Iowa takes it to Drake, 100-58, its largest win in the series since 1992

IOWA CITY — Thirty-plus assists, again.

Six in double-figures, again.

A scorching run of 25-0, again.

Depth and balance are becoming buzzwords around the Iowa women’s basketball program.

“Everybody’s going to celebrate each other, and they’re going to pass the baton when it’s not they’re turn,” Taylor Stremlow said.

So far, it seems, it’s been everybody’s turn.

The 21st-ranked Hawkeyes claimed their most decisive win over Drake since 1992, blasting the Bulldogs, 100-58, before a paid crowd of 14,998 Thursday night at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

“This has been our best week of practice,” Iowa Coach Jan Jensen said after the Hawkeyes improved to 3-0. “We really took a good jump.”

Iowa beat Drake for the eighth straight time, the 22nd in the last 23 meetings. The Hawkeyes also extended their win streak against in-state competition to 10 in a row.

Drake Coach Allison Pohlman was asked what impressed her most about the Hawkeyes.

“Probably their depth,” she said. “They go with one post, then the next post, then the next post.”

The Bulldogs (1-2) didn’t have the size to match up with any of them. Ava Heiden scored 14 points, Layla Hays matched that (and grabbed 10 rebounds) and Hannah Stuelke added 11 points and eight rebounds.

“It’s great to have fast bigs,” point guard Chit-Chat Wright said.

Wright nailed four 3-pointers and tallied 14 points. Emely Rodriguez scored 11, Stremlow 10 (in eight minutes).

“It’s hard to guard eight to 10 players and scout that way,” Stremlow said. “It’s definitely going to help us a lot.”

Drake led 9-8 on Grace Knutson’s 3-pointer at the 7:13 mark of the first quarter. Iowa followed with that 25-0 blitz through the next 8 minutes for a 33-9 margin.

It was 45-25 at intermission. Iowa’s largest lead was 44 points (85-41) early in the fourth quarter.

“That’s a fantastic Iowa team,” Pohlman said. “The first quarter was very telling; we dug a hole and got into foul trouble.”

The matchup was a family reunion of the McCabe sisters. Taylor scored six for Iowa (along with five of the Hawkeyes’ 30 assists); Peyton tallied 10 off the bench for Drake.

In all, 13 Hawkeyes scored. Teagan Mallegni got her first points of the season, and Kennise Johnson hit the scoring column for the first time since January 2024.

Knutson led Drake with 19 points.

Iowa plays its first road game of the season Sunday, at Northern Iowa.

Drake’s next game is next Thursday, at home against Iowa State.

Iowa 100, Drake 58

At Iowa City

DRAKE (58): Maggie Taylor 0-0 0-0 0, Grace Knutson 6-13 3-4 19, Abbie Aalsma 7-13 0-0 16, Anna Becker 1-5 1-2 3, Ava Hawthorne 1-4 0-0 2, Quinn Vice 0-9 0-0 0, Shannon Fornshell 1-2 1-2 3, Peyton McCabe 4-5 0-0 10, Taedyn Gray 1-2 0-0 2, Brooklin Dailey 1-6 1-4 3, Lexi Carlsen 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 22-61 6-12 58.

IOWA (100): Hannah Stuelke 5-9 1-2 11, Ava Heiden 7-9 0-1 14, Taylor McCabe 2-5 0-0 6, Kylie Feuerbach 1-3 2-2 5, Chit-Chat Wright 5-11 0-0 14, Layla Hays 5-10 4-9 14, Emely Rodriguez 5-8 1-2 11, Addison Deal 2-5 0-0 5, Journey Houston 2-2 0-0 4, Taylor Stremlow 4-6 0-0 10, Callie Levin 1-3 0-1 2, Teagan Mallegni 1-2 0-0 2, Jada Gyamfi 0-1 0-0 0, Kennise Johnson 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 41-76 8-17 100.

Drake 9 16 13 20 — 58

Iowa 25 20 29 26 — 100

3-point goals: Drake 8-27 (Knutson 4-7, Aalsma 2-7, Hawthorne 0-2, Vice 0-3, Fornshell 0-1, P. McCabe 2-2, Dailey 0-3, Carlsen 0-2), Iowa 10-29 (T. McCabe 2-5, Feuerbach 1-3, Wright 4-9, Rodriguez 0-2, Deal 1-3, Stremlow 2-4, Mallegni 0-1, Gyamfi 0-1, Johnson 0-1). Team fouls: Drake 15, Iowa 15. Fouled out: Gray. Rebounds: Drake 38 (Dailey 6), Iowa 44 (Hays 10). Assists: Drake 15 (Knutson 4), Iowa 30 (Stuelke, T. McCabe 5). Steals: Drake 7 (Knutson, Aalsma 2), Iowa 13 (Wright 4). Turnovers: Drake 23, Iowa 12.

Attendance: 14,998.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com