UCLA Overpowers Iowa: Three Takeaways From a Tough Road Loss for the Hawkeyes
The odds were stacked against Iowa heading into Pauley Pavilion, and the scoreboard told the story. A 17.5-point underdog going in, the Hawkeyes fell to UCLA, 88-65, marking their second straight loss on a tough California road swing.
Between the absence of starting guard Taylor McCabe-out for the season with a torn ACL-and a head-scratching loss to USC just days earlier, Iowa came in needing a near-perfect performance to pull off the upset. Instead, the Bruins flexed their muscle early and never let up.
Here are three key takeaways from Iowa’s loss in Los Angeles.
1. UCLA’s Size Was Simply Too Much
Iowa has leaned heavily on its post play all season, but against UCLA, that strategy hit a wall-literally. The Bruins’ frontcourt is a matchup nightmare, and they showed why on Sunday.
Lauren Betts, all 6-foot-7 of her, anchored a starting lineup that also featured Gabriela Jaquez and Gianna Kneepkens, both standing at six feet. And that size advantage didn’t stop with the starters. Off the bench, UCLA brought in waves of length and strength-Sienna Betts, Amanda Muse, Angela Dugalic, and Lena Bilic, all 6-foot-3 or taller.
That kind of depth and height overwhelmed Iowa in the paint. The Hawkeyes were outscored 56-26 inside, outrebounded 32-24, and out-assisted 29-20. For a team that thrives on controlling the interior, Iowa found itself completely outmatched in the trenches.
It wasn’t just the numbers-it was the physicality. UCLA dictated the tempo, sealed off second-chance opportunities, and made Iowa work for every look inside. The Hawkeyes simply didn’t have the size or depth to push back.
2. Turnovers Continue to Haunt Iowa
If Iowa had any shot at staying competitive in this one, it had to start with taking care of the basketball. But once again, turnovers proved costly.
The Bruins brought their usual defensive intensity, forcing 19 Iowa turnovers-including seven steals-and converting those mistakes into 18 points. That’s a brutal swing in a game where every possession mattered.
Ava Heiden, who’s been a steady presence for much of the season, struggled in this one, committing five turnovers on her own. And it wasn’t just about individual miscues-UCLA’s pressure disrupted Iowa’s flow from the opening tip, forcing rushed decisions and breaking up passing lanes.
For a team already dealing with injuries and lineup changes, giving away nearly 20 possessions is a recipe for disaster. Until Iowa can clean up its ball handling, games like this will remain an uphill climb.
3. Addie Deal Struggles in Homecoming Trip
Addie Deal has been one of the bright spots for Iowa this season, earning back-to-back Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors and stepping into a starting role after McCabe’s injury. But her California homecoming didn’t go as scripted.
Over the two-game road trip, Deal managed just three points on 11.1% shooting and missed all four of her three-point attempts. Whether it was the pressure of playing in front of a hometown crowd or simply an off couple of nights, Deal couldn’t find her rhythm.
The good news for the Hawkeyes? Taylor Stremlow stepped up off the bench and provided a spark. If Deal continues to struggle, Stremlow could be in line for more minutes-or even a starting nod-as Iowa looks to stabilize its rotation.
Final Thoughts
This was always going to be a tough road stretch for Iowa, and the loss of McCabe only made the challenge steeper. Against a top-tier team like UCLA, the Hawkeyes needed to be sharp in every phase. Instead, they ran into a buzzsaw of size, defense, and depth.
There’s still time for Iowa to regroup, but the path forward is clear: protect the ball, find consistent production in the backcourt, and figure out how to compete against elite size. The Big Ten grind doesn’t get any easier from here-but if the Hawkeyes can learn from this trip, it might just sharpen them for the battles ahead.