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Minus Hannah Stuelke, Hawkeyes fall at Oregon, extending losing streak to five
Ducks rally from an early 15-point deficit for a 50-49 victory in Eugene; Iowa’s point total is its lowest since Feb. 24, 2013
Jan. 19, 2025 6:05 pm, Updated: Jan. 20, 2025 9:05 am
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Note: The story was written in Cedar Rapids
This recent stretch for the Iowa women’s basketball team has been anything but a high-five.
Leading for the first 33 minutes, the Hawkeyes succumbed to a late drought and dropped their fifth consecutive game, 50-49 to Oregon on Sunday at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Ore.
The Hawkeyes’ 49 points were their least in a game since scoring 46 in a loss at Nebraska on Feb. 24, 2013.
Iowa (12-7 overall, 2-6 Big Ten) was without junior post Hannah Stuelke, who reportedly missed the trip due to a concussion suffered late in Thursday’s loss to Nebraska.
A Cedar Rapids native, Stuelke is averaging 12.9 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. Her absence moved Addison O’Grady back into the starting lineup.
The Hawkeyes (12-7 overall, 2-6 Big Ten) led 41-31 when Ava Heiden scored off a feed from Kylie Feuerbach with 3:52 left in the third quarter. But they didn’t score again for the next 9:08, and Oregon (14-5, 5-3) pounced.
Elisa Mevius’ 3-pointer gave the Ducks their first lead, 44-41, with 5:59 remaining.
Oregon built the lead to 48-43, but buckets by O’Grady and Sydney Affolter got the Hawkeyes within a point.
Affolter scored again to bring the Hawkeyes within 50-49 with 42 seconds left. After an Oregon miss, Iowa had a shot to win it, but O’Grady missed a midrange shot in the final moments.
O’Grady was key early, scoring six points as Iowa jumped to an 11-0 lead.
It was 17-7 after a quarter, and the Hawkeyes had their largest lead at 27-12 on Lucy Olsen’s basket with 7:39 left in the second period.
Affolter registered 10 points and 15 rebounds for the Hawkeyes. O’Grady also tallied 10 points.
A native of Sherwood, Ore., Heiden posted eight points.
Phillipina Kyei paced Oregon with 12 points.
The Hawkeyes owned a 40-26 rebounding advantage, but committed 19 turnovers, and shot 29 percent from the field in the second half.
Iowa plays at Washington (13-6, 4-3) at 8 p.m. (CT) Wednesday.
Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com
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