The 10th-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes opened the 2026-27 women's basketball season with a 73-45 win over Towson at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Monday night, pulling away late after an uneven first half.
The victory came in head coach Jan Jensen's season opener against a Towson squad that hung around longer than most fans expected. Iowa led just 33-23 at halftime before extending the margin in the second half, closing the game on a 9-0 run that pushed the lead to 61-41 with under five minutes to play, according to Hawk Fanatic.
A win, but plenty to clean up
Iowa arrived with real hype after a 27-win season, and Monday's opener showed why patience might be required. The Hawkeyes shot 25-for-56 from the field (44.6%) but hit just 8-of-28 from three-point range, a 28.6% clip that echoed the long-range struggles that hurt Iowa in last year's NCAA tournament, according to Yahoo Sports.
Turnovers were the bigger eyesore. Iowa committed 16 on the night, nine of them in the first half, many of the unforced variety: travels, stepping out of bounds, careless passes. Jensen watched each one with visible frustration on the sideline.
The sloppiness kept Towson within reach despite the Tigers shooting a dismal 31.3% from the floor in the first half. Iowa's 4-of-14 start from deep let Towson stay within 10 at the break.
McKenna Woliczko looks ready for the spotlight
The brightest spot for Hawkeye fans was first-year forward McKenna Woliczko. The freshman physically overmatched Towson inside, finishing with 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting, eight rebounds, and three blocks.
She played nothing like a first-year player, and she was at the center of the run that finally put the game away. Woliczko converted a traditional three-point play with 4:56 left to cap the 9-0 spurt that turned a 52-41 game into a comfortable 61-41 lead.
Ava Heiden takes a hard fall, shakes it off
Third-year center Ava Heiden gave the crowd a scare in the first half when a hard foul sent the 6-foot-4 center to the floor. Heiden stayed down briefly and Carver-Hawkeye Arena went quiet before she popped back to her feet.
Officials reviewed the play for a potential flagrant foul but let it stand as called. Heiden and the Hawkeyes dominated the glass regardless, and USA Today reported Iowa outrebounded Towson 38-22 while holding a 24-15 edge on the boards by halftime.
Free throws and rotations
The free throw line was another sore spot. Iowa finished 15-of-23, a 65.2% mark that kept the game closer than the talent gap suggested it should have been.
Jensen kept the same starting five she used in the Oct. 29 exhibition: Dani Carnegie, Chit-Chat Wright, Amari Whiting, Woliczko, and Heiden. Taylor Stremlow was the first guard off the bench, followed by center Layla Hays, Georgia transfer Jocelyn Faison, and Journey Houston.
It is only game one, and rotations can change quickly, but the early pecking order is set.
What's next for the Hawkeyes
Iowa returns to Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Thursday, Nov. 5, to host Eastern Illinois. The Panthers open their own season Tuesday night against Drake in Des Moines before making the short trip to Iowa City two nights later.
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. on Big Ten Plus. With the opener in the books, On3 noted the 10th-ranked Hawkeyes now turn toward a non-conference stretch that should give the new pieces time to gel before Big Ten play begins.
Frequently asked questions
What was the score of Iowa women's basketball vs. Towson?
Iowa defeated Towson 73-45 on Monday night at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in the 2026-27 season opener, as Hawk Central reported.
Who stood out for Iowa against Towson?
Freshman forward McKenna Woliczko led the way with 10 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks, while Ava Heiden controlled the paint.
When is Iowa's next game?
The Hawkeyes host Eastern Illinois on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 7 p.m. at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, with the game streaming on Big Ten Plus.