Presidents’ Day in Lincoln, Nebraska, brings a high-stakes Big Ten showdown as the No. 12 Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball team (19-5, 10-3 Big Ten) squares off against the Nebraska Cornhuskers (16-9, 5-9 Big Ten) at Pinnacle Bank Arena. With tip-off set for 11 a.m. Central Time and FOX carrying the broadcast, fans across the nation are tuning in to see if Iowa can complete a regular-season sweep of their conference rivals, or if Nebraska can snap their recent skid and secure a signature win on their home floor.
The Hawkeyes enter this clash riding a wave of cautious optimism. After snapping a three-game losing streak with a gritty 65-56 win over the No. 25 Washington Huskies, Iowa is eager to build momentum as the postseason looms. That victory, coming just five days prior, was a much-needed confidence boost for a squad adjusting to adversity and lineup changes.
Adversity has indeed been a theme for Iowa this season. The injury bug has bitten hard, most notably sidelining senior guard Taylor McCabe for the remainder of the campaign. McCabe, a Nebraska native and one of Iowa’s top perimeter threats, suffered a season-ending knee injury against Ohio State on January 25, 2026. Before her injury, she averaged 8.0 points per game and led the team with 49 three-pointers through the first 20 contests. Her absence has forced head coach Jan Jensen to lean on a younger, shorter rotation and recalibrate the team’s offensive and defensive schemes.
The Hawkeyes’ injury woes don’t stop there. Sophomore guard Emely Rodriguez, dealing with a nagging back injury, missed her 19th consecutive game today. Senior forward Jada Gyamfi, meanwhile, remains sidelined as she recovers from a December knee procedure. With McCabe, Rodriguez, and Gyamfi all out, Iowa’s depth has been tested, and the pressure on the remaining rotation has only intensified.
Despite these setbacks, Iowa continues to find ways to win. The team’s frontcourt duo of senior Hannah Stuelke and sophomore Ava Heiden has been a revelation. Stuelke, a 6’2 forward, is averaging 14.0 points and a team-best 8.9 rebounds per game while shooting an efficient 54.5 percent from the field. She’s a force on the glass, especially on the offensive end, where she averages 2.6 boards per contest. Heiden, standing at 6’4, leads the Hawkeyes in scoring with 16.4 points per game on a blistering 62.7 percent shooting and anchors the defense with a team-high 25 blocks. In Big Ten play, Heiden has elevated her game, posting an impressive 18.2 points per outing.
The backcourt has seen sophomore transfer Chazadi “Chit-Chat” Wright step into a starring role. The 5’4 point guard, who joined Iowa from Georgia Tech, is averaging 13.4 points and 4.6 assists while connecting on a remarkable 48.6 percent of her three-point attempts (54-for-111). Wright’s ability to control the tempo and stretch defenses has been pivotal, particularly with McCabe out of the lineup. Sophomore Taylor Stremlow, who replaced McCabe in the starting five, has contributed 7.1 points and 3.6 assists per game, adding a new dimension with her mid-range and slashing abilities. Graduate guard Kylie Feuerbach, averaging 5.1 points and 3.0 assists, continues to be one of Iowa’s top perimeter defenders, providing veteran leadership during this challenging stretch.
Off the bench, freshmen Addie Deal (6.0 ppg) and Layla Hays (4.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg) have provided valuable minutes, while sophomore Journey Houston (5.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg) adds energy and rebounding prowess. As a team, Iowa is putting up 79.3 points per game on 48.6 percent shooting, including a solid 36.4 percent from beyond the arc. Their plus-8.0 rebound margin and positive turnover differential underscore a commitment to fundamentals, even as the rotation has tightened.
On the Nebraska side, the Cornhuskers are looking to halt a four-game losing streak and reverse a tough stretch that has seen them drop seven of nine and nine of their last thirteen after a hot 12-0 start to the season. Head coach Amy Williams, now in her tenth season at the helm, leans on a balanced roster featuring standout sophomore guard Britt Prince (17.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg), sophomore forward Amiah Hargrove (12.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg), and junior forward Jessica Petrie (11.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg). Prince, in particular, has emerged as Nebraska’s go-to scorer, capable of taking over games with her shooting and playmaking.
Nebraska’s starting lineup is rounded out by junior guard Logan Nissley (8.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg) and senior guard Callin Hake (7.6 ppg, 2.4 rpg), while senior forward Eliza Maupin (8.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg) and sophomore forward Petra Bozan (6.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg) provide key contributions off the bench. The Cornhuskers have a clean injury report for this contest, aside from two season-ending absences, giving them a slight edge in terms of available depth compared to their shorthanded opponents.
This isn’t the first meeting between these two teams this season. Back on New Year’s Day, Iowa dispatched Nebraska 86-76 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, showcasing their offensive firepower and defensive grit. But as any seasoned Big Ten fan will tell you, road games are a different beast—especially in a rivalry setting. The Hawkeyes have struggled at times away from Iowa City, and with the lineup still adjusting to McCabe’s absence, nothing is guaranteed.
What’s at stake? For Iowa, a win keeps them firmly in the hunt for a top seed in the NCAA Tournament—they were ranked 11th in the committee’s first top-16 seed reveal on February 14, 2026—and adds another crucial Quad 1 victory to their résumé. For Nebraska, a victory would not only snap their losing streak but also bolster their case for an NCAA Tournament at-large bid, as they currently sit on the bubble.
Predictions for this matinee matchup have been tight, with most analysts expecting a close, hard-fought game. Dargan Southard of Hawk Central summed up the general consensus: “In an effort that won’t be short on drama or tension, Iowa shows resiliency on the road to squeak out a key victory over Nebraska. The Hawkeyes, who were ranked 11th in the NCAA Tournament committee’s first top-16 seed reveal on Feb. 14, pick up another important Quad 1 win. Iowa 74, Nebraska 72.”
As the teams take the court, all eyes are on how Iowa’s shortened rotation will handle the pressure, and whether Nebraska can rediscover its early-season form. With both squads hungry for a statement win, fans can expect a contest filled with energy, emotion, and perhaps a few surprises along the way.
With the action underway and the result still up in the air, the only certainty is that Presidents’ Day in Lincoln has delivered a matchup worthy of national attention. Stay tuned as the drama unfolds in this pivotal Big Ten battle.