Iowa Dominates the Paint, Snaps Ohio State’s Winning Streak in Top-10 Showdown
Sunday’s top-10 clash between Iowa and Ohio State had the billing of a potential Big Ten classic-two teams riding seven-game win streaks, both with eyes on March and momentum to match. But once the ball tipped in Iowa City, it was the Hawkeyes who looked every bit the top-10 powerhouse, handing the Buckeyes their first loss of the new year in emphatic fashion.
Size Matters-and Iowa Had It
With Ohio State missing forward Kylee Kitts for a second straight game due to a shoulder injury, Iowa didn’t waste time flexing its size advantage. The rebounding numbers tell a pretty clear story-48 boards for Iowa to Ohio State’s 30. And the damage inside was just as stark: 42 points in the paint for the Hawkeyes, compared to only 14 for the Buckeyes.
That kind of interior dominance doesn’t just show up in the box score-it dictates the flow of the game. Iowa controlled the glass, controlled the tempo, and ultimately, controlled the scoreboard.
A Fast Start, Then a Sudden Shift
Ohio State actually came out firing. Back-to-back threes from Ava Watson and Chance Gray gave the Buckeyes an early 8-2 lead, and for a moment, it looked like they might ride that early energy into another statement win. But Iowa responded with a haymaker of its own-outscoring Ohio State 22-6 to close the first quarter and flipping the script in a hurry.
From there, the Hawkeyes kept their foot on the gas. They drilled five threes in the second quarter, stretching the lead to as many as 19 before heading into halftime up 48-32. The third quarter brought more of the same, with Iowa pushing the margin to 20 and never looking back.
Cambridge Shines in Defeat
Despite the lopsided result, there was a bright spot for the Buckeyes in freshman Jaloni Cambridge. The dynamic guard notched her first career double-double, pouring in 26 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Her relentless energy on both ends gave Ohio State a spark, even as the game slipped out of reach.
Chance Gray added 16 points and Ava Watson chipped in 10, but the Buckeyes struggled to get production beyond their starting five. Ohio State’s bench managed just three points, while Iowa’s reserves delivered 33-a major depth disparity that played a role in how the game unfolded.
Top-10 Track Record and What’s Next
This was Ohio State’s fifth game against a top-10 opponent this season, and they now sit at 2-3 in those matchups. Wins over then-No.
8 Maryland and No. 9 TCU earlier this month showed what this team is capable of when they’re clicking, but losses to No.
1 UConn, No. 3 UCLA, and now No.
10 Iowa show there’s still a gap to close against the nation’s elite.
The loss drops the Buckeyes to 18-3 overall and 7-2 in Big Ten play, tying them with Michigan State for fourth place in the conference standings. Iowa, UCLA, and Michigan currently sit ahead of them.
Ohio State won’t have long to dwell on this one. They’ll return home to the Schottenstein Center on Thursday to host Wisconsin, with tip-off set for 8 p.m. on Big Ten Network. It’s a chance to regroup, reset, and get back to doing what they’ve done well all season-compete, defend, and let their young stars shine.