Carnegie Leads No. 10 Hawkeyes Past Towson in Season Opener

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The No. 10 University of Iowa women's basketball team opened its 2026-27 campaign with a 73-45 victory over Towson on Monday night inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Third-year Dani Carnegie led all scorers with 21 points, five rebounds and five assists in her Hawkeye debut. First-year McKenna Woliczko added 10 points, eight rebounds and three blocks, while third-year Chazadi 'Chit-Chat' Wright contributed 14 points and three 3-pointers.

How It Happened

After a slow start, Iowa found its rhythm midway through the first quarter, sparked by a 3-pointer from Woliczko. The Hawkeyes used a 7-0 run, beginning with a layup from second-year Layla Hays, to build a 10-4 advantage. Iowa converted five free throws in the opening period and carried a 17-14 lead into the second quarter.

The Hawkeyes leaned on their defense in the second quarter, holding Towson to just nine points. After going scoreless for more than four minutes, Iowa regained its offensive rhythm with a 3-pointer from second-year Journey Houston. The Hawkeyes closed the half on a 10-0 run, holding the Tigers scoreless over the final 5:17. Third-year Taylor Stremlow highlighted the defensive effort with two steals and a block as Iowa took a 33-23 advantage into halftime.

Iowa continued to build its lead in the third quarter, scoring eight points in the paint and outscoring Towson, 19-14. Wright provided a spark with a 3-pointer and three free throws, while Woliczko added four points and six rebounds in the period. The Hawkeyes extended their lead to as many as 17 before entering the final quarter ahead, 52-37.

The Hawkeyes pulled away in the fourth quarter, outscoring Towson, 21-8, to secure the 73-45 victory. Iowa shot 50 percent (8-of-16) from the field in the final period, led by Carnegie's 10 points. The Hawkeyes closed the contest on a 12-0 run, holding the Tigers scoreless over the final 3:56.

Hear from Head Coach Jan Jensen

“We were trying to get a lot of different combinations in. We didn't hit a lot of shots that we've typically been hitting, but I was really pleased with our defensive side. I feel like we've got a lot of good things going and a lot of different combinations.”

“Our offense got a little sticky. ... It takes a bit of time to really start to understand every way a defense plays you and how you need to counter it. That'll be a work in progress, but certainly, I was thankful for the win.”

Game Notes

• Iowa extended its regular-season opening winning streak to 27 consecutive games, including a 3-0 mark under head coach Jan Jensen.
• Jensen earned her 51st career victory, improving to 51-18 as Iowa's head coach.
• Iowa improved to 2-0 in the all-time series against Towson.
• Dani Carnegie led all scorers with 21 points, five rebounds and five assists in her Hawkeye debut. Carnegie scored 17 points in the second half, shooting 3-of-5 from beyond the arc after going 0-of-5 in the first half.
• Carnegie's 21 points surpassed Lucy Olsen's 19 against Northern Illinois on Nov. 6, 2024, for the most points by a transfer in her Hawkeye debut.
• McKenna Woliczko recorded 10 points, a team-high eight rebounds and three blocks in her collegiate debut, shooting 4-of-6 from the field. Woliczko scored Iowa's first points of the season on a 3-pointer with 6:59 remaining in the first quarter.
• Four Hawkeyes made their official Iowa debuts: Carnegie (21 points, five rebounds, five assists), Woliczko (10 points, eight rebounds), Amari Whiting (three points, five rebounds, two assists) and Jocelyn Faison (two points, five rebounds, three assists).
• Chazadi 'Chit-Chat' Wright finished with 14 points and three 3-pointers. Wright surpassed 400 career points at Iowa and now has 401.
• Iowa outrebounded Towson, 52-27, including an 18-9 advantage on the offensive glass. The Hawkeyes outscored the Tigers, 21-2, in second-chance points.
• Seven Hawkeyes collected at least five rebounds, led by Woliczko's eight. Ava Heiden and Taylor Stremlow each grabbed seven.
• The Hawkeyes limited Towson to 31.1 percent (19-of-61) shooting from the field and 16.7 percent (3-of-18) from 3-point range. Towson went 0-of-7 from beyond the arc in the second half.
• Iowa closed the first half on a 10-0 run to take a 33-23 advantage and finished the contest on a 12-0 run, holding Towson scoreless over the final 3:56.
• The Hawkeyes outscored Towson, 40-22, in the second half, including a 21-8 advantage in the fourth quarter.
• All nine Hawkeyes who saw action entered the scoring column.
• Iowa recorded six blocks, including three from Woliczko and two from Stremlow.

Up Next

The Hawkeyes return to action Thursday, Nov. 5, against Eastern Illinois inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. (CT), and the game will stream on B1G+ (subscription required). Iowa will then travel to face No. 2 UConn on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 1 p.m. (CT) on FS1.