Iowa Survives Late Scare, Shows Grit and Growth in OT Win Over Maryland
IOWA CITY, Iowa - For about 36 minutes on Thursday night, Iowa looked like a team in full control. Then, in a blink, that 17-point fourth-quarter cushion nearly evaporated into disaster. But when it mattered most, the Hawkeyes dug deep, held their ground, and escaped with an 85-78 overtime win over a top-15 Maryland squad.
It wasn’t pretty down the stretch, but it was revealing. This is a young Iowa team with real talent and real flaws - and Thursday night showed both sides of that coin. Let’s break it down.
1. Depth and Development: Iowa’s Young Core Is Coming Alive
This might be one of the youngest teams Iowa’s rolled out in the last 20 years, but don’t mistake youth for inexperience. What Jan Jensen has right now is a roster that’s not just deep - it’s dynamic. Five Hawkeyes hit double figures against Maryland, and what’s most encouraging is how they did it: different players stepping up at different moments.
Take freshman Journey Houston. Coming into Thursday, she had just 11 points across four games.
Against Maryland? She rattled off 10 straight in just 13 minutes.
That’s not just a spark - that’s a young player finding her moment.
Addie Deal, another freshman, dropped 18 in the win over Michigan State. Taylor McCabe, after a rough stretch, found her rhythm again and buried four big threes. These aren’t just cameos - they’re signs of a team learning how to win together.
Then there’s the frontcourt duo of Hannah Stuelke and Ava Heiden, who are starting to really click in Iowa’s signature high-low action. That’s a staple of Jensen’s system, and it's starting to hum. Heiden’s growing more confident with her mid-range game and positioning, while Stuelke’s vision and awareness are opening up opportunities for others.
And when the game went to overtime? Chit Chat Wright took over - scoring eight of Iowa’s 12 OT points, while Heiden chipped in the other four. That’s the kind of late-game leadership that separates good teams from great ones.
The bottom line: Iowa has options. They’ve got shot-makers, ball movers, and players who can step into the spotlight when needed. It’s not perfect yet, but the foundation is strong - and getting stronger.
2. Handling Pressure: Still a Work in Progress
If there’s one area that nearly cost Iowa the game, it was their handling of defensive pressure. Maryland, known for their physical perimeter defense, came into the game forcing over 20 turnovers a night. And for the first half, Iowa handled it beautifully - just four turnovers and a six-point lead at the break.
But the second half told a different story.
Maryland dialed up the heat, and Iowa struggled to respond. Thirteen turnovers after halftime, including five in the final three minutes of regulation, nearly opened the door for a Maryland comeback.
There was even a held ball thrown into the mix. The composure that had been there early on started to fray.
Chit Chat Wright was the exception. She logged 43 minutes and turned it over just twice - a testament to her poise and value as a floor general.
But she can’t do it alone. Iowa needs another steady hand in the backcourt when the pressure ramps up.
Too often, when things get chaotic, Iowa’s guards try to force entry passes into the paint - sometimes telegraphing them for seconds, giving defenders all the time they need to pounce. Against Michigan State and again versus Maryland, those passes often came with three or four defenders in the vicinity. That’s just not going to work.
Wright has been a game-changer since arriving from the portal, and she’s proving to be one of the biggest steals in the country. But if Iowa wants to make a serious postseason run, they’ll need to find ways to support her when teams start pressing full court and doubling aggressively.
3. A Gritty Win, and a Glimpse of What’s Possible
Sure, the fourth quarter was a mess. But at the end of the day, Iowa walked away with a win over a top-15 team - and that matters. A shaky win is still a win, and in the Big Ten, they don’t come easy.
The Hawkeyes are now 8-0 in conference play, tying their best league start since the 1995-96 season. They’ve gone 7-8 against AP Top 25 teams over the last two years, and they’re 4-2 in those matchups this season alone. That’s not just progress - that’s a program learning how to compete with the best.
Yes, Iowa will lose some key veterans after this season - Hannah Stuelke, Taylor McCabe, Kylie Feuerbach, and Jada Gyamfi will all be moving on. But the pieces are in place for the next wave. The young core is growing fast, and Jensen and her staff will likely dip into the portal again to shore up the roster.
There’s still a long road ahead - and plenty of challenges left on the schedule. But this team is learning how to win in different ways.
They’re learning how to respond when things go sideways. And they’re starting to build the kind of chemistry and resilience that can carry them deep into March.
Next up: Iowa returns home to face No. 12 Ohio State on Sunday.
Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. CT, airing on Peacock and the Hawkeye Radio Network.
If Thursday night was any indication, buckle up - this season is just getting started.