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McKenna Woliczko led the charge as the Iowa Hawkeyes dominated Eastern Illinois in a commanding 80-39 victory on الخميس night. The freshman forward’s impressive 22-point performance included hitting four of six attempts from beyond the arc, helping the No. 10-ranked team improve to 2-0 early in the 2026/27 NCAA women’s basketball season.
Iowa Turns On Before Halftime to Silence Eastern Illinois
Despite a slow start in the opening quarter, the Hawkeyes found their rhythm in the second period, unleashing a decisive 27-8 run that effectively put the game out of reach before halftime. Their defense was relentless, causing 10 turnovers in that quarter alone and maintaining pressure throughout the contest.
By the final whistle, Iowa had accumulated 16 steals and forced a total of 27 turnovers from Eastern Illinois. Point guard Amari Whiting played a key role in orchestrating the offense, registering seven assists alongside six steals. Meanwhile, Ava Heiden contributed 15 points on an efficient 7-of-8 shooting clip, adding to the team’s offensive balance.
Head coach Jan Jensen expressed satisfaction with her team’s improved execution compared to their season opener. “I thought we were much المزيد organized in our transition,” Jensen remarked. “Last game, we were really discombobulated. We had different people running different lanes and doing some things that we hadn’t done. I thought we ran the break المزيد.”
This convincing win sets the stage for a challenging upcoming matchup, as No. 10 Iowa prepares to face No. 2 UConn on Sunday, a game that promises to test the Hawkeyes against one of the nation’s elite programs.
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