IOWA CITY — Fresh off a decisive victory over Drake, the No. 23 Iowa Hawkeyes (3-0) will face their first road test of the season against in-state rival UNI (0-2). The November 16 matchup at the McLeod Center in Cedar Falls presents another early-season opportunity for coach Jan Jensen’s squad to build on its momentum.
Iowa enters the contest with a history of dominance in the series, having won 17 of its last 18 games against the Panthers. However, Jensen will likely guard her team against complacency, as their sole loss in that stretch came during a 2019 visit to Cedar Falls. That 88-66 defeat serves as a reminder of the challenges posed by rivalry games on the road.
The matchup will also showcase a strong contingent of local talent. If starting lineups remain consistent, four Iowans will be on the floor for the opening tip: Iowa’s Hannah Stuelke (Cedar Rapids) and UNI’s Ryley Goebel (Center Point-Urbana), Jenna Twedt (Benton Community), and Elise Jaeger (West Des Moines Valley). The Hawkeyes’ in-state representation is further bolstered by freshman Journey Houston (Davenport North), who has provided a significant spark off the bench and is expected to see considerable action.
A key focus for Iowa will be to build on its stellar defensive performance against Drake. In that game, the Hawkeyes held the Bulldogs scoreless for over eight minutes during a commanding 25-0 run, a stretch where contributions came from everyone in the main rotation.
“Usually a team, when they’re really rolling and rocking, their sense of urgency is really trumping everything else,” Jensen said after the win, praising her team’s pace in both transition offense and defense.
The Hawkeyes will look to replicate that intensity against a UNI team that has struggled offensively, failing to surpass 60 points or 35% shooting in its opening losses to North Dakota State and Saint Louis.
Given Iowa’s current form and historical advantage, the Hawkeyes are poised to control the game. After letting the Panthers back into the contest last season following a fast start, expect a more complete performance this time around.
Prediction: Iowa 85, UNI 60
