Iowa Women’s Basketball Faces Critical West Coast Trip Amid Four-Game Skid

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The Iowa women’s basketball team is heading west in search of a much-needed win as they battle a four-game losing streak, their longest since 2015. The Hawkeyes (12-6, 2-5 Big Ten) will face Oregon and Washington in a critical stretch that could determine their NCAA Tournament hopes.

“All of our losses have been very winnable games, which is the frustrating part,” said junior guard Syd Affolter. “But we’re going onto the court, and we’re going to battle over there and give it our best shot.”

Iowa’s struggles have been compounded by defensive lapses and missed opportunities, particularly at the free-throw line. In their most recent loss to Nebraska, poor free-throw shooting in the final minutes allowed the Cornhuskers to force overtime and ultimately secure the win.

Head coach Jan Jensen remains optimistic, emphasizing that the team is close to turning things around. “It’s a lot of little things,” said sophomore forward Hannah Stuelke. “We’ll have lapses here and there, where we lose focus and miss an assignment. [The problems] are getting smaller, obviously, but we need to limit that as much as possible.”

The Hawkeyes face a tough challenge against Oregon, which boasts one of the top defenses in the nation. The Ducks rank 14th in adjusted defensive efficiency and have won four consecutive home games. Oregon’s bench has also been a key factor, averaging 29.2 points per game, the most in the Big Ten and 14th nationally.

Iowa leads the all-time series against Oregon 1-0, with their only meeting coming in the 2001 NCAA Tournament, where the Hawkeyes won 89-82 in overtime. However, this year’s matchup will test Iowa’s ability to bounce back from adversity.

Despite their recent struggles, the Hawkeyes have shown resilience this season. They have outrebounded 16 of their 18 opponents and hold the nation’s longest active streak of scoring at least 80 points per game in four consecutive seasons.

The game will be broadcast on BTN+ at 4:00 p.m. CT, with Rob Brooks and Kathryn Reynolds on the call for the Hawkeye Radio Network. Fans can also follow live updates on HawkeyeInsider.com and social media.