Woliczko Shines as No. 10 Iowa Downs Eastern Illinois

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Behind a career-high 22 points from first-year McKenna Woliczko and a dominant defensive effort, the No. 10 University of Iowa women's basketball team cruised past Eastern Illinois, 80-39, Thursday night inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Woliczko led all scorers, shooting 9-of-12 from the field and 4-of-6 from three-point range in just 23 minutes of action. Fourth-year Amari Whiting matched her career high with six steals while dishing out a game-high seven assists and grabbing seven rebounds. Third-year Ava Heiden added 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting and a team-high eight rebounds.

How It Happened

McKenna Woliczko got the Iowa offense started with a three-pointer, leading the Hawkeyes with seven points in the opening quarter. Eastern Illinois cut Iowa's lead to 11-9 with 3:30 remaining, but the Hawkeyes closed the quarter on a 6-1 run, capped by a Dani Carnegie layup at the buzzer. Iowa forced seven turnovers and held the Panthers without a field goal over the final 3:30 to take a 17-10 advantage.

The Hawkeyes broke the game open in the second quarter, closing the half on an 11-2 run. Eight Hawkeyes entered the scoring column in the period, led by Ava Heiden with eight points, as Iowa outscored Eastern Illinois 27-8. The Hawkeyes continued their defensive pressure, forcing 10 turnovers while committing none to take a 44-18 lead into halftime.

Iowa continued to build its advantage in the third quarter, with Woliczko connecting from beyond the arc to extend the lead to 51-20 midway through the period. The Hawkeyes outrebounded the Panthers, 12-6, with Heiden and Amari Whiting collecting three rebounds apiece. Carnegie knocked down a three-pointer in the closing minute to help Iowa take a 60-30 lead into the fourth.

The Hawkeyes opened the final quarter on a 10-0 run, highlighted by three-pointers from Carnegie, Woliczko and Chazadi 'Chit-Chat' Wright. Woliczko connected on her fourth three-pointer of the night to push Iowa's advantage to 75-34 with 5:10 remaining. All 11 Hawkeyes saw action as Iowa shot 45.5 percent (5-of-11) from beyond the arc in the quarter to secure the 80-39 victory.

Hear from Head Coach Jan Jensen

“I thought we were much more organized in our transition. Last game we were really discombobulated. ... So I thought we ran the break more, and it's a little indicative when we have about 18 points supposedly off the break. ... So I thought we did much better on that.”

“I think there was some improvement in the offense had we hit a better percentage collectively from the three ball early. ... If we hit maybe just even three more of those at the right time, we're probably feeling a little bit different about it. ... But I'm not concerned at that, at least certainly not this one. We're only two games in because we've been shooting it so well in practice. But again, when the lights are on is when you really have to come through.”

“McKenna's a really good student of the game. She works and she studies the film. I'm really happy with her ... I really love the progression of McKenna. I love how she attacks it and really tries to let that game come to her and she makes some pretty good decisions.”

Game Notes

• Head coach Jan Jensen earned her 52nd career victory, improving to 52-18 at the helm of the Hawkeyes.
• Iowa improved to 1-0 in the all-time series against Eastern Illinois.
• First-year McKenna Woliczko recorded a career-high 22 points, shooting 9-of-12 from the field and 4-of-6 from three-point range. It marked her first career 20-point performance.
• Woliczko scored 11 points in each half and finished with 22 points in just 23 minutes of action.
• Amari Whiting matched her career high with six steals, tying her previous mark set against St. John's on Nov. 19, 2025, while at Oklahoma State. Whiting also recorded a team-high seven assists and seven rebounds.
• Third-year Ava Heiden added 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.
• Three Hawkeyes scored in double figures: Woliczko (22), Heiden (15) and Dani Carnegie (12).
• Iowa forced 27 turnovers, converting them into 30 points. The Hawkeyes recorded 16 steals, led by Whiting's six and Journey Houston's four.
• The Hawkeyes held Eastern Illinois to 39 points on 31.6 percent (12-of-38) shooting. The Panthers managed just five made field goals and 18 points in the first half.
• Iowa has held both opponents to fewer than 50 points this season, limiting Towson to 45 and Eastern Illinois to 39.
• The Hawkeyes forced 10 turnovers in the second quarter while committing none, outscoring Eastern Illinois, 27-8.
• Iowa finished with 22 assists on 31 made field goals, including a team-high seven assists from Whiting.
• The Hawkeyes outrebounded Eastern Illinois, 44-25, including a 20-4 advantage on the offensive glass.
• Iowa outscored Eastern Illinois, 40-16, in the paint and 18-3 in fast-break points.
• The Hawkeyes held Eastern Illinois to single digits in two quarters, eight points in the second and nine in the fourth.
• Iowa connected on eight three-pointers in the second half after making just one in the opening 20 minutes.
• The Hawkeyes committed 12 turnovers, improving from 16 in Monday's season opener against Towson.
• All 11 available Hawkeyes saw action, with nine entering the scoring column.
• First-year Ella Strömdahl made her collegiate debut, recording one assist and one steal. 
• Fourth-year Bria Medina also made her Hawkeye debut, logging just under five minutes. 

Up Next

The Hawkeyes travel to Storrs, Conn., to face No. 2 UConn on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 1 p.m. (CT). The matchup will air nationally on FS1. Iowa will then return home to host Northern Iowa on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 7:30 p.m. (CT) inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The contest will air on BTN.