On Thursday night, Iowa women’s basketball defeated No. 10 Baylor 57–52 at the WBCA Showcase in Orlando, passing its first real test of the young season.
The Hawkeyes, now 5-0, struggled with their shooting and engaged in a tug-of-war with one of the longstanding power programs in the sport for the majority of the evening. However, Iowa produced the pivotal plays that turned a top-10 matchup in its favor as the game tightened in the closing minutes.
This matchup didn’t feel ordinary. With Sydney Affolter and Lucy Olsen, two reliable veterans from the previous season, off the team, the Hawkeyes went into the game with serious concerns about how their retooled rotation would handle extreme adversity. From the beginning to the end, Baylor applied that pressure. Nevertheless, the Hawkeyes closed the game on a 9-1 run to secure a memorable early-season victory, handling the emotional swings, the scoring droughts, and the fourth-quarter stress test with remarkable composure. Iowa received proof that this team has the strength to compete with the best in college basketball.
The tone is set by defense. Much of the story is revealed in the final score. Iowa’s defense more than made up for its offense’s lackluster performance (34% overall and 36% from beyond the arc). The Hawkeyes kept Baylor to 29% from the floor and only 25% from beyond the arc, frustrating the Bears throughout the entire game. Most notably, as the game progressed, Iowa’s defense tightened. In the second half, Baylor shot just 6 out of 32. Iowa outrebounded the Bears 47–41 to win the game on the glass as well. In a game where every possession felt high-stakes and second-chance opportunities were rare gifts, that advantage proved crucial.
Ava Heiden is still growing. Ava Heiden, a sophomore center whose growth has been increasing since the end of her freshman year, was one of Iowa’s best developments. She appeared to be a rising star on Thursday. Heiden scored 18 points and pulled down 11 rebounds on 7-of-14 shooting for a dominant double-double. She provided Iowa with a physical interior anchor at 6-foot-4, battling on the boards against a tough Baylor frontcourt while scoring with poise. Heiden’s trajectory could significantly raise Iowa’s ceiling this season if this performance is any indication.
Off the bench, a spark Guard Taylor Stremlow, another sophomore, made a subtle but significant contribution to the game. Stremlow scored a career-high 12 points and made two crucial threes in the second half after coming off the bench. Beyond her ability to score goals, she provided Iowa with the stability they sorely needed on a night when making shots was crucial. Her presence served as a reminder of the depth this team is developing and helped stabilize the Hawkeyes’ backcourt rhythm.
The crucial moment for Emely Rodriguez Emely Rodriguez’s 2-for-9 shooting percentage doesn’t fully convey the situation. The fact that one of her actions changed the course of events does tell the story. Heiden tapped a long rebound to Rodriguez as Iowa clung to a 52–51 lead. The lead was extended to three after the UCF transfer sliced through Baylor’s defense as he raced the length of the court. Iowa’s lead was suddenly increased to five when senior guard Taylor McCabe scored after stealing the inbounds pass. The game was essentially decided by that sequence. In the most crucial part of the game, Rodriguez’s play changed the momentum in addition to increasing the box score.
Overcoming hardship When sophomore guard Chit-Chat Wright left the game after just 19 minutes due to an injury, Iowa’s fortitude was put to the test even more. Her absence in the backcourt was felt right away, and she finished with five points on 1-for-6 shooting. Nevertheless, the Hawkeyes managed to adjust, relying on Rodriguez, Stremlow, and their defense to make up for Wright’s lackluster play.
Getting through a terrifying night with Taliah Scott Taliah Scott, a guard for Baylor, almost stole the show. She scored 32 points, six of which came from three-point range. During a furious fourth-quarter stretch, when it seemed like she could lead Baylor to a comeback victory on her own, she made three of those long-range hits. However, Iowa always responded to Scott’s blows, sometimes on offense, sometimes on defense, and frequently on the glass.
What comes next? Iowa’s win over Baylor serves as a statement that this retooled group isn’t just talented—it’s tough. The Hawkeyes will carry the confidence they gained from a victory that called for perseverance, grit, and timely excellence into their second WBCA Showcase game on Saturday night against Miami. This game revealed a lot about Iowa’s identity for an early-season match. And thus far, the indications are encouraging.
