Iowa WBB Ohio State wasn’t supposed to look like this. Ohio State came into Sunday ranked, confident, and rolling. Ninety minutes later, the Buckeyes walked out of Carver-Hawkeye Arena looking stunned as Iowa cruised to a dominant 90-71 victory that felt bigger than just another Big Ten win.
This was a message. Loud. Clear. Unmistakable.
With the win, Iowa pushed its winning streak to eight straight, stayed perfect in conference play, and reminded the rest of the country that Carver remains one of the toughest places to play in women’s college basketball.
From the opening run to the closing horn, the Hawkeyes controlled the tempo, the paint, and most importantly the moment.
Iowa WBB Ohio State Takeaways That Tell the Whole Story
The final score only tells part of it. To really understand how Iowa made a ranked Ohio State team look overmatched, you have to dig into the details.
Takeaway 1: Iowa’s Depth Turned a Close Game Into a Blowout
Early on, things looked competitive. Ohio State jumped out quickly, showing why it came in as one of the Big Ten’s most respected teams. But once Iowa settled in, the game changed fast.
A 12-0 Hawkeye run flipped the energy inside Carver, and Iowa never gave it back.
When Taylor McCabe exited early, there was a brief moment of uncertainty. Instead of panic, Iowa responded with confidence. Freshman Addie Deal stepped right into the spotlight, pouring in a career-high 20 points and playing with a calm well beyond her years.
That’s the difference between a good team and a great one — next player up, no drop-off.
Iowa’s bench outscored Ohio State 33-3, a staggering number that tells you everything you need to know. When legs got tired, Iowa just kept rolling out contributors.
Takeaway 2: Hannah Stuelke Owned the Paint
If Ohio State had any hope of climbing back into the game, it needed answers inside. Hannah Stuelke made sure there weren’t any.
The sophomore was everywhere attacking the glass, finishing through contact, and cleaning up missed shots. Her 18 points and 15 rebounds didn’t just fill the stat sheet; they controlled the game’s flow.
Every time Ohio State tried to build momentum, Stuelke seemed to grab a rebound or finish a tough bucket that quieted the run before it ever started.
Add in Ava Heiden’s 18 points and eight rebounds, and Iowa’s frontcourt simply overwhelmed the Buckeyes. The Hawkeyes won the rebounding battle 48-30, and that physical edge showed up on every possession.
Takeaway 3: Defense Was the Real Statement
Yes, Iowa shot nearly 58 percent from the floor. Yes, they scored 90 points. But what really separated this game was defense.
Ohio State never found a rhythm.
The Buckeyes were held to 34.8 percent shooting, forced into tough looks late in the shot clock, and constantly met by disciplined rotations. Even when Jaloni Cambridge delivered a strong individual performance, Iowa never let it snowball into something dangerous.
This wasn’t frantic defense. It was connected, intentional, and confident the kind of defense that travels and wins.
Why This Win Matters More Than the Score
At 18-2 overall and 9-0 in Big Ten play, Iowa isn’t just winning they’re convincing. Beating a ranked Ohio State team by nearly 20 points sends a message to the rest of the conference and the national picture.
It says this team has:
Scoring from multiple levels
Real depth
Physical toughness
The ability to adapt when things don’t go as planned
Most importantly, it shows Iowa is comfortable being the team everyone circles on the schedule.
The Bigger Picture
Games like Iowa WBB Ohio State aren’t just regular-season wins. They’re confidence builders. They’re identity definers. They’re the kind of performances that players remember when the lights get brighter and the margins get thinner.
The Hawkeyes didn’t just win Sunday.
They made a statement and the rest of women’s college basketball heard it loud and clear.
