The Iowa Hawkeyes just ran into a buzzsaw in Westwood.
Facing a UCLA squad that’s among the nation’s elite, Iowa couldn’t find its footing in an 88-65 loss that exposed some areas in need of attention. There’s no shame in falling to a top-tier opponent, but the way it happened? That’s where the concern lies.
From the opening tip, UCLA dictated the pace, using their size and physicality to disrupt Iowa’s rhythm. The Hawkeyes struggled to take care of the ball, coughing it up 19 times-each one seemingly turning into points for the Bruins. In total, UCLA converted those turnovers into 18 points, swinging momentum and keeping Iowa on its heels all night.
It’s the second straight loss for Iowa on their California road trip, following a tough one against USC. And now, with the Big Ten schedule ramping up, the Hawkeyes are looking to regroup fast.
Senior forward Hannah Stuelke didn’t sugarcoat it postgame. “We’ve got some things to figure out,” she said, acknowledging the need to clean things up before the next stretch. That kind of leadership matters, especially when the team is staring down a pivotal part of the season.
Sophomore captain Taylor Stremlow echoed that sentiment, pointing to the team’s resilience but also recognizing the need for more consistency. “I feel like I've always known that we have a lot of fight in us,” Stremlow said. “But having consistent fight throughout the game is something we need to work on.”
That’s a key insight. This Iowa team has shown flashes of brilliance-when they’re clicking, they can hang with anyone in the country. But against UCLA, the lapses were too frequent, and the Bruins made them pay.
The road ahead doesn’t offer much breathing room. Rivalry matchups with Minnesota and Nebraska are up next, followed by a showdown with No.
25 Washington. That’s a tough stretch, but also a chance for Iowa to recalibrate and prove they’re still a force in the Big Ten.
Despite the recent setbacks, Iowa remains firmly in the mix. They’ve dropped to third in the conference standings, but there’s time to right the ship before postseason play begins.
The talent is there. The leadership is there.
Now it’s about tightening the screws, limiting mistakes, and playing the kind of basketball that’s made them a contender.
Two losses don’t define a season-but how a team responds to them just might.