Iowa women stun Iowa State with fourth-quarter comeback

On December 11, 2024, in Iowa City, the No. 21 Iowa women's basketball team secured a significant victory against the No. 18 Iowa State Cyclones in a closely contested match. The game was held at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, which was filled to capacity with a sold-out crowd of 14,998 fans. Iowa found itself trailing for much of the game and was down by as many as ten points during the third quarter. However, a strong defensive effort allowed Iowa to rally in the fourth quarter. Lucy Olsen led the Hawkeyes with a remarkable performance, scoring 25 points, along with key contributions from teammates Sydney Affolter, who added 16 points, and Hannah Stuelke, contributing 13 points and nine rebounds. Iowa's ability to capitalize on turnovers proved crucial, as they converted 24 points off 21 turnovers enforced on their opponents. Iowa State's Audi Crooks had an impressive individual performance, scoring 31 points and securing 10 rebounds, while teammate Addy Brown added 13 points. Despite Iowa State's strong shooting, at 52%, the team's inability to maintain possession significantly impacted their performance. The Cyclones struggled at the free-throw line, hitting only 6 of their 16 attempts compared to Iowa's 15 of 25, exposing a weakness that Iowa exploited in key moments of the game. As the match progressed towards its final minutes, Iowa shifted momentum by implementing a tenacious defense that led to a critical 13-2 run, ultimately sealing their victory. This victory was particularly significant for Iowa following the announcement that Iowa State's junior guard Kenzi Hare would miss the remainder of the season due to a hip injury she sustained. Her absence, following a solid start to her season where she averaged 8.3 points across eight games, represents a considerable loss for the Cyclones. The loss against Iowa puts Iowa State's current season record at 8-3, while Iowa improved to 9-1, positioning themselves favorably as they head into the Big Ten conference games. In the days following this intense competition, Iowa looks forward to their next match against Michigan State, which will be an important opener for both teams in the Big Ten conference season. Meanwhile, Iowa State will attempt to regroup and make the necessary adjustments in their upcoming game against Eastern Illinois, hoping to learn from their mistakes and restore momentum before conference play begins.