UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The No. 23 Iowa women’s basketball team rang in 2025 with an 80-68 win over Penn State on the road on Wednesday.
Though the Hawkeyes (12-2, 2-1 Big Ten) ultimately pulled out a 12-point victory, the Nittany Lions (9-5, 0-3 Big Ten) managed to build a 10-point lead before Iowa took control in the second half. During a postgame interview with the Hawkeye Radio Network, head coach Jan Jensen highlighted Iowa’s freshman contributors, who combined for 78 minutes in the win. “The think that is the key is our youth is coming in and contributing,” Jensen said.
“What is so nice is it has been, a lot of times, different (people). Today, it was Teagan Mallegni that did a great job, but all of them played solid. “They are all contributing, but the productivity of those kids coming off the bench is really great to see.
” The freshmen combined for 16 points, six rebounds, eight assists and three blocks as the Hawkeyes came from behind to win. Iowa's Teagan Mallegni lines up a three-point attempt during an NCAA women's basketball game against Washington State in Iowa City at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday, Nov. 24.
ETHAN PETRIK, Quad-City Times After trading baskets over the first four minutes, a 9-0 run allowed Penn State to jump ahead 15-6 with 3:42 remaining in the first quarter. The Hawkeyes did not answer the run until the start of the second quarter when a Taylor McCabe triple sparked a 14-2 run. Five different players scored during Iowa’s go-ah.