Wisconsin
Iowa women’s basketball: Hawkeyes wear down Wisconsin for senior day win
IOWA CITY — It required some time to get the Iowa women’s basketball engine cranked Sunday afternoon. But once it was humming, the Hawkeyes molded this Wisconsin matchup into a familiar final product.
Jan Jensen’s squad methodically wore down a Badgers squad featuring all-conference forward Serah Williams and not much else. A strong third-quarter finish spilled momentum into the fourth, and Iowa took it from there for an 81-66 win on senior day inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
The Hawkeyes (20-9, 10-8 Big Ten Conference) have now run their winning streak to 30 over Wisconsin (13-16, 4-14) dating to February 2007.
“I’ve been around enough senior days, they’re just weird,” Jensen said. “They’re odd. With women — that’s all I’ve coached — there’s just a lot of connection. (Saturday), there were tears in practice. Happy tears. So you’re managing all of that. You try to talk about the pink elephant in the room and get them to be in that 40 minutes. So that, I just never know about senior days.”
Many of Iowa’s victories during this Badger domination have been wrapped up by intermission, light on drama over the final 20 minutes. Sunday’s victory fell somewhere short of that, but only slightly. Although a lingering Wisconsin squad remained close enough to not get blown out, the Badgers never offered up any serious upset vibes.
Buoyed by an emphatic third quarter that generated a large chunk of her 21 points and 15 rebounds, Hannah Stuelke handed Iowa its first double-digit lead of the day at 60-50 with 1:23 remaining in the third quarter. Wisconsin only got sporadically closer the rest of the way.
The only remaining drama was if Jensen could sub out all five seniors consecutively for proper crowd sendoffs. She managed to do that in the waning moments with Iowa comfortably ahead.
“I’m just proud we got the win today,” said senior guard Lucy Olsen, who led the Hawkeyes with 22 points on 9-for-16 shooting. “Going into the (Big Ten) Tournament on a loss would’ve been bad. So I’m just glad we got the win today. But I can’t believe I’m a senior here at Iowa. All this doesn’t seem real.”
Production from Olsen and Stuelke paired with double-digit assistance via Sydney Affolter (10 points) and Addi O’Grady (10 points) to stabilize Iowa’s offense just enough. The Hawkeyes still had some barren stretches, particularly to start the second quarter while trying to shake off a sluggish defensive first quarter. But enough Wisconsin futility in the second half gave Iowa the senior-day result it was hunting.
“It wasn’t like I thought we were just going to show up and have a heyday. I kind did get a little bit intense at halftime,” said Jensen, whose squad was deadlocked 36-36 at intermission. “I didn’t think our defensive intensity was there. I think we were worried about the emotions. It felt like we just didn’t have our focus.”
The Hawkeyes do now and will head to the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis off a solid finish to the regular season, going 5-2 in February followed by this March 2 win. The Hawkeyes are the No. 11 seed and will face these Badgers again ay 7:30 p.m. Wednesday inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Dargan Southard is a sports trending reporter and covers Iowa athletics for the Des Moines Register and HawkCentral.com. Email him at msouthard@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.
Wisconsin
Cult-classic filmed in central Wisconsin returns to big screen, with enhancements, this weekend
STEVENS POINT, Wis. (WSAW) – A giant spider isn’t actually invading central Wisconsin this weekend.
But an enhanced, big-screen version of the cult-classic 1975 film The Giant Spider Invasion is crawling back into local theaters — and it’s bringing some central Wisconsin nostalgia with it.
The movie was famously filmed in Merrill and Stevens Point, and the updated 2026 release adds enhancements designed for a modern theatrical experience.
What’s new in the 2026 enhanced version?
Executive Producer J.B. Thompson says the team took the original 1975 film and enhanced it for the big screen in 2026, giving audiences a refreshed way to experience a movie that’s long been a Wisconsin oddity — and a point of pride.
Actor and Producer Dan Davies is featured in newly filmed scenes created specifically for this updated release.
Stevens Point’s role in the original film
While much of the film is associated with Merrill, Stevens Point Mayor Mike Wiza says Point also played a major role in the production — another reason the film’s return matters to local history buffs and movie fans alike.
Why does this movie still capture attention 50 years later?
Whether it’s the over-the-top creature feature story, the uniquely Wisconsin filming locations, or the nostalgia of seeing familiar places on screen, the group says the film’s staying power is real — even five decades later.
Screenings this weekend
The enhanced version of The Giant Spider Invasion is set for local screenings this weekend in Central and North Central Wisconsin. To purchase tickets for showings in Stevens Point, Marshfield or Waupaca, click here.
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Copyright 2026 WSAW. All rights reserved.
A Wisconsin man has been arrested in Colorado in connection with a fatal north suburban hit-and-run earlier this year that left a 50-year-old woman killed.
According to the Winthrop Harbor Police Department, Travis Kern, 35, of Pleasant Prairie, turned himself into police in Lakewood Colorado on an arrest warrant. Kern was charged with two felonies, police said, and remains in custody in Colorado pending extradition proceedings.
About 11:10 p.m. on February 26, a pedestrian was struck in the 1400 block of Sheridan Road in Winthrop Harbor by a driver of a vehicle heading northbound. The vehicle then fled the scene, police said.
The pedestrian, later identified as Shanna White, 50, of Waukegan, was transported to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead.
According to court documents, Kern’s next scheduled court date is set for July 22.
WHITEWATER, Wis. (WMTV) – The Kids from Wisconsin troupe is kicking off its 56th annual tour this week.
Kids from Wisconsin is a traveling show with 22 singer-dancers and 14 band members. The troupe performs across Wisconsin, hosting workshops for kids and helping fundraise for youth arts programs.
This year’s theme is “America’s Soundtrack: The Pulse of a Nation.” The theme honors the 250th anniversary of America and features music by all-American composers, bands and performers.
Kids from Wisconsin bassist and student leader Alex Coller said that range is what makes this year’s tour stand out.
“The theme is really just celebrating American music. And I think it’s definitely one of the most cohesive and like diverse shows I have played with this organization,” Coller said. “Even though its just American music it’s really cool to see. Anyone no matter who you are, or what your musical background is, or whether you like music or not, there is something here for everyone to enjoy.”
Kids from Wisconsin’s artistic and choral director, Taras Nahirniak, said audiences won’t want to miss it.
“Find a show near you, you are not going to want to miss this show. It’s just spectacular, the kids are so talented,” Nahirniak said. “We are just finishing up our camp right now, and they are just working their tails off. To really go around the state and show the state what they have.”
The tour premieres Thursday night at Young Auditorium in Whitewater. For tickets, tour dates or to find a show, visit kidsfromwi.org.
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Copyright 2026 WMTV. All rights reserved.
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