Jan Jensen has things rolling for the Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball team right now. The team that is surprising many with their ability to continue winning despite an era of change and transition holds a top 10 ranking and is looking to continue climbing the polls.
After a 9-0 start in Big Ten play, Iowa is staring down arguably its most important week of the season as they make the West Coast swing to take on USC and UCLA in back-to-back games. As those games await, Iowa is sticking around in the top 10 of the ESPN women’s college basketball power rankings.
8. Iowa Hawkeyes (18-2)
Previous ranking: 9
Next seven days: @ USC (Jan. 29), @ UCLA (Feb. 1)
The Hawkeyes had one of their best weeks of the season competitively but suffered a key injury loss. They won 85-78 in overtime at Maryland and 91-70 at home against Ohio State, big wins against big rivals. Iowa now has three victories in a row against ranked opponents and is co-leader of the Big Ten with UCLA at 9-0. But the Hawkeyes will be without starting guard Taylor McCabe, lost for the season to an ACL injury Sunday, as they go on one of their toughest road trips, to USC and UCLA. McCabe leads Iowa in 3-pointers this season (49). – Michael Voepel, ESPN
The Hawkeyes have found ways to win with grit and flash, especially in the last week. On top of that, Iowa is rattling off ranked wins to boot, which only continues to confirm that this team is for real. The game of the season, so far, for Iowa is the UCLA showdown, though.
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The Bruins are 19-1 overall and also hold an unblemished 9-0 record in Big Ten play. If Iowa can get by USC, which is no given, it sets up a monster matchup against UCLA on Sunday, February 1, which is set to air nationally on FOX at 3 p.m. CT.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa women’s basketball holding in top 10 of ESPN’s power rankings
