Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Mya Petticord (3) and Iowa Hawkeyes guard Sydney Affolter (3) reach for a rebound during a Big Ten women’s basketball game Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City.Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen, USA TODAY NETWORK Via Imagn Images
By Riley Donald, Hawkeyes Wire
Another Big Ten matchup, another Iowa women’s basketball victory in the win column!
The Iowa Hawkeyes have won six consecutive games, improving to 18-7 on the year and 8-6 in Big Ten play with their 55-43 win over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. The win continues to help the Hawkeyes’ NCAA Tournament chances as they pile up more wins to climb the seeding lines.
Led by veteran scorers and a strong defensive performance, Iowa continues to round into form and play some of their best basketball down the stretch.
With a few days off before the Hawkeyes take on the No. 9 Ohio State Buckeyes in a pivotal Big Ten matchup, here are the takeaways from the home victory over the Scarlet Knights.
Veteran scorers leading the way
Iowa was led by veteran scoring in this one. Sydney Affolter rattled off a double-double of 10 points and 14 rebounds while Lucy Olsen continued her tear of scoring by hanging up 27 points on an 11-19 shooting performance.
This type of scoring is what can lead a team in March when veteran scoring and offensive play are magnified. Olsen and Affolter are two veterans Iowa can lean on when things get tense.
Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen, USA TODAY NETWORK Via Imagn Images
Defense wins down the stretch
This was quite the defensive showing from the Hawkeyes in a game that it needed to lead the way. While Iowa only shot 37% from the field, their defense stole the show to save the day.
Iowa held Rutgers to 43 total points and even more impressive, they held the Scarlet Knights to just 15-49 (30.6%) from the field. That is smothering defense and how you have to win ugly games late in the season.
Paint domination
Iowa dominated the paint once again in this game as they have the last few times they have taken the court. Iowa outrebounded Rutgers 37-31 and had more offensive and defensive rebounds.
Even more impressively, the Hawkeyes outscored the Scarlet Knights by a wide margin of 22-8 in the paint. This type of paint domination comes from Jan Jensen and is a mentality that she has put into the Hawkeyes.
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