In a commanding performance on Thursday night, the No. 10 Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball team defeated the Northern Iowa Panthers 78-40. Junior forward Dani Carnegie led the scoring effort with 22 points, while teammate Ava Heiden contributed 15 points and a dominant presence in the paint.
Early dominance sets the tone
Iowa took control from the opening tip, establishing a 40-11 lead at halftime. The Panthers struggled to find rhythm, shooting just 5 of 24 from the field in the first half and making only one three‑pointer. A 20-2 run to close the half highlighted Iowa’s relentless defense and efficient offense.
Key performances
Carnegie, a junior who earned first‑team All‑Southeastern Conference honors while playing at Georgia last season, was 9‑of‑13 from the field. Her scoring burst included a buzzer‑beating layup that pushed her career total past the 1,000‑point milestone. Heiden, standing 6‑foot‑4, was a force inside, shooting 7‑of‑10 and pulling down nine rebounds.
Freshman McKenna Woliczko added 14 points and nine rebounds, showing the depth of Iowa’s roster. The Hawkeyes shot an efficient 55.2% from the field and out‑rebounded the Panthers 38‑31.
Panthers’ struggles
Northern Iowa could not answer Iowa’s size advantage. The Panthers managed only 25.5% shooting and turned the ball over 26 times. Their leading scorer, Jenna Twedt, finished with eight points, while former Iowa player Callie Levin added six for the Panthers.
Historical context and upcoming games
The victory extends Iowa’s dominance in the in‑state series, now 29‑3 against Northern Iowa and 18‑1 in the last 19 meetings. After bouncing back from a 91‑79 loss to No. 4 UConn on Sunday, the Hawkeyes look to continue their strong start to the season.
Next up, Northern Iowa will host Creighton on Sunday, while Iowa travels to Sioux City to face No. 8 Vanderbilt later that day.
What this means for Iowa fans
For Hawkeyes supporters, the game reinforced the team’s defensive tenacity and offensive balance. With a veteran core and promising freshmen contributing, Iowa appears poised to contend for conference honors and a deep postseason run.
Original reporting: KCCI Des Moines — read the source article.
