Minnesota Women’s Basketball Shocks No. 10 Iowa in Historic Road Win

IOWA CITY, IOWA 

On Thursday night, February 5, 2026, inside one of the most demanding environments in college basketball, the Minnesota Golden Gophers women’s basketball delivered a performance that will echo through program history. Minnesota stunned Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball, No. 10 in the nation, 91–85 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, snapping an 11-game losing streak in the rivalry and announcing itself as a genuine force in the Big Ten race.

The victory lifted Minnesota to 17–6 overall and 8–4 in conference play, extending a five-game winning streak and marking one of the most significant road wins in the modern era of the program.

This was not a miracle shot or a one-possession escape. It was a controlled, disciplined, and at times overwhelming performance that combined elite shooting, physical rebounding, and composure under pressure.

A shooting night that bent the game

Minnesota’s offensive efficiency was startling in its precision. The Gophers shot a program-record 71.4 percent from three-point range, knocking down 10 of 14 attempts from deep. Each make further stretched Iowa’s defense and forced difficult choices that Minnesota repeatedly punished.

Grace Grocholski led the way with 21 points, setting the tone with confident shot selection and steady control. Mara Braun added 16 points, drilling all four of her three-point attempts, while Tori McKinney chipped in 15 points with timely scoring on both ends of the floor.

Minnesota placed five players in double figures, a balance that prevented Iowa from loading up on any single option and allowed the Gophers to sustain offensive pressure for all four quarters.

The glass told the deeper story

As impressive as the shooting was, the game’s backbone came on the boards.

Minnesota outrebounded Iowa 41–28, including 14 offensive rebounds that produced 14 second-chance points. That physical edge repeatedly denied the Hawkeyes transition opportunities and forced them to defend extended possessions.

At the center of that effort was Amaya Battle, who delivered one of the most complete performances of her career with 12 points and a career-high 14 rebounds. Her third double-double of the season changed the rhythm of the game, especially during Iowa’s late push.

Off the bench, Finau Tonga added 10 points, providing efficient interior scoring that further widened the margin.

The decisive stretch

After a tightly contested first quarter, Minnesota seized control early in the second. An 8–0 run flipped momentum and helped the Gophers take a 49–39 halftime lead.

Rather than easing up, Minnesota sharpened its edge coming out of the break. By the end of the third quarter, the Gophers had pushed the advantage to 72–55, forcing Iowa into a faster pace and a narrower margin for error.

The Hawkeyes made a final charge in the fourth quarter, outscoring Minnesota 30–19, but the damage had already been done. Minnesota’s earlier efficiency and rebounding cushion proved too much to overcome.

Iowa’s response and context

Iowa did not lack effort or production. Ava Heiden led all scorers with 24 points on 9-of-13 shooting, while Chazadi Wright recorded a double-double with 20 points and a career-high 12 assists. Hannah Stuelke added 14 points and nine rebounds.

Still, Iowa entered the game navigating a mid-season adjustment period following the season-ending knee injury to starting guard Taylor McCabe, the team’s leading three-point shooter. The loss extended Iowa’s skid to three consecutive games and marked its first home defeat of the season.

A night that reset the narrative

For Minnesota, the win carried historical weight.

It was the Gophers’ first road victory at Iowa since January 25, 2007, their first top-10 road win since the 2003 NCAA Tournament, and their first win over a top-10 opponent since 2018. It also represented a defining moment under head coach Dawn Plitzuweit, reinforcing the steady climb of a program that has increasingly paired skill with resilience.

More than the records, the manner of the win mattered. Minnesota did not survive Iowa. It controlled Iowa. In one of the Big Ten’s most hostile arenas, the Gophers dictated pace, space, and physicality.

What comes next

With momentum firmly in hand, Minnesota heads east to face Rutgers Scarlet Knights women’s basketball on Sunday, looking to extend its winning streak and solidify its standing in the conference. At 17–6 overall, the Gophers are building a compelling case for national recognition and postseason positioning.

For one night in Iowa City, Minnesota did more than pull an upset. It redrew the expectations surrounding its season and reminded the Big Ten that this group is no longer waiting its turn.

MinneapoliMedia