Iowa Falls Flat Against USC, Despite Breakout Game from Freshman Journey Houston
On a night when the Iowa Hawkeyes needed a collective response, it was freshman Journey Houston who answered the call. The first-year guard delivered a career-high 16 points off the bench, adding eight rebounds and two assists in just 26 minutes. But outside of Houston’s inspired performance, Iowa struggled to find its footing in an 81-69 road loss to USC.
From the opening tip, the Hawkeyes looked a step behind. Defensively, rotations were slow, closeouts were late, and USC capitalized.
Offensively, Iowa couldn’t establish rhythm or flow, often settling for contested looks and failing to generate consistent ball movement. It was a far cry from the energy and execution they showed just days earlier in their emotional win over Ohio State.
Head coach Jan Jensen didn’t sugarcoat the loss. She pointed to the absence of senior guard Taylor McCabe, who suffered a season-ending ACL tear early in the Ohio State game, as a key factor in the team’s struggles. Calling the situation a “perfect storm,” Jensen emphasized just how much the team missed McCabe’s leadership, experience, and defensive presence.
“They got us at a really good time,” Jensen said postgame. “The importance of a senior leader, that’s been to two Final Fours, that’s been a part of championships, that is one of our best defenders… she calms the waters when things like this happen.”
It’s clear McCabe’s absence left a void. She’s been a steadying force for this team, someone who’s been through the battles and knows how to settle things down when adversity hits. Her leadership, both vocal and by example, has been a pillar of Iowa’s identity over the past few seasons.
But while McCabe’s injury certainly impacted the team, Iowa still had experienced players on the floor. Seniors Kylie Feuerbach and Hannah Stuelke have both logged big minutes in high-pressure situations.
They’ve been part of those deep tournament runs, and they know what it takes to win on the road in the Big Ten. The Hawkeyes also had Jensen on the sideline - a coach with nearly three decades of experience in the program and someone who’s helped guide this team through plenty of tough moments.
The loss to a previously 11-9 USC squad wasn’t just about missing one player. It was about execution, effort, and energy - and on Thursday night, Iowa didn’t bring enough of any of those. The Trojans took advantage, playing with confidence and urgency while the Hawkeyes looked like a team still reeling from the emotional rollercoaster of the past week.
Still, there’s time to regroup. Houston’s emergence is a silver lining, and her performance showed that the future is bright.
But for Iowa to stay in the hunt in the Big Ten, they’ll need more than flashes from young talent. They’ll need their veterans to step up, their defense to tighten, and their offense to rediscover its rhythm.
McCabe’s absence is a tough blow. But in a conference as competitive as the Big Ten, there's no time to dwell. The Hawkeyes have to find a way to respond - and fast.