Iowa women's basketball: No. 22 Hawkeyes run away late from Penn State

Iowa women’s basketball: No. 22 Hawkeyes run away late from Penn State

Posted by Admin January 1, 2025 Basketball

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Given the recent dominance over Penn State and Sunday’s big showdown against No. 7 Maryland looming, No. 22 Iowa women’s basketball had to navigate through vintage trap-game elements Wednesday in Happy Valley.

Despite plenty of turbulent moments, the Hawkeyes slithered out of town unscathed.

Iowa took control in the fourth quarter of a seesawing affair, pulling out an 80-68 victory on New Year’s Day inside Bryce Jordan Center. The Hawkeyes (12-2, 2-1 Big Ten Conference) have now won 11 straight over Penn State (9-5, 0-3) dating back nearly a decade.

Most of those matchups, though, unfolded with Iowa on cruise control, able to essentially pick its margin of victory. Wednesday’s affair was different.

After erasing an early double-digit deficit, the Hawkeyes played from ahead essentially the rest of the way — but never with a comfortable cushion until the back half of the fourth quarter. While nursing a 63-61 advantage with seven minutes left, the Hawkeyes ripped off a 9-0 surge that held up until the final horn.

A 72-61 lead signaled Iowa’s first double-digit advantage of the day with 4:12 remaining. It was a grueling slog through a typical Big Ten road affair that offered plenty of chances for focus to falter. But the Hawkeyes continue growing with each outing.

Bench contributions were aplenty, just as they were in Sunday’s win over Purdue, only with different headliners. Atop the list was the sharpshooting Taylor McCabe, who propped up the Hawkeyes’ downtown action with 17 points on five treys. Iowa finished 2-for-13 from deep outside of McCabe.

Double-digit scoring assistance arrived elsewhere from Addi O’Grady (16 points), Hannah Stuelke (13 points, 10 rebounds) and Lucy Olsen (11 points) in her home-state return. Just 12 turnovers to go with 24 assists made for a clean box score.

Despite 32 points from Gabby Elliott and a double-double from Gracie Merkle (13 points, 12 rebounds), Penn State finished 8-for-30 from deep and watched second-leading scorer Moriah Murray struggle from everywhere on 1-for-10 shooting.

In recent years, conquering a challenge like this one would’ve been insignificant in a lot of ways for Iowa’s veteran roster. This one, though, has to go through all the steps again to reach elite status. Remaining focused in a situation where it wasn’t guaranteed marks another step forward for Jan Jensen’s group.

Now, Sunday’s massive home showdown against No. 7 Maryland comes into focus.

Dargan Southard is a sports trending reporter and covers Iowa athletics for the Des Moines Register and HawkCentral.com. Email him at msouthard@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.