The atmosphere was electric at Carver-Hawkeye Arena Sunday afternoon as Iowa faced off against the third-ranked UCLA Bruins. The Hawkeyes put forth a valiant effort but came up short, losing 67-65, leaving fans heartbroken and players reflecting on missed opportunities.
The game started on shaky grounds for Iowa, as UCLA quickly established control, holding the Hawkeyes scoreless for four minutes after their first basket. UCLA’s 6-foot-7 center Lauren Betts spearheaded the early charge, putting up six points as the Bruins climbed to an 8-2 lead. Yet, the Hawkeyes answered back, showcasing their depth and grit. Senior guard Lucy Olsen provided some much-needed energy, scoring just before the first quarter buzzer to close the gap. Iowa ended the first quarter trailing narrowly at 14-12.
The second quarter lit a fire under Iowa as they finally found their groove. With impressive teamwork, the Hawkeyes launched a quick comeback, tying the game multiple times. Sophomore guard Hannah Stuelke capitalized on offensive rebounds, contributing significantly to Iowa’s efforts. Three-pointers from Stuelke and Olsen helped propel the Hawkeyes to their first lead of the game. The momentum swung decisively to Iowa as they dominated, entering halftime with their largest lead of the day, 36-29.
After the break, Iowa continued their aggressive play, even stretching their lead to 12 points early in the third quarter. It looked like the upset might be within their grasp. But UCLA was not ready to back down. Betts responded with 7 points, fueling the Bruins’ comeback and tying the game at 50 by the end of the third quarter. UCLA head coach Cori Close acknowledged Iowa's defense, stating, "I think Iowa is one of the best box-out teams we have faced all year," highlighting the challenge posed by the Hawkeyes.
The fourth quarter was fraught with tension, featuring back-and-forth scoring. With every possession, the stakes grew higher. A clutch basket by UCLA’s Kiki Rice put the Bruins up 62-60 with just minutes remaining. After Iowa’s Sydney Affolter hit two free throws to cut the deficit, the game reached its thrilling climax. With just seconds on the clock, Lucy Olsen was fouled attempting to shoot a three-pointer, sinking all three free throws to tie the game 65-65.
But fortune turned against Iowa when Olsen inadvertently fouled UCLA's Elina Aarnisalo, leading to two game-winning free throws with just 3.8 seconds left. A devastating end to the game for the Hawkeyes came as Addison O'Grady's last-second shot attempt fell short, sealing Iowa’s fate. "I thought we had to earn some toughness tonight," reflected Close after the match.
Iowa's head coach Jan Jensen strongly believed they had the game within reach, stating, "It came down to bad decisions. I can’t fault the effort, but today it was just about execution.” The Hawkeyes now sit at 18-9 overall this season, with their Big Ten record at 8-8.
Despite the loss, the game reaffirmed Iowa’s ability to compete with top-tier teams. Olsen led the team with 17 points, followed by Stuelke at 11. Jensen commented on their growth during the match, saying, “They battle, I’m so proud of how they battle.” Iowa's future may lie within their capacity to convert these close fixtures, especially before entering the NCAA Tournament.
With another match against Michigan looming, the Hawkeyes intend to leverage the lessons learned from this tightly contested battle before their home finale against Wisconsin. The tension-filled contest against UCLA showcased Iowa's potential, leaving fans eagerly anticipating what the team's future holds as they prepare for March Madness.