Iowa women’s basketball schedule 2021-22: Hawkeyes face difficult closing stretch

IOWA CITY — February is a beast.

The Big Ten released its women’s basketball schedule for the 2021-22 season, and the Iowa Hawkeyes’ closing stretch — particularly from Valentine’s Day on — is difficult.

Maryland, coached by Cedar Rapids native Brenda Frese, is the defending league champion, both regular-season and tournament. The Terrapins visit Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Feb. 14.

Then the Hawkeyes travel to Indiana (Feb. 20) and Rutgers (Feb. 24) and conclude the regular season Feb. 27 at home against Michigan.

Maryland, Iowa, Indiana and Michigan are considered the four favorites for next season. All reached the Sweet 16 in 2021, with Indiana advancing to the Elite Eight.

The Hawkeyes host the Hoosiers on Jan. 23 and travel to Ann Arbor on Feb. 6. They only play Maryland once.

The Big Ten assigned a handful of early-December games, including Michigan State at Iowa on Dec. 5. The Hawkeyes’ next conference game is Jan. 30, at Penn State.

Times and TV will be released at a later date.

Iowa was 20-10 last season, finished sixth in the Big Ten regular-season race, then reached the conference tournament final before falling to Maryland

The non-conference schedule was released last week. The Hawkeyes’ in-state games are Nov. 14 at Northern Iowa, Nov. 21 at home against Drake and Dec. 8 at Iowa State.

Other highlights include the Cancun Challenge (Iowa faces Seton Hall and USC, Nov. 25-26) and a Dec. 2 date at Duke as part of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.

Two home opponents were regular-season conference champions in 2020-21: Samford (Nov. 11) won the Southern Conference title and IUPUI (Dec. 21) captured the Horizon League crown.

Iowa women’s basketball 2021-22 schedule

Nov. 4 — Truman State (exhibition, home)

Nov. 9 — New Hampshire (home)

Nov. 11 — Samford (home)

Nov. 14 — at Northern Iowa

Nov. 17 — Southern University (home)

Nov. 21 — Drake (home)

Nov. 25 — vs. Seton Hall (Cancun Challenge)

Nov. 26 — vs. USC (Cancun Challenge)

Dec. 2 — at Duke (Big Ten/ACC Challenge)

Dec. 5 — Michigan State (home)

Dec. 8 — at Iowa State

Dec. 18 — Central Florida (home)

Dec. 21 — IUPUI (home)

Dec. 30 — at Penn State

Jan. 2 — Illinois (home)

Jan. 6 — Northwestern (home)

Jan. 9 — at Nebraska

Jan. 13 — at Purdue

Jan. 16 — Nebraska (home)

Jan. 20 — at Minnesota

Jan. 23 — Indiana (home)

Jan. 27 — at Northwestern

Jan. 31 — Ohio State (home)

Feb. 3 — at Wisconsin

Feb. 6 — at Michigan

Feb. 10 — Minnesota (home)

Feb. 14 — Maryland (home)

Feb. 20 — at Indiana

Feb. 24 — at Rutgers

Feb. 27 — Michigan (home)

March 2-6 — Big Ten tournament (at Indianapolis)

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com