The No. 24 Iowa Hawkeyes celebrated a significant victory over the Purdue Boilermakers with a score of 84-63, marking one of their best years in history.
This win came after Iowa’s first Big Ten victory of the season, following a loss to the No. 19 Michigan State Spartans in their conference opener. The team had been on a nine-day break for the holidays.
Although the Hawkeyes initially dominated the game, the Boilermakers gave them a tough challenge, similar to the game against the Northern Iowa Panthers. Iowa faced a scoring drought and turnovers that allowed Purdue to close the gap in the second quarter.
The pattern continued in the third quarter, with Purdue cutting the lead down to eight points before Iowa regained control to secure a double-digit lead and eventually the win.
A notable aspect of the game was Iowa’s balanced scoring, with multiple players contributing to the victory, including freshman players making significant contributions off the bench.
The chemistry among the team members was evident as they worked together to secure the win, showcasing the progress they had made since the summer.
In a postgame press conference, freshman player Stremlow highlighted the team’s development and cohesion throughout the season, emphasizing the positive teamwork on display.
The Hawkeyes have exceeded expectations in the first half of the season under new coach Jan Jensen, with notable achievements such as Caitlin Clark’s record-breaking performance and a strong team dynamic.
During the game, Purdue coach Katie Geralds paid tribute to former player Jamie Cavey-Lang, showcasing her thoughtfulness and class in honoring the late player and radio analyst.
Cavey-Lang, who passed away from cancer, had a significant impact during her time with the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Next, No. 24 Iowa will face Penn State on January 1 at 12 p.m. ET.
