Sarah Strong put on a show, and No. 10 Iowa had no answer for it.
The reigning national player of the year poured in a career-high 39 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as second-ranked Connecticut beat Iowa 91-79 on Sunday afternoon at Gampel Pavilion, handing the Hawkeyes their first loss of the season.
UConn (2-1), which was coming off a loss three days earlier at No. 5 Michigan, controlled the game for long stretches and built a lead as large as 27 points. The Huskies also owned the boards, finishing with a 38-22 edge in rebounds.
Iowa (2-1) opened with a 12-7 lead, but Connecticut quickly flipped the script with an 11-0 run to go ahead 18-12. The Huskies were up 20-14 after one quarter, then stretched the margin to 52-37 at halftime when Strong buried a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
The game got away from Iowa in the third quarter when Strong pushed the lead to 66-39 with a basket at the 4:40 mark. The Hawkeyes managed to trim the deficit to 21 by the end of the period and kept pressing in the fourth, but the gap never got close enough to threaten UConn.
Chit-Chat Wright led Iowa with 23 points and took a shot to the left shoulder after an illegal screen with 2:31 remaining in the fourth quarter. She was down briefly before returning late.
Ava Heiden battled foul trouble early, then found her rhythm in the fourth quarter and finished with 15 points. After scoring with about six minutes left, she was involved in a collision that left blood streaks on her face.
She came back as well, but in uniform No. 14 instead of her usual No. 5.
Dani Carnegie added 12 points and Amari Whiting scored 10 for Iowa.
UConn will visit Iowa City next season. The Hawkeyes return home to face Northern Iowa on Thursday.
In Other News...
Iowa Just Got Another Sign Fans Should Believe In This Team
Iowas win over Northwestern did more than keep the momentum rolling, it nudged the Hawkeyes five places up to No. 15 in the latest US LBM Coaches Poll. The 24-10 result gave the Hawkeyes another resume-building step, and it came with a balanced showing that included Hank Brown accounting for two touchdowns, Braeden Jackson taking a kickoff back for a score and L.J. Phillips Jr. piling up 128 rushing yards.
For a team trying to prove it belongs in the national conversation, the poll movement matters almost as much as the performance itself. Iowa now sits in a crowded top 25 that still leaves plenty of room for movement, and the Big Ten presence around the rankings only adds to the sense that every week can reshape the picture. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Suddenly Has A Playoff Case Fans Can Actually Believe
The win over Northwestern did more than keep Iowa rolling at 7-2. It also reinforced why this team is suddenly being talked about as a legitimate College Football Playoff threat, with the Hawkeyes doing what they usually do best and finding ways to win without needing fireworks on offense. L.J. Phillips Jr. gave them a steady lift with 128 yards on 21 carries, and the result was another reminder that Iowa can still control games with field position, defense and a ground attack that keeps the pressure off everything else.
What has made the conversation feel different is how many dependable layers this team has stacked together. Iowa has now extended its streak of returning interceptions for touchdowns to 18 straight seasons, and the special teams work under new coach Chris Polizzi has only added to the sense that this group has real depth in the hidden phases. With three games left, the Hawkeyes are no longer just hanging around in the background of the playoff race, they are giving fans a reason to wonder how far this version of the team can go. [Read more 🡒]
Iowas Defense Just Sent Another Message With Three Games Left
Northwesterns late quarterback switch gave Iowa one more wrinkle to solve, and the Hawkeyes defense handled it the way it has handled so many opponents this season. With Aidan Chiles likely out, backup Nicco Marchiol got the start and moved the ball at times, but Iowa still controlled the game in a 24-10 win, piling up six sacks and keeping Northwestern to just one touchdown.
Marchiol finished with 24 completions on 32 attempts for 181 yards, and he added 52 rushing yards, but the bigger story was how quickly Iowa adjusted once the matchup changed. For a defense already ranked among the nations best, it was another reminder that the Hawkeyes can absorb a surprise, settle in and keep the pressure on, even with three games left to play. [Read more 🡒]