Iowa Women Bounce Back Big After UConn Loss, Roll Past Penn State
IOWA CITY - If Iowa’s blowout loss to top-ranked UConn was supposed to linger, someone forgot to tell the Hawkeyes.
Eight days after a humbling 26-point defeat - a game in which Iowa committed 26 turnovers - the 14th-ranked Hawkeyes looked like a team with something to prove. And they delivered, in front of nearly 15,000 fans at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, with a 99-76 statement win over Penn State that felt as much about resilience as it was about scoreboard dominance.
Message received. Loud and clear.
Head coach Jan Jensen didn’t sugarcoat it after the UConn game. She challenged her team to respond - not just emotionally, but with execution.
That response came early and emphatically, as Iowa opened the game with a 16-0 run and never looked back. By the end of the first quarter, the Hawkeyes led 23-8, and sophomore point guard Chit-Chat Wright had already poured in 12 of her 16 points.
“That’s the one thing I was really worried about,” Jensen admitted postgame. “How do you go into Christmas feeling bummed?
You wish you could have it back, and you’re not feeling great about yourselves. So that was the challenge - to dissect the UConn game, point out what we didn’t like, but also highlight what we did well.”
The message clearly landed.
Chit-Chat Wright sets the tone
Wright may be a pass-first floor general by nature, but when she’s aggressive early, Iowa’s offense hums. Jensen noted that Wright often defers, even when plays are designed specifically for her. But on Sunday, the sophomore was assertive from the jump, igniting Iowa’s early run and setting the tone for a balanced offensive effort.
“She’s just really important for our team,” Jensen said. “She loves to defer, but we need her to be a threat, too. When she is, it opens everything up.”
Wright was one of six Hawkeyes to finish in double figures, but the star of the afternoon was sophomore center Ava Heiden. Matched up against 6-foot-6 Penn State post Gracie Merkle, Heiden didn’t flinch. Instead, she dominated - scoring a game-high 27 points and anchoring Iowa’s interior presence.
“Coming off two tough losses, I just tried to take what I could from those games and use it to be successful,” Heiden said. “It was fun today.”
Depth delivers, turnovers trimmed
One of the biggest issues against UConn was Iowa’s carelessness with the ball. That 26-turnover outing was a glaring red flag. Against Penn State, the Hawkeyes cleaned it up, cutting that number nearly in half with just 14 giveaways - a key factor in maintaining control throughout.
With senior guard Kylie Feuerbach sidelined due to an ankle injury suffered in the UConn game, sophomore Taylor Stremlow stepped into the starting lineup and delivered 14 points. Fellow sophomore Hannah Stuelke also chipped in 14, showing her usual blend of energy and efficiency.
But it was Iowa’s bench that truly showcased the team’s depth. Freshman Addison Deal scored 13 points in just over 17 minutes, while fellow rookie Journey Houston - a former Davenport North standout - posted a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
“I know my role here,” Houston said. “I just do the extra things - set screens, get my teammates open.
It’s not all about scoring. There’s other stuff on the stat sheet, too.
I just try to work hard and help the team.”
Rodriguez returns to the bench
Sophomore Emely Rodriguez, who had been absent and the subject of speculation, was back on the bench. Jensen confirmed that any issues had been handled internally and that Rodriguez is “day to day” while managing a back injury.
Penn State’s top scorers show up - but it’s not enough
To their credit, the Nittany Lions didn’t fold. Tea Cleante led the way with 21 points, while Kiyomi McMiller and Gracie Merkle - two of the Big Ten’s top scorers - added 20 and 18, respectively.
But Iowa’s early blitz and sustained offensive balance proved too much to overcome. Penn State never got closer than 11 points after that opening salvo.
Next up: ranked showdown to ring in the new year
With the win, Iowa improves to 11-2 overall and 2-0 in Big Ten play. And the schedule doesn’t ease up.
The Hawkeyes will host No. 20 Nebraska on New Year’s Day - a matchup that’s shaping up as a key early-season test in the conference race.
If Sunday’s performance was any indication, this group has already put UConn in the rearview - and they’re not looking back.