Hawkeyes Steal One on the Road at Nebraska

LINCOLN, Nebraska – The University of Iowa Women’s Basketball team downed the Nebraska Huskers, 81-66, inside Pinnacle Bank Arena. The Hawkeyes have secured five consecutive conference victories.

Senior Lucy Olsen led the way for Iowa with a season-high 32 points including tying her season-best four three-pointers. Nebraska native Taylor McCabe followed with a season-high 17 points matching her season best in three-pointers. Senior Sydney Affolter was perfect from beyond the arc going 3-for-3 and finishing with 13 points.

The Hawkeyes came out strong to start the game, opening with a 7-0 run, all courtesy of Olsen. Olsen continued to dominate the first quarter, racking up 12 points, including two three-pointers. Iowa built its lead to as much as nine after an Affolter three, but Nebraska responded by sinking four straight free throws to close the quarter. The Hawkeyes held a 16-13 advantage heading into the second.

Nebraska put together a 7-0 run midway through the second quarter to tie the game for the first time; however, Iowa responded with a 9-0 surge to reclaim the lead. Olsen and freshman Ava Heiden each added six points in the quarter, helping the Hawkeyes maintain their advantage and head into halftime with a 38-35 lead.

McCabe draining a three in the opening minute, and the Hawkeyes took control in the third quarter, outscoring Nebraska 22-11. They stretched their lead to its largest of the night after back-to-back threes from McCabe and Affolter, followed by a jumper from Olsen, putting Iowa up by 14. The Hawkeyes carried a 60-46 advantage into the final 10 minutes.

In the fourth quarter, Olsen and McCabe each scored eight points with McCabe hitting two three-pointers. Iowa out-rebounded Nebraska 20-12 in the second half helping secure an 81-66 road victory.

POSTGAME NOTES
- Lucy Olsen finished with 32 points, seven assists, and six rebounds.
- It was Olsen’s first 30-point game as Hawkeye.
- Olsen netted career-high field goals as a Hawkeye and tied an overall career-high in 3-pointers.
- Olsen became the second Hawkeye since 2009 to record 30+ points, 5+ assists, and 5+ rebounds in a single game. (Caitlin Clark)
- It was Olsen’s 37th career game with 20+ points.
- It was her seventh 20+ point performance as a Hawkeye which is a team-high this season.
- Olsen had 12 of Iowa’s 16 points in the first quarter.
- In the first half, Olsen recorded 18 points going 7-of-11 from the field and 3-of-5 from 3-point range.
- Olsen has dished out six or more assists 10 times this season.
- The Hawkeyes are 9-1 when Olsen records six or more dimes.
- Taylor McCabe registered 17 points going 5-of-8 from deep.
- McCabe tied a season-high in points and 3-pointers made.
- McCabe is 10-of-20 from 3-point range against Nebraska in her career.
- Sydney Affolter registered 13 points, four assists, and two rebounds.
- Affolter has reached double digits nine times this year and in four straight games.
- Hannah Stuelke notched a team-best 10 rebounds.
- Iowa has now won five consecutive Big Ten games, its longest winning streak in conference play this season.
- The Hawkeyes have picked up three consecutive Quad 1 victories.
- Iowa netted a season-high 12 3-pointers.
- Nebraska won the free throw battle 29-14 and the Huskers drew 25 fouls.
- It was Iowa’s third game of the season netting 10+ 3-pointers. (BYU and UNI)
- Iowa improved to 14-3 when leading at halftime this season.
- In Big Ten play, Iowa is 60-16 over the last four years.
- Iowa has won 10 out of the last 12 matchups with Nebraska.
- The Hawkeyes lead the all-time series, 27-15.
- Iowa outscored Nebraska, 34-18 in paint points.

QUOTING SUE P. BECKWITH, MD, HEAD COACH JAN JENSEN
“The resilience of this team just speaks wonders. We were so close in so many games, and our team kept showing up and believing. We just kept staying the course, and to see them have back-to-back road wins is what this team has been needing. This is a pretty important win, and this win gets us closer to where we deserve to be if we keep playing like this.”

FOLLOW US
Make sure to follow Iowa women’s basketball on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook (@IowaWBB) for news and updates all season long.

UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes returns home to host Rutgers on Thursday, Feb. 12. Tip-off inside a sold out Carver-Hawkeye Arena is set for 6:30 p.m. (CT) and will air on BTN+ (subscription required) and the Hawkeye Radio Network.