Iowa women’s basketball drops two spots in AP poll after West Coast losses
West Coast struggles cause rankings to shift, and Iowa women’s basketball drops two spots in the AP poll. After a dismal 0-for-2 road trip to the West Coast, Iowa women’s basketball drops two spots in the AP Poll for the first time in weeks, moving from No. 8 to No. 10. Following back-to-back losses to USC and No. 2 UCLA, the Hawkeyes were ranked lower in the most recent AP Top 25 rankings, ending an eight-game winning streak and raising concerns about this Big Ten contender’s future.
Iowa was undefeated in conference play and ranked in the top 10 for the first time this season going into last week, but things quickly fell apart in the West. They are currently 9-2 in Big Ten play and 18-4 overall.
Nightmarish West Coast Trip Ends Winless
Iowa’s road troubles started in Los Angeles when they lost to USC 81-69. Kara Dutton’s 25 points and Jazzy Davidson’s 21 helped the Trojans seize the lead early on, while the Hawkeyes found it difficult to establish an offensive rhythm without injured starter Taylor McCabe. Despite leading her team with 13 points and 8 rebounds, Iowa’s Ava Heiden was unable to keep up. Black Heart Gold Trousers Days later, No. 2 UCLA struck again, winning 88-65 to reveal some obvious inconsistencies. Iowa only shot 43% overall, going 5-for-21 from beyond the arc, and UCLA outscored Iowa 56-26 in the paint. Heiden of Iowa once again led the Hawkeyes with 19 points in the second half, while Lauren Betts led the Bruins with 16.
According to the February 2 rankings, Iowa dropped from eighth place to tenth place in the AP Top 25 women’s basketball poll as a result of those two difficult losses. Despite Iowa’s impressive record earlier in the season, teams like Ohio State and Michigan have surpassed the Hawkeyes with recent victories.
What This Means for the Hawkeyes
For a team that was hoping for a Cinderella-like run in the national spotlight, dropping out of the poll is a reality check, but it’s not the end of the world. With multiple teams vying for a spot in the postseason, the Big Ten, which is renowned for its depth and parity, suddenly feels even more competitive.
AP News Despite the program’s shift from the Caitlin Clark era, Iowa is still among the top 10 teams in the country, which is a noteworthy achievement. The Hawkeyes are still in the running for a seed in the NCAA Tournament with an 18-4 record and a strong conference record.
After the UCLA game, one analyst stated, “Iowa needs to tighten up defensively and find more reliable scoring options beyond Heiden if they want to climb back up.” “There’s no shame in losing to teams of that caliber,” the analyst said. (This quotation summarizes popular post-loss analysis from poll watchers and coaches.)
What’s Next on the Schedule?
This week, Iowa will play Minnesota at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, a game that is suddenly more important than ever. Every conference game will serve as a yardstick for this Hawkeye team as the postseason draws near. While a loss could cause them to drop further in the polls the following week, a victory could quickly ease anxiety.
One thing is evident as observers and supporters process the most recent rankings changes: Iowa women’s basketball falls two spots in the AP Poll, but the season is far from over. There will be many opportunities for the Hawkeyes to demonstrate that they still deserve to be at the top of the national conversation.
