Lucy Olsen stats: How did Iowa star fare vs Penn State? (Jan. 1)

Lucy Olsen played a big role in the No. 23-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes' 80-68 win over the Penn State Lady Lions on Wednesday at Bryce Jordan Center.

Olsen, a graduate transfer from Villanova, leads the team in scoring with 16.9 points and 5.2 assists per game. Wednesday’s matchup carried a special significance to her as she returned close to her hometown of Collegeville, Pennsylvania. A strong local contingent made the 178-mile trip west to State College to cheer on Iowa's senior guard.

Despite coming off her first single-digit scoring performance in black and gold —and just her third since the start of last season — Olsen showed resilience. She contributed 11 points, five assists and three rebounds in 31 minutes, making a significant impact despite an off-shooting night.

Olsen went 4 of 12 from the field and missed all four of her 3-point attempts but was instrumental in Iowa's dominant fourth quarter surge, outscoring Penn State 25-13. In the final three and a half minutes, Olsen added six points and two assists to help secure the win.

This performance marked her 11th career game in double figures as a Hawkeye. With the win, Iowa (12-2, 2-1 Big Ten) extended its winning streak against Penn State (9-5, 0-3) to 11 games.

Iowa rallies to secure a 12-point victory over Penn State

Penn State came out strong as it took a 24-15 lead after the first quarter. However, Iowa quickly regained composure, edging ahead 38-36 at halftime.

The teams were tied at 55 heading into the fourth quarter, but the Hawkeyes surged by hitting six consecutive shots and converting nine of their final 12 attempts. A decisive 9-0 run sealed Iowa’s victory in the Big Ten matchup in University Park, Pennsylvania.

The win marked Iowa’s third consecutive victory. The Hawkeyes shot 52.5% from the field, dominated in the paint with a 46-26 advantage and capitalized on 15 Lady Lions turnovers to outscore them 23-6 on points off turnovers. In a stellar fourth quarter, Iowa shot 64.7%, making 11 of 17 shots.

With only 12 turnovers and 24 assists, Iowa displayed efficiency and control. The Hawkeyes' bench also made a significant impact, outscoring Penn State’s reserves 33-10, led by 17 points from Molly McCabe. Ava Heiden, Aaliyah Guyton and Teagan Mallegni also contributed to the team’s success.

Iowa will be back in action at home game on Sunday against No. 7-ranked Maryland.