Big Ten Showdown: No. 8 Iowa Heads to No. 2 UCLA in High-Stakes Clash
It doesn’t get much bigger than this in late January women’s college basketball: No. 8 Iowa, fresh off a humbling loss, heading west to face unbeaten-in-conference No. 2 UCLA in a game that could have major implications for the Big Ten title race-and potentially NCAA tournament seeding down the line.
Let’s set the stage.
Iowa Looks to Bounce Back After Tough Loss
The Hawkeyes (18-3, 9-1 Big Ten) are coming off their first conference loss of the season, an 81-69 setback at USC that was rougher than the final score suggests. Iowa trailed by as many as 20 in the second half and only closed the gap with a late 9-0 run after the game was well out of reach.
It was Iowa’s first full game without sharpshooter Taylor McCabe, who tore her ACL last Sunday. Her absence was felt immediately. The Hawkeyes struggled to find offensive rhythm, especially during USC’s two massive runs-a 13-0 burst early and a 21-3 avalanche that effectively put the game away.
Freshman Addie Deal got the start in McCabe’s place but was held scoreless, a tough debut in a high-pressure spot. That lack of production from the wing added more weight to Iowa’s already heavy reliance on its stars, and against a team like UCLA, that margin for error shrinks even further.
Thursday’s loss dropped Iowa a game behind UCLA in the Big Ten standings and into a tie for second with Michigan. The margin at the top is razor-thin, and Sunday’s showdown in Los Angeles could go a long way in determining who controls the race down the stretch.
UCLA Rolling With Depth and Dominance
UCLA (20-1, 10-0 Big Ten) has been on an absolute tear. Since a neutral-site loss to Texas back on November 26, the Bruins have rattled off 14 straight wins, including an 80-67 road victory over Illinois last time out.
This team is deep, versatile, and dangerous. Seven Bruins are averaging at least 7.4 points per game, and they’re anchored by one of the most dominant interior presences in the country: 6-foot-7 All-American center Lauren Betts. She’s putting up 16.5 points and 8.3 boards per night, and she’s the kind of matchup nightmare that forces opposing defenses to collapse-opening up clean looks for her teammates on the perimeter.
UCLA’s balance is reflected in the numbers. In conference play, the Bruins are scoring 85.1 points per game while giving up just 58.8. That kind of two-way efficiency is the hallmark of a team with Final Four aspirations-and the tools to get there.
History and Stakes
These two teams met last season in Iowa City, and it was a nail-biter. UCLA escaped with a 67-65 win in a game that came down to the final possession. Expect another tight battle this time around, but with even more on the line.
For Iowa, this is a chance to reassert itself as a national contender and prove that Thursday’s loss was a blip, not a trend. For UCLA, it’s an opportunity to solidify its grip on the Big Ten and continue building momentum toward March.
This will be Iowa’s fourth ranked opponent in the last five games, and they’ve already notched wins over Michigan State, Maryland, and Ohio State during that stretch. But UCLA is a different kind of test-especially on the road.
Circle this one. It’s not just a marquee matchup-it’s a measuring stick for two of the nation’s best.