Iowa
Iowa 81, Wisconsin 66: Off on a High Note
Iowa 81, Wisconsin 66: Off on a High Note
IOWA CITY — Never any doubt — but maybe a little bit of sweat.
Iowa shook off a slow start against Wisconsin on Senior Day before cruising to an 81-66 win at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday afternoon. Lucy Olsen led all scorers with 22 points in the victory, while Hannah Stuelke added 21 and 15 rebounds — one off a career high for the junior forward.
READ MORE: Lucy Olsen’s Full-Circle Scoring
With the win, Iowa clinches a 20-win season and a winning record in the Big Ten (20-9, 10-8) in Jan Jensen’s first year as a head coach. Its reward? An 11-seed in the Big Ten Tournament, and a rematch with these Badgers in the first round of action.
THE DEEP THREE
1. No stinking Badgers. Forget the 22-point spread that Iowa came into Sunday favored by. Wisconsin did the best thing an overmatched visitor can do on a day like Senior Day: it gave the Hawkeyes 40 minutes of spirited competition.
Wisconsin even pushed Iowa to a tie at 36-36 at halftime, spurred by a deadly high-low combination of Carter McCray and Serah Williams and 3-4 shooting from deep for Tess Myers — part of a 50% three-point shooting half for the upstart Badgers.
“At halftime, [Jensen] gave it to us a little bit, and made sure we locked in,” said Olsen. “We had to focus up, but we’ve been in a lot of situations of close games, which has helped us, um grow and not like peel back on the pressure; we stepped up to it.”
While Jensen acknowledged the havoc the emotions of Senior Day can play on a team — “they’re just weird,” said Jensen — she also acknowledged it didn’t take much edge off her halftime speech.
“I kind of did, you know, get a little bit intense at halftime,” said Jensen. “I didn’t think our defensive intensity was there. I think we were too kind of worried about all the emotions or, it felt like we just didn’t have our focus. I just reminded them, “What team have we played this year that we won really easily without a fight, with the exception of Washington? None.’”
Message received by the black and gold, as Iowa quickly hit three consecutive three-pointers to push the lead to nine, at 45-36; Wisconsin would never get closer than five from there on out, and Iowa’s lead never dipped below nine in the fourth quarter.
And though nobody on Wisconsin would (or even should) agree with the sentiment, the Badgers were also gracious enough guests to be down big enough by the final minutes for Iowa’s five-player lineup to make their ceremonious exits in the final minute of the game, with Affolter to AJ Ediger hailed by the Carver crowd.
Indeed, once Wisconsin’s edge in three-point shooting evaporated — the Badgers shot just 1-for-7 from deep in the second half, and finished the game with a lower percentage from deep than the Hawkeyes (35% for Iowa, 33.3% for Wisconsin) — the game’s balance lurched back in Iowa’s favor, where it more-or-less belonged, especially with Stuelke turning in one of her best games of the season.
2. Stuelke leaves no doubt. For all the advanced stats, the quadrants of wins, the this and that, a 20-win season is a welcome milestone for any team, in any league.
“A lot of people thought that we might not even do that,” said Stuelke. “So being able to do that for [Jensen] in her first season was just really special for us.”
Wisconsin likely wishes Stuelke could have been that nice on the court, as the forward dominated the paint and boards — and threw in a game-high four steals to boot.
Stuelke’s season hasn’t gone quite as planned — the junior’s outside shot never materialized as a weapon to draw defenders to the perimeter before Iowa moved her back to the 5 — but if there was any lingering doubt about Stuelke’s ability to dominate the interior, even against solid competition, she put that away Sunday.
Stuelke drew seven fouls (and committed none!) against the likes of Serah Williams and Carter McCray — Wisconsin’s two leading scorers, who finished with 18 and 17 points, respectively, terrorizing the rest of the Hawkeye lineup on the interior until Jensen even went back to a “traditional” defense with Stuelke at the 4 and O’Grady at the 5.
That combination [of Williams and McCray] is that high-low,” said Jensen. “You don’t see that very much. I love that style. And they they do it well. So, they played hard. It wasn’t us just being off.”
As hard as those two played, it didn’t stop Stuelke from corralling a career-high nine offensive rebounds.
“I was missing some shots, so a couple of those were just off my missed shot,” said Stuelke. “I think we all really wanted to get a win for the seniors, their last game in Carver, so I think that boosted my energy off that.”
“Aww!” responded Olsen, seated next to Stuelke at the postgame press conference.
3. There’ll never be a senior class like this, either. For as much attention as Iowa’s five-player senior class of 2024 garnered, headlined by future WNBA impact rookies Caitlin Clark and Kate Martin, this year’s group of five seniors occupies its own unique spot in Hawkeye history, both as the bridge between the Bluder and Jensen eras and on their own merits.
Affolter’s line of 10 points, four rebounds and three assists wasn’t quite as splashy as her most recent stretch of play, but she was instrumental in the second-half surge with eight of her ten points coming on 3-3 shooting, including a pair of three-pointers.
Affolter finished 2-3 from deep, which is a nice enough line in a vacuum but now par for the course for the senior, who’s up to 20-for-32 from deep in the team’s last 10 games, an 8-2 spree against the teeth of the Big Ten after the five-game losing streak.
Olsen’s legacy is pretty well set in stone as a beloved Hawkeye, no small feat for a transfer stepping into the unfathomable void left by #22.
“I just give Lucy so much credit because few people would have the courage to really look at a school where the GOAT had just left,” said Jensen. “She just really likedour culture and that we have great fans, and she felt the culture when she came. And that was amazing. But then she held with all the changes. And it’s just hard to be a point guard in the portal when you come in, and then you have a coaching change, right? So … I just can’t say enough, and I think she’s done a really beautiful job.”
Meanwhile, Feuerbach never developed into an out-and-out star for the Hawkeyes — not that there was much room or even need for one — but even in the flux of last season to this, her role found its water level and she ended up being the defensive stopper fans and coaches expected at the beginning of the season. A steal Sunday pushed Feuerbach’s season total to 34, just three off Affolter for the team lead.
“Our vets were a little inconsistent [earlier in the season] and the freshmen were kind of leading us,” said Jensen. “I think the vets have mostly settled, so hopefully they can lead them into [the postseason]. And I hope it’s that confidence and the memory and just playing with a lightness and a joy that’ll carry us to some fun in March.”
Even through injury and a logjam of talent in front of her, Ediger’s presence has been an obvious boon to team chemistry, and it’s no surprise she awaits each starter for a personalized greeting during opening introductions.
But perhaps no senior campaign has been as up-and-down — and has been sweeter to see end on a high note — than once-maligned center Addi O’Grady, who shot 5-for-5 off the bench Sunday and was roundly greeted with ovations by the Carver crowd, whether she was coming on or off the court.
Iowa’s struggles with O’Grady at the 5 had as much to do with Stuelke’s limitations as a 4 — especially in the perimeter-happy Iowa offense — but O’Grady’s effort and production never wavered through a move back to the bench. That, as much as the team finding its identity with four guards on the floor. has helped Iowa become one of the most dangerous double-digit seeds any conference tournament has seen in quite some time.
“We’re hitting [our stride] at the right spot,” said Olsen. “Coach J has always said, ‘be at your best in March,’ and I think we’re doing just that. The beginning was a little wonky, but we figured that out and I’m excited. The momentum’s on our side right now.”
Iowa begins Big Ten Tournament play in Indianapolis with a rematch against the Badgers, which tips off at 7:30 PM CT on the Big Ten Network. A win would pit the Hawkeyes against six-seed Michigan State, who beat Iowa 68-66 in the Big Ten opener.
DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) – The Iowa State Fair announced two more Grandstand acts Wednesday for its 2026 season.
Country-rock artist HARDY will kick off opening night on August 13. He will take the stage with special guest McCoy Moore starting at 8 p.m.
Then on closing night, Breakout Christian artist Josiah Queen will perform with special guest Ben Fuller. The state fair says the show will be a “family-friendly finale,” starting at 6 p.m. August 23.
Tickets can be purchased starting at 10 a.m. Friday on the State Fair’s website. HARDY tickets start at $54.40, and Josiah Queen tickets start at $19.40.
Copyright 2026 KCRG. All rights reserved.
Where to find hidden gem restaurants in Des Moines
Des Moines features its share of hidden gem restaurants beloved for their local ownership, friendly ambiance and great food.
From a restored 1914 general store serving reinvented American classics to a nationally revered small-town pizza spot to an authentic mom-and-pop Korean restaurant. Whether you are craving carefully crafted concepts to hole in walls, consider this your guide for planning weeknight dinners, date nights, or after-work fare across the Iowa City corridor.
Káva House & Café
Káva House & Café is located in downtown Swisher in a restored 1914 general store. A longtime staple, the restaurant might be best known for its fine coffees, but it is also a full-service restaurant with breakfast, lunch and dinner options. The menu reinvents American deli standards, including Otto’s old-fashioned meat loaf hot sandwich and a variety of loose meat sandwiches
Details: 122 Second St. S.W., Swisher, 319-857-5000, kavahousecafe.com
Price range: $10 to $20
Ramen Belly
Ramen Belly is tucked away in the Peninsula Neighborhood in Iowa City. In 2023, the restaurant was named to Yelp’s Top 100 Restaurants in the Midwest. While ramen is in the restaurant name, the spot offers a wide variety of Japanese cuisine, from poke bowls to donburi, dumplings and short ribs.
Details: 1010 Martin St., Iowa City, 319-569-1057, or ramenbelly.co
Price range: $10 to $20
I Love Fufu
I Love Fufu opened in 2022 and has been serving African and Caribbean specialty dishes, such as jollof rice, the popular West African soup egusi, and oxtail. Fufu is a must-try, a staple in many West African countries, made by boiling starchy vegetables such as cassava, yams or plantains, then pounding them into a smooth, elastic dough. Fufu is typically served as an accompaniment to soups, stews and sauces, allowing diners to scoop up and savor the rich flavors of each dish.
Details: 230 E. Benton St., Iowa City, 319-499-8189, ilovefufuiowacity.com
Price range: $10 to $20
Lincoln Winebar
Lincoln Winebar is nationally acclaimed to have the best pizza in Iowa, according to the New York Times and 50toppizza.it. Lincoln Winebar leans into local ingredients, from toppings like asparagus and hot honey sourced from local farms, to bring a fresh influence to the Italian classic. From seasonal pizza varieties to mainstay classics like pepperoni and sausage, to locally grown oyster mushrooms, a Margherita, and brie and Gorgonzola, this small-town spot has big energy.
Details: 125 First St. W., Mount Vernon, 319-471-0959, or foodisimportant.com
Price range: $20 to $30
Le Gourmet
Located in the Old Capitol Mall, Le Gourmet is a traditional Korean restaurant that can be easy to miss but is a must-try. It offers a variety of Korean soups and noodle dishes, along with popular Korean street food like tteok-bokki, chewy rice cakes stir-fried in a spicy, sweet, savory sauce, or gimbap, similar to hand-rolled sushi but with different preparation techniques. The restaurant also offers formal dining options like broiled eel and L.A. galbi, inviting diners to try something new.
Details: 201 S. Clinton St. Suite 173, Iowa City, 319-471-0959, or legourmettogo.com
Price range: $10 to $20
La Regia Taqueria
La Regia specializes in street tacos, as well as burritos and quesadillas. Located on the west side of town, La Regia offers a multitude of options, from carne asada to birria, and more adventurous meat options like lengua (cow tongue) and tripe (cow stomach), one of the few places where these meat varieties can be found in the Iowa City corridor. The restaurant also has an expansive menu for non-meat eaters, from fried fish tacos to veggie sope.
Details: 436 Hwy. 1 W., Iowa City, 319-341-8226, or laregia.com
Price range: $10 to $20
Jessica Rish is an entertainment, dining and education reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. She can be reached at JRish@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @rishjessica_
Fourth-ranked 197-pounder Massoma Endene is no longer a member of Iowa’s men’s wrestling team, coach Tom Brands said on Tuesday.
Endene, who compiled a 6-1 record with the Hawkeyes, hasn’t wrestled since an 8-2 defeat to second-ranked Rocky Elam on Nov. 30 in the 20-14 dual loss to Iowa State.
Brands announced the news when he opened his weekly media availability, saying: “My statement to that is, sometimes these things work and sometimes they don’t work, and this one just didn’t work out. We wish him the best, and that’s the extent of it. So that’s the opening statement.”
Asked if he wanted to add any clarifying details to the announcement, Brands paused, then said, “That’s as far as I’ll go.”
Endene, a Dallas, Texas native, transferred to Iowa in the offseason after winning three NCAA Division III national championships at Wartburg. Before that, he was a two-time NJCAA All-American at Iowa Lakes Community College.
Gabe Arnold wrestled at 197 in duals against Chattanooga and Utah Valley in the “Uncivil War” event on December 12. Harvey Ludington wrestled at the weight class in last Friday’s dual against Wisconsin, losing to Wyatt Ingham 10-8.
Ludington and Brody Sampson are listed as the choices at 197 for Friday’s home dual against top-ranked Penn State. Sampson, a redshirt freshman, is 6-6 this season. Ludington, a freshman, was undefeated in eight matches at the Luther Open and Jim Koch Wisconsin Open, and finished fifth at the Soldier Salute.
“We want to be really, really smart with Ludington,” Brands said. “He’s our best option, based on the results at the Soldier Salute. We are going to be smart, and take it week to week.”
Ferrari Revs Up
Redshirt freshman Angelo Ferrari is 9-0 this season and takes a #1 ranking at 184 pounds into Friday’s match against fourth-ranked Rocco Welsh.
It’s Ferrari’s confidence and composure that has impressed Brands.
“He embraces being a leader in a way that is comfortable and natural for him,” Brands said. “You talk about being the first-guy-in-the-last-guy-to-leave type of thing. He exhibits that he gets done what he needs to get done. Not sure that he’s real concerned with being a verbal-type leader at this point in his career, but definitely (a leader) by example. And when I say, is he even comfortable being a verbal leader? That doesn’t matter. What matters is that he’s doing the work that’s required. His commitment level is top-notch.”
“I think I hold myself to a higher standard than, you know, anybody else holds me to,” Ferrari said. “I expect myself to go out there and put up points, and if I don’t, then I’m disappointed myself, and I know what I’m capable of.”
Ferrari got his first taste of the rivalry with Penn State last season, when he wrestled at 184 against second-ranked Carter Starocci, losing 2-1. It was Ferrari’s only defeat of the season.
“I think it was great,” Ferrari said of the experience. “There were a lot of fans and a lot of people rooting against you. It was fun, that’s all I could really say. I mean, it was a fun experience. And obviously there’s a fire under me this time to go out there and put up some points and get some takedowns.”
Ferrari has been putting up the points this season, winning three matches by technical fall.
“The fact is, he’s a real popular guy in that locker room,” Brands. “I mean, our guys love him. There’s good relationships there.
“He stepped up big a couple different times. And so when you’re stepping up big, you know sometimes you’re getting responsibility that you may not have thought that you would ever get, and sometimes you have to embrace that responsibility, even if you’re not comfortable with it. And I would say that he’s embraced it great, because he’s still doing what he needs to do to prepare every day. He loves the mat. He loves the wrestling mat, and that’s what we need.”
Ferrari said his battles with national champion Stephen Buchanan during workouts have prepared him well and helped with his composure during matches.
“I’ve been in scrambles like that with Buchanan every day,” Ferrari said. “You know, he puts me in those types of positions where he’s coming at me, and I think it’s just crazy positions like that was what prepares me for when I’m out on the mat.”
It’s a composure that Ferrari said also comes with his family’s success on the mat.
“Everybody’s rooting against you,” he said. “So it kind of drives you a little bit more. And just having that helped me out a little bit.”
Block Bounce Back
Ryder Block is hoping to bounce back after his sudden-victory loss to Joseph Zargo in last Friday’s dual against Wisconsin.
Block, 6-2 last season and ranked 10th at 149, gets top-ranked Shayne Van Ness on Friday.
“If you’re gonna be the guy going out there, you’ve got to be ready to go,” Block said. “(The loss) happened, now you’ve got to move forward.”
Block said there is a piece of advice he is taking from Brands.
“Tom always said you’ve got to have some big nuts,” Block said. “So this week, gotta have some big nuts to get back on the right track, and then just keep getting better.”
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