The Big Ten Conference is seeing significant movement as teams heighten their performances ahead of the upcoming tournament. As Week 12 unfolded, five teams extended their streaks, whether winning or losing, showcasing thrilling games and pivotal moments.
Iowa has emerged as a formidable contender, claiming its third straight top-15 victory. After a rocky start with two losses in their first three ranked matchups, the Hawkeyes bounced back remarkably, securing four ranked wins. They began this winning streak with a narrow, seven-point victory over Michigan State on January 18, followed by an overtime win against Maryland, also by seven points. The highlight of their week came with a commanding 21-point win over No. 12 Ohio State on Sunday. With an impressive scoring average of 80.9 points per game, Iowa’s success is a result of strong performances from multiple players; Hannah Stuelke topped the scoring with 22 points against Michigan State, Ava Heiden contributed 20 against Maryland, and freshman Addie Deal led the team with 20 points against Ohio State.
Meanwhile, Purdue secured its second victory of the season by defeating an 11-9 Indiana team. Despite being the underdog with only a 42.6% chance to win, Purdue’s collective effort saw three athletes score in double figures, though no single player emerged as a standout. Indiana’s scoring was largely driven by former Penn State player Shay Ciezki, who scored an impressive 37 points, making up over half of her team’s total. With this win, Purdue climbed to No. 13 in the Big Ten rankings, which positions them to secure the last spot in the conference tournament, while Indiana risks falling further behind.
On the other hand, Maryland faced a challenging week with back-to-back losses against ranked teams following an initial victory in the season. After a high-scoring defeat to UCLA, where they allowed 97 points—the second-highest this season—the Terrapins faced Iowa in a closely contested overtime match. Maryland’s junior Oluchi Okananwa shone with a 25-point performance, but the team fell short in overtime, suffering their third consecutive loss against ranked opponents.
As these teams navigate the critical final weeks of the season, their performances continue to illustrate the competitive landscape of the Big Ten, with each game carrying heavy implications for the conference tournament. The close competition suggests that as the tournament approaches, fans can expect more high-stakes basketball filled with excitement and unpredictability.