IOWA CITY — The No. 10 Iowa Hawkeye women’s basketball team opened the 2026-27 season with an impressive 73-45 victory over Towson on Monday, November 2, 2026, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, powered by a standout debut from Dani Carnegie and a dominant performance on the boards.
Carnegie poured in a game-high 21 points while collecting five rebounds and five assists in her first official appearance for Iowa. She scored 17 of her points in the second half as the Hawkeyes pulled away from the Tigers.
The victory extended Iowa’s remarkable streak of regular-season opening wins to 27 consecutive games. Head coach Jan Jensen improved to 51-18 in her Iowa coaching career, including a perfect 3-0 record in season openers.
Iowa faced an early challenge from Towson, with the teams deadlocked at 23 late in the second quarter. However, the Hawkeyes seized control with a 10-0 run to close the first half, carrying a 33-23 advantage into the locker room.
The Hawkeyes continued to build their lead after halftime, outscoring Towson 40-22 over the final two quarters. Iowa dominated the fourth period, 21-8, and finished the game on a 12-0 scoring run while holding the Tigers scoreless over the final 3:56.
One of the biggest differences was Iowa’s overwhelming advantage in rebounding and second-chance opportunities.
The Hawkeyes outrebounded Towson 52-27, including an 18-9 edge on the offensive glass. That effort translated into a commanding 21-2 advantage in second-chance points, preventing the Tigers from generating enough offense to remain competitive.
Iowa’s defense also delivered a strong season-opening performance, limiting Towson to just 31.1 percent shooting from the field. The Tigers connected on only three of their 18 attempts from beyond the three-point line, shooting 16.7 percent.
Alongside Carnegie’s impressive debut, freshman McKenna Woliczko made an immediate impact in her first collegiate contest. Woliczko scored 10 points, grabbed a team-high eight rebounds and connected on four of six shots from the floor.
Chazadi “Chit-Chat” Wright contributed 14 points and knocked down three 3-pointers. The performance pushed Wright past 400 career points at Iowa, giving her 401.
Four players made their official Hawkeye debuts in the victory. In addition to Carnegie and Woliczko, Amari Whiting finished with three points, five rebounds and two assists, while Jocelyn Faison contributed two points, five rebounds and three assists.
All nine Hawkeyes who entered the contest scored, demonstrating Iowa’s offensive balance as Jensen begins another season leading the program.
The win also improved Iowa’s all-time record against Towson to 2-0.
The season-opening performance provides an encouraging start for a nationally ranked Iowa program preparing for a challenging early-season schedule, including a highly anticipated showdown with one of the nation’s top teams.
Iowa women’s basketball next game
The Hawkeyes (1-0) return to Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Thursday, November 5, to host Eastern Illinois at 7 p.m. Central. The contest will stream on B1G+, which requires a subscription.
Iowa will then travel to Storrs, Connecticut, on Sunday, November 8, for a nationally televised matchup against No. 2 UConn. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. Central, with FS1 carrying the contest.
The showdown with the Huskies will provide an early measuring stick for Jensen’s nationally ranked Hawkeyes as they look to build on their commanding season-opening victory.
Previously, Iowa entered the season ranked No. 10, and Carnegie led the Hawkeyes in an exhibition win over Maryville.