IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — In a thrilling basketball showdown, the Iowa women’s team pulled off a remarkable victory over the mighty USC Trojans, ending their impressive 15-game winning streak. Lucy Olsen led the charge with an outstanding performance, scoring 28 points, while Addison O’Grady contributed 13 points to secure a 76-69 win for the Hawkeyes on Sunday.
The game was not only significant for Iowa due to the victory but also marked a special moment as they retired Caitlin Clark’s jersey number 22 in a postgame ceremony. The atmosphere was electric, with a sellout crowd of 14,998 cheering on the Hawkeyes as they battled one of the top teams in the nation.
Iowa came out firing on all cylinders, opening the game with an impressive 18-1 run. Despite a strong response from USC in the second quarter, the Hawkeyes stood their ground and matched the Trojans throughout the game. The turning point came when Iowa rallied from a five-point deficit in the third quarter, with Olsen and O’Grady taking control in the second half.
Olsen and O’Grady combined for 23 of Iowa’s 25 fourth-quarter points, showcasing their leadership and composure in crunch time. Sydney Affolter added 11 points and nine rebounds, while Hannah Stuelke chipped in with 10 points to help secure the memorable victory.
For USC, JuJu Watkins put up a valiant effort, scoring 27 points, but struggled with her shooting efficiency. Kiki Iriafen and Kennedy Smith also made significant contributions for the Trojans, but it was not enough to overcome Iowa’s determined performance.
The key moment in the game came when USC closed the gap to 63-60 in the final minutes. However, O’Grady and Olsen responded with a series of crucial field goals to put the game out of reach for the Trojans. Olsen’s clutch 3-point play, with O’Grady providing the assist, sealed the victory for Iowa.
A standout statistic from the game was USC’s struggles with shooting, missing 20 of their first 22 shots. Despite Watkins’ scoring output, the Trojans’ inefficiency on offense proved costly in the end.
Looking ahead, USC will face Wisconsin next, while Iowa is set to take on Minnesota in their upcoming matchups. The Hawkeyes will look to build on this momentum and continue their quest for success in the competitive Big Ten conference.
