The Iowa Hawkeyes Women's Basketball season ends in the second round of the NCAA Tournament after losing 96-62 to the Oklahoma Sooners. Iowa finished the 2025 season with a 23-11 (10-8 Big Ten) record in Jan Jensen's first season as head coach.
The Hawkeyes could not overcome the Sooners' size in the paint and were overwhelmed on the defensive end.
Iowa senior guard Lucy Olsen was visibly emotional on the sideline after being subbed out of the game in the final minutes of the blowout loss. The Villanova transfer gave everything she had, but it was not enough to upset the three-seed Sooners.
Game Recap
The six-seed Iowa Hawkeyes faced an uphill battle against the three-seed Oklahoma Sooners in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Iowa needed to play a flawless game on both ends to secure the upset win.
As expected, Oklahoma went into the paint early and often in the first quarter. Even with star center Raegan Beers having a limited impact to start the game, Oklahoma was effective in the paint.
The Sooners scored 16 of their 20 first-quarter points in the paint. Oklahoma dominated in the paint, securing 11 rebounds and shooting 56 percent from the floor. The Sooners ended the first quarter on a 16-1 run and led 20-11.
Oklahoma's size also affected Iowa on the offensive end. The Hawkeyes only made six field goals, shooting 29 percent from the floor and 40 percent from three-point range. Iowa also had 8 turnovers in the first quarter.
The second quarter was no different. The Sooners continued to dominate the Hawkeyes on the glass and in the paint. Oklahoma finished the half with 33 rebounds (15 offensive) and out-rebounded the Hawkeyes 33-21.
Iowa hit a three late in the second quarter to cut the deficit to 11, but that is as close as they would get.
The Hawkeyes had a disastrous third quarter as the Sooners stretched their lead. After an early flagrant foul was called on Hannah Stuelke, the Sooners hit three straight three-point baskets to take a 17-point lead two minutes into the half.
Iowa Head Coach Jan Jensen was assessed a technical foul in the quarter after she got fed up with the questionable refereeing. The Sooners outscored the Hawkeyes 30-16 in the third quarter, and the Hawkeyes never recovered.
Oklahoma ended the game with 92 points, shooting 36 percent from the floor and 40 percent from three-point range. They out-rebounded Iowa 68-33 (plus-35 advantage), including 28-7 offensive rebounds (plus-21 advantage).
The glaring stat was Iowa's 20 turnovers and 16 assists. Oklahoma forced the Hawkeyes to commit bad turnovers and held the Iowa offense in check en route to a dominating 34-point win.
In her final game for the Hawkeyes, Lucy Olsen led Iowa with 20 points, five rebounds, and two assists. Kylie Feuerbach added 14 points and six rebounds in the losing effort.
Analysis
I want to start by saying there were way too many whistles blown in this game. WAY TOO MANY. It is hard to keep the game moving when the whistle is blown 66 times (33 fouls, 33 turnovers)!
I will now step off my soapbox.
The Hawkeyes could not handle the size that Oklahoma threw at them. The Sooners have three starters over six feet tall, and the Hawkeyes could not combat their size in the paint.
Rebounding and points in the paint were the biggest discrepancies in the box score. The Sooners had a plus-35 advantage (68-33) on the glass. That is almost unheard of. Oklahoma bullied Iowa on the glass all night.
The Sooners are not a very good shooting team, but when they out-rebound their opponents, they win.
Five Oklahoma players scored in double-digits, and six had five-plus rebounds. Skylar Vann had 17 points, six rebounds, and four assists to lead the way for the Sooners. Raegan Beers added 11 points and 13 rebounds.
Payton Verhulst (16), Sahara Williams (13), and Liz Scott (11) also scored in double-figures for the Sooners.
The Hawkeyes' rebounding disadvantage and turnovers (20) proved too much to overcome as their season ended at the hands of the Sooners.
What is next
The Iowa Hawkeyes finish their season and say goodbye to seniors Lucy Olsen, Sydney Affolter, Addison O'Grady, and AJ Ediger.
Senior Kylie Feuerbach has decided to return to the Hawkeyes next season and use her final year of eligibility.
The Oklahoma Sooners move on to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.