Iowa has figured some things out.
The Hawkeyes looked like one of the best teams in the country on Jan. 25, when they won their eighth consecutive game and started Big Ten play 9-0 after a win over Ohio State. But in that victory, Jan Jensen’s squad lost starting guard Taylor McCabe for the season to a knee injury. In the games that followed, Iowa seemed lost without her, losing three straight.
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However, since their last defeat to Minnesota on Feb. 5, the Hawkeyes have now won four consecutive games – culminating on Sunday, Feb. 22, with a win over nationally ranked Michigan. Iowa has now won six straight over Michigan and held the Wolverines to a season-low 44 points on Sunday.
For their recent surge, voters in the USA TODAY Sports women’s basketball coaches poll moved Iowa up three spots this week and into the top 10. The Hawkeyes check in at No. 9 and the Wolverines are No. 8 after falling three spots.
Louisville and Ole Miss also fell three spots each this week. The No. 11-ranked Cardinals were upset at home on Sunday by unranked Virginia, while the No. 20 Rebels have lost two straight to LSU and South Carolina.
Aside from Iowa, the only other team to rise three spots was North Carolina. The Tar Heels check in at No. 18 after wins over Virginia Tech and Pitt last week.
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The top four remained unchanged with UConn, UCLA, South Carolina and Texas holding down their rankings. Tennessee, which has lost seven of its last nine games, fell out of the poll and Iowa State reentered at No. 25.
No teams from mid-major conferences were ranked this week, but Princeton was 26th in votes received with 29. Rhode Island, North Dakota State and Rice – which has won 19 straight games – also received votes.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Iowa women’s basketball moves up in coaches poll after Michigan win
