Lucy Olsen stats: How did Iowa star fare vs Purdue? (Dec. 29)

Senior guard Lucy Olsen had a quieter performance than usual but still played a supporting role in Iowa's decisive 84-63 victory over Purdue on Sunday. Coming off a 21-point outing in a 92-86 win against Northern Iowa, Olsen only managed six points, six assists, one rebound, and one block in 22 minutes of action.

All her points and two assists came in the first quarter, as she went scoreless for the rest of the game. She shot 3-of-10 from the field, missed all four three-point attempts, and committed three turnovers. This marked Olsen’s first single-digit scoring game of the season.

Despite Lucy Olsen's limited output, Iowa’s balanced scoring carried the day. The Hawkeyes (10-3, 1-1 Big Ten) relied on contributions from across the roster, with five players scoring nine points and one adding eight. Addison O’Grady led the team with 12 points, three rebounds, two steals, and a block, shooting 4-of-7 from the field and 4-of-6 from the line.

The game was marked by inefficiency from both sides, with only two players reaching double figures. Still, Iowa's depth and strong teamwork helped secure a solid win to close out 2024, a year that will be remembered as one of the most pivotal in the history of Hawkeye Women’s Basketball.

Iowa entered the game after a nine-day break, following their December 20 victory over UNI. Purdue (7-5, 0-1 Big Ten), coming off an 87-68 win against Indiana State, struggled to keep pace. While Iowa is still working to deliver consistent 40-minute performances, this game was a positive step forward, especially for the younger players.

Lucy Olsen's Hawkeyes secure first conference victory

The Iowa women’s basketball team returned from the holiday break with a commanding win in their Big Ten Conference opener.

Iowa established a 21-point lead early in the third quarter, saw it briefly shrink, but then regained control with a 16-0 run that spanned the end of the third and the start of the fourth quarter. The Hawkeyes went on to build their largest lead of 27 points with just under three minutes remaining.

The team excelled offensively, shooting 55% from the field, hitting eight three-pointers, and dominating the rebounding battle, 42-27. Despite a quiet performance from the starters, Iowa’s bench stepped up in a big way. Freshmen Taylor Stremlow, Ava Heiden, Aaliyah Guyton, and Teagan Mallegni combined for 35 points, leading the Hawkeyes’ reserves to outscore Purdue’s bench 42-27.

This victory marked a milestone for first-year head coach Jan Jensen, earning her first Big Ten win at the helm of the Hawkeyes. It’s a promising start to her conference coaching career and a strong showing of the team’s depth and potential.