IOWA CITY, Iowa (Interstat) — Hannah Stuelke scored 18 points and Addison Deal added 18 to lead No. 15 Iowa past Oregon 74-66 in a women’s basketball game Thursday night at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes used a decisive 24-point third quarter to pull away after leading 36-31 at halftime. Oregon’s Ehis Etute scored 15 points, but the Ducks could not overcome the surge. Iowa improved to 15-2 overall, while Oregon fell to 14-5. A crowd of 14,988 watched as Iowa shot 46.6% from the field and made 10 3-pointers. The Ducks shot 42.6% and committed 14 turnovers.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (Interstat) — In a pivotal Big Ten Conference clash, the Iowa Hawkeyes used a dominant third-quarter surge to overcome a persistent Oregon Ducks squad and secure a 74-66 victory in women’s basketball action Thursday night at a sold-out Carver-Hawkeye Arena. A crowd of 14,988 saw the Hawkeyes improve to 15-2 overall, while the Ducks fell to 14-5. The game’s defining stretch came immediately after halftime. Trailing 36-31 at the break, Iowa erupted for 24 points in the third quarter, outscoring Oregon by 11 to seize control. The Hawkeyes’ offensive execution sharpened considerably, shooting efficiently from the floor while their defense tightened, holding the Ducks to just 13 points in the period. This transformed a five-point deficit into a 60-49 Iowa lead heading into the final quarter, a margin Oregon could not overcome despite a 22-point fourth-quarter effort. Iowa’s victory was anchored by a standout performance from Hannah Stuelke. The 6-foot-2 forward from Cedar Rapids filled the stat sheet with 18 points and eight assists, orchestrating the offense and consistently finding open teammates. Her partnership with Addison Deal proved lethal; Deal, a 6-foot guard from Foothill Ranch, California, matched Stuelke’s 18 points, including four 3-pointers, providing critical perimeter scoring. Kylie Feuerbach of Sycamore, Illinois, added 11 points and five assists, while Ava Heiden of Sherwood, Oregon, contributed 13 points and nine rebounds inside. Chazadi Wright, logging 37 minutes, chipped in nine points. Oregon, which entered as a 5.5-point underdog against a Hawkeyes team given a 90.9% win probability by analytics, fought tenaciously throughout. The Ducks were led by Ehis Etute, who came off the bench to score a team-high 15 points. The guard from Dudelange, Luxembourg, was active on both ends, but Oregon’s offense struggled with consistency, posting an offensive rating of 93.8 on 70 possessions compared to Iowa’s 101.3 on 73. Sofia Bell of Portland scored nine points and added three assists and a block for the Ducks. Amina Muhammad had eight points and Astera Tuhina added nine, all from beyond the arc. Sara Barhoum provided a spark with six points in just seven minutes. The first half was a back-and-forth affair. Iowa established an early lead, ending the first quarter up 18-12, but Oregon responded with a 19-point second quarter, fueled by timely outside shooting, to narrow the gap to five at intermission. The statistical battle was closely contested. Both teams shot nearly identically from the field: Iowa made 27 of 58 attempts (46.6%), while Oregon hit 26 of 61 (42.6%). Each team also made 10 3-pointers. The difference came at the free-throw line and in ball security. Iowa attempted 17 free throws, making 10, while Oregon went to the line only five times, converting four. The Hawkeyes also edged the Ducks in points off turnovers, 12-13, and points in the paint, 30-24, despite committing one more turnover. Oregon’s loss marks its second in three games following a defeat to Michigan State last Sunday. The Ducks continue a challenging road stretch, traveling to face Wisconsin on Sunday. Iowa, which has now won three straight conference games since a loss to Indiana earlier this month, will host Michigan State on Sunday. The victory keeps the Hawkeyes in the thick of the Big Ten title race as they prepare for a daunting upcoming schedule that includes road trips to Maryland, Southern California and UCLA. The total points scored, 140, fell just under the pregame over/under line of 139.5.

Preview: Oregon at Iowa in Pivotal Big Ten Clash IOWA CITY, Iowa (Interstat) — A marquee nonconference matchup with major postseason implications is set for Thursday when the Oregon Ducks visit the Iowa Hawkeyes at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Both teams enter with 14-win seasons, but Iowa (14-2) holds a slight edge in momentum, riding a five-game winning streak since its last loss to then-Connecticut on Dec. 20. Oregon (14-4) looks to rebound after a hard-fought 85-81 home loss to Michigan State this past Sunday. The spotlight will be on the backcourt, featuring two of the nation’s premier guards. Oregon’s Katie Fiso is averaging 18.2 points and 7.2 assists over her last six games, including a 20-point, 9-assist effort in the loss to Michigan State. She will duel with Iowa’s dynamic Chazadi Wright, who has powered the Hawkeyes’ streak by averaging 16.2 points and 4.4 assists in that span. Iowa’s offense, averaging 78.4 points per game, will test an Oregon defense that has shown vulnerability in recent losses, allowing an average of 81.3 points in its last three defeats. The Hawkeyes boast balanced scoring behind Wright, with forwards Hannah Stuelke and Ava Heiden providing consistent interior production. Oregon’s attack runs through Fiso, but she receives strong support from Sofia Bell (18 points vs. Michigan State) and post presence Ehis Etute. The Ducks must improve their ball security after committing 17 turnovers in Sunday’s loss. This contest, organized by the Big Ten, is a critical resume-builder for both programs. Iowa seeks a statement win to solidify its top-10 standing, while Oregon aims for a road victory to bolster its seeding credentials. The outcome could hinge on which star guard controls the tempo and whether Oregon can contain Iowa’s efficient, multi-pronged scoring attack. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. EST Thursday. Iowa hosts Michigan State next on Sunday, while Oregon travels to face Wisconsin on Jan. 18.