Iowa State. The Cyclones were an NCAA tournament team last season, but went through a major roster overhaul.

Dec. 16 — vs. Cleveland State at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. It’s a chance to take the Caitlin Clark show to her hometown for maybe the last time. The Hawkeyes get another NCAA tournament team in the Vikings. Destiny Leo (17.9 ppg) returns for Cleveland State.

Dec. 21 — Loyola (Chicago). The Ramblers will be the Hawkeyes’ last nonconference test. Sitori Tanin (9.9 ppg) is the leading returning scorer.

Photo: Caitlin Clark delivers a pass in last season’s game at Drake. (Brian Ray/hawkeyesports.com)