The No. 21 Iowa women’s basketball team toppled in-state rival Iowa State at home, 75-69, with a defensive stint down the stretch. Holding the Cyclones to eight fourth-quarter points, the Hawkeyes moved to 9-1 on the season.
Guard Lucy Olsen’s 25-point, five-assist outing led the way for the Hawkeyes, followed by guard Sydney Affolter’s 16 points and six rebounds. Forward Hannah Stuelke chimed in with a near double-double of 13 points and nine rebounds along with four steals.
“It was really fun,” Olsen said. “I think we came out tonight with a lot of energy, and the crowd really helped with that … I’ve never been in anything like that — shout out to the fans.”
Iowa State’s Audi Crooks scored the first basket of the game inside, and Olsen retaliated with a mid-range pull-up off the second-chance opportunity. The Cyclones went on a 10-0 run over the next 3:30 before Olsen’s consecutive jumpers broke the ice — giving her all six of Iowa’s points through the first five minutes.
The Hawkeyes slowly crept their way back in it with offensive contributions from Olsen, Taylor Stremlow, and Stuelke to make it a 20-17 game in favor of the Cyclones through the first 10 minutes.
The second quarter started in similar fashion as the first — a Crooks inside basket followed by an Olsen mid-range jumper. Iowa’s defense held Iowa State scoreless long enough to knot the game at 22 apiece near the 6:00 mark through Taylor McCabe’s 1-of-3 shooting at the line and an Olsen bucket inside.
The Hawkeyes were shooting 0-of-9 from deep before consecutive makes from Stremlow and Affolter — both coming off of deep shots from the Cyclones on the other end.
Both teams traded buckets inside before a pair of threes from Affolter and Aliyah Guyton gave the Hawkeyes their first lead of the game, 36-33, with under two minutes left in the half.
Iowa State went on a 6-0 run to end the second quarter, pushing them into the break with the 39-36 lead.
“It’s exactly what we talked about,” Iowa State head coach Bill Fennelly said. “We tried to simulate as best as we could. But they’re a really good, solid, fundamental, defensive team that really makes it hard for you to run your stuff.”
Persistence to the finish
Iowa leaned toward its inside game right out of the break with Olsen, Stuelke, and Addison O’Grady scoring near the cup. Iowa State did the same with Crooks as she scored four baskets in the post through the first three minutes of the third quarter.
The Hawkeyes went nearly three minutes without a made field goal before Olsen snapped the cold streak. The Cyclones kept the burners on, making six of eight field goals to take a 56-46 lead with under two minutes left in the quarter.
Iowa’s 7-0 run — Affolter and Kylie Feuerbach’s back-to-back threes along with a Stuelke made free throw — put a quick end to the Cyclone scoring run and cut the deficit down to three heading into the final period.
“It was just me being aggressive and playing my game,” Affolter said. “I was being a little bit hesitant. I know I’m a good shooter. When I’m open, I know I can knock those shots down.”
Feuerbach’s second three of the game and the first for Iowa in the fourth quarter knotted the score at 56 apiece. Both teams put on a defensive clinic before Iowa State logged a couple buckets inside.
Affolter came back with two left-handed scoops at the cup, and a Stremlow dime to Stuelke off the pick-and-roll gave Iowa the 62-61 lead with 4:30 remaining. Olsen’s and-one bucket the following possession extended that Hawkeye lead to four.
Iowa continued to pull away with foul shots and defensive stops, and a Guyton three capped off a hard-fought victory for the Hawkeyes over their in-state rivals.
“If I can really remember what a dream I had gotten to do my whole life as a player and coach, and I get to do it here,” Iowa head coach Jan Jensen said postgame. “I mean, are you kidding me? This crowd — and they sold out again after that fun era last year. So I just try to be thankful for the opportunity.”
Up next
The Hawkeyes move onto No. 17 Michigan State on Sunday in East Lansing — yet another test in what is proving to be a tough schedule this season. The Spartans are 9-0 this season, dropping 90-plus points in five of those games.