In a thrilling display of skill and determination, the Iowa Hawkeyes secured a decisive victory over the BYU Cougars in the Cancun Challenge championship game. The showdown at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya showcased the Hawkeyes’ prowess and resilience, ultimately leading them to a well-deserved win.
First Half Slow Going
The first half of the game was a contested battle, with both teams exchanging leads and demonstrating their defensive capabilities. The second quarter was slow going. The teams combined to shoot just 6 of 24 from the floor in the quarter, with Iowa committing six more turnovers. They totaled 16 turnovers in the first half but were able to head to the locker room with a 25-19 advantage.
With Lucy Olsen out of the lineup for the second straight game due to a serious cut on her knee, Iowa found themselves in a tight 25-19 game at the half.
Second Half Showdown
The pace escalated quickly with a basket from Addison O’Grady, followed by a three-pointer from Kylie Feuerbach, forced BYU head coach Amber Whiting to take a timeout just 90 seconds into the third quarter. The lead had ballooned to double-digits for the first time, at 30-19.
Playing in just her third game, Aaliyah Guyton turned it over a few times, but delivered it on the offensive end of the floor. She sank a three-pointer and a pull-up jumper in 19 seconds midway through the quarter to expand the lead to 42-25.
In the fourth, a pair of threes from BYU guard Kemery Congdon cut the Iowa lead to 49-36, but an 8-0 Iowa run, fueled by two Taylor McCabe three balls, extended the lead to 57-36 with 4:53 to play.
Hannah Stuelke finished with a game-high 16 points and eight rebounds, while Addi O’Grady added 12 points, four rebounds and three blocks. Sydney Affolter was a standout performer, totaling seven points, ten rebounds, four assists and five steals.
Hawkeyes Win Despite Turnovers
For the night, Iowa shot 24 of 51 (47.1%) from the floor and 11 of 23 (47.8%) from 3-point range. They outrebounded BYU 37-28, pulling down 78.4% of defensive rebounds and 28.6% of offensive rebounds. Despite turning it over 23 times, the Hawkeyes were able to force BYU into 20 turnovers and led the points off-turnovers battle 20-17.
Post-Game Reactions
Following the game, Iowa’s head coach, Jan Jensen, praised the team’s effort and execution. “I’m incredibly proud of how our team played tonight. We knew it would be a tough game, but our players stepped up and delivered when it mattered most,” the coach said.
Looking Ahead
The Hawkeyes have set a strong tone for the rest of the season with this victory. The win in Cancun boosts their confidence and highlights their potential as a formidable team in the upcoming games. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely as Iowa continues to build on this momentum.
The Hawkeyes will head east for the inaugural Women’s Champions Classic in Brooklyn against the Tennessee Volunteers on December 7th. Tipoff is set for 6:00 pm CT on FOX.
