In a resounding 99–76 victory over Penn State at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday, Iowa women’s basketball showed a strong reaction to recent hardship. In addition to dispelling any remaining doubts after a difficult loss to No. 1 UConn, the victory also included positive news about transfer guard/forward Emely Rodriguez’s situation. Two important players were absent from head coach Jan Jensen’s team going into the game, but it didn’t matter for very long. Penn State was able to hold out for the first few minutes, but as soon as Iowa settled into a rhythm, the Hawkeyes gained the upper hand. Midway through the first quarter, a scorching 16-0 run opened the game and established the tone for the remainder of the afternoon.
After that, Iowa did what it does best: control the glass and dominate the paint. The Hawkeyes finished with a huge 55–29 rebounding advantage after overwhelming the Nittany Lions inside. Iowa shot an effective 50% from the field and gradually gained ground, winning by 23 points, as a direct result of their physical advantage. The Hawkeyes needed this performance after losing badly to UConn in Brooklyn a week prior. Even though it was humiliating, Iowa needed to improve in a few areas, especially ball security and making decisions under duress, after losing to the top-ranked team in the country. Jensen’s team appeared much more collected and focused against Penn State.
But the most intriguing development came after the final buzzer.
For the first time in weeks, Emely Rodriguez’s situation became clear. Her absence had subtly grown to be one of the program’s biggest uncertainties. Rodriguez’s back problem was initially noted on the injury report, but when she wasn’t seen on the bench during Iowa’s victory over Lindenwood, confusion ensued. When she skipped the team’s trip to New York for the UConn game, things became even more unclear. Jensen’s succinct response to a previous question about Rodriguez’s continued participation in the program, “She is for now, yeah,” sparked curiosity and conjecture. Fans were left wondering what was actually happening because the show never made a formal suspension announcement.
On Sunday, those questions finally began to fade.
After Rodriguez was seen on the bench during the Penn State game, Jensen verified that the transfer had returned to the team. Although no suspension was ever made public, Jensen clarified that the matter was handled internally. She also mentioned Rodriguez’s ongoing back injury.
Still, seeing Rodriguez back on the sidelines was an undeniably positive sign.
Due to a combination of an internal issue and a back problem, Rodriguez has missed the last seven games. All signs point to her returning to the rotation once she is fully recovered, even though there is no set date for her return to the court. As Big Ten play intensifies, her eventual return could be a significant boost for a team that depends on depth, versatility, and defensive toughness. After a recent decline in the rankings, the victory also helped stabilize Iowa’s standing nationally. The Hawkeyes fell from No. 11 to No. 14 in the most recent AP Top 25 after losing to No. 10 Iowa State and No. 1 UConn in two of their previous three games. Even though the fall was obvious, considering the caliber of opponents, it’s hardly concerning.
Iowa is still among the nation’s most productive teams in spite of the setbacks. Jensen’s team continues to outscore opponents by almost 23 points and outrebound them by nearly 14 points per game. Even as the coaching staff works to improve decision-making under duress, the Hawkeyes continue to succeed offensively by utilizing their size and length inside. A few issues with Jensen’s post-focused strategy were brought to light by the UConn defeat. Iowa had trouble moving the ball and made 26 turnovers, which the Huskies turned into 41 points. However, those problems were much less noticeable against Penn State, giving hope that lessons were learned.
As 2025 draws to a close, Iowa couldn’t have asked for a more fitting way to end the year. The Hawkeyes had plenty to build upon going into the heart of Big Ten play thanks to a commanding conference victory, better execution, and clarity regarding the status of a key player.
