Iowa City, Iowa — In a thrilling matchup on Sunday, No. 10 Iowa showcased their dominance by defeating No. 12 Ohio State with a resounding score of 91-70. Freshman Addie Deal led the charge for the Hawkeyes, marking a season-high of 20 points, while teammates Hannah Stuelke and Ava Heiden contributed significantly with 18 points each. Stuelke also made her mark on the game by securing 15 rebounds, recording her sixth double-double of the season.
Iowa’s victory maintains their status at the top of the Big Ten standings with a record of 18-2, including an impressive 9-0 in conference play, as they extended their winning streak to eight games. This win also halted Ohio State’s own seven-game streak, bringing their record to 18-3 and 7-2 in the Big Ten.
The Hawkeyes exhibited exceptional shooting, finishing the game with a 57.8% shooting percentage from the field, while restricting the Buckeyes to only 34.8%. Additionally, Iowa showcased their strength on the boards, out-rebounding Ohio State 48-30, and had a significant advantage in bench scoring, leading 33-3.
Despite losing starting guard Taylor McCabe to a knee injury just minutes into the game, the Hawkeyes surged ahead. McCabe, a crucial player for Iowa with an average of 8.5 points per game, had to be assisted off the court but returned to the bench later in the first half with an ice pack on her knee.
Iowa dominated the first half, building a 48-32 halftime lead after executing two crucial scoring runs—first closing the opening quarter with a 16-3 run and then extending their lead with a 13-2 run in the second quarter.
Jaloni Cambridge led Ohio State with 26 points and 10 rebounds, while Chance Gray and Ava Watson contributed 16 and 10 points respectively.
Looking ahead, Iowa is set to hit the road for a West Coast trip, facing USC on Thursday, while Ohio State will return home to host Wisconsin the same day. This victory not only cements Iowa’s strong positioning in the Big Ten but also sets up a challenging future, as they aim to maintain their momentum heading further into the season.