Gophers Stun No. 10 Iowa on the Road, Extend Big Ten Win Streak to Five
Minnesota isn’t just heating up - they’re making a statement. The Gophers rolled into Iowa City on Thursday night and left with a signature win, knocking off No.
10 Iowa 91-85 for their fifth consecutive victory. This isn’t just a hot streak; it’s the program’s longest Big Ten win streak since the 2018-19 season, and the kind of performance that turns heads across the conference.
Grace Grocholski led the charge with 21 points, while Mara Braun chipped in 16. But this was far from a two-player show.
Minnesota was locked in from the jump and never let up, outshooting and outworking the Hawkeyes in nearly every phase of the game. The Gophers shot a blistering 51.6% from the field and torched Iowa from deep, hitting 10 of their 14 three-point attempts - a scorching 71.4% clip.
And it wasn’t just offense. Minnesota dominated the glass, outrebounding Iowa 41-28.
That edge on the boards gave them extra possessions and helped fuel a 13-3 run to open the second quarter - a stretch that flipped the game. Up 49-39 at halftime, the Gophers never looked back.
At one point in the fourth, they stretched their lead to 77-57, quieting the home crowd and putting the game out of reach.
Tori McKinney added 15 points, Amaya Battle delivered a double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds, and Finau Tonga added 10 more. It was a total team win - the kind that gives a young squad confidence and a roadmap for the rest of the season.
For Iowa, it was a third straight loss and a clear sign that the absence of guard Taylor McCabe, their top three-point shooter, is being felt. McCabe’s season-ending knee injury has left a noticeable gap in Iowa’s perimeter game, and the Hawkeyes haven’t found a consistent rhythm without her. After a tough West Coast swing that included lopsided losses to USC and Big Ten leader UCLA, this one only added to the frustration.
Still, there were bright spots. Ava Heiden led Iowa with 24 points, Chazadi Wright turned in a strong performance with 20 points and a career-high 12 assists, and Journey Houston and Hannah Stuelke added 15 and 14 points respectively.
But the defense just couldn’t get stops when it mattered. After a strong opening quarter in which Iowa hit 9 of 12 shots, the offense cooled off - managing just 5 of 17 in the second quarter.
Meanwhile, Minnesota was red-hot, shooting 64.3% in the frame and hitting all four of their threes.
The loss snapped Iowa’s 11-game winning streak over Minnesota and marked the Gophers’ first road win over a top-10 team since 2005. That’s not just a win - that’s a program moment.
Iowa will look to regroup at home when they host Washington on February 11. As for Minnesota, they’ve got momentum, confidence, and a growing belief that they can hang with anyone in the Big Ten.