The 14th-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes secured a 99-76 victory over Penn State in their Big Ten home opener, but without starting guard Kylie Feuerbach due to an ankle injury. Coach Jan Jensen provided a day-to-day update on Feuerbach following the win. Sophomore Taylor Stremlow stepped up effectively in her absence.
Iowa women's basketball (11-2, 2-0 Big Ten) dominated Penn State (7-6, 0-2 Big Ten) with a convincing 99-76 win at home on December 29, 2025. The victory marked a strong start to Big Ten play for the Hawkeyes, but it came without the contributions of graduate senior guard Kylie Feuerbach, a 6-foot player from Sycamore, Illinois.
Feuerbach, listed as questionable on the game-day availability report, sat out entirely after suffering an ankle injury during Iowa's recent loss to No. 1 UConn in New York. She had played just nine minutes in that contest before exiting. Head coach Jan Jensen expressed concern over the absence postgame, highlighting Feuerbach's importance to the team.
"I was concerned without having Kylie. Kylie is one of our most efficient players. She's really our best defender. She understands every press, she understands every play. She doesn't ever have a misstep when it comes to that. So, I was really glad this game was at home, because, when you lose one of your team captains and she's not going to be able to play at all, (it's challenging)," Jensen said.
Jensen noted that Feuerbach slipped on the court logo during the UConn game, resulting in a jammed ankle. "Her status is day-to-day. Her ankle. Unfortunately, that didn't help us in that UConn game. She slipped on that logo and really got a pretty unique jammed ankle. So, we're day by day and going to see someone tomorrow again. So, I don't know what her status will be for Nebraska and beyond."
With Feuerbach sidelined, sophomore guard Taylor Stremlow filled the starting role admirably, logging 25 minutes and contributing 14 points on two 3-pointers, along with four assists, three rebounds, and two steals. Jensen praised her versatility and team-first mentality: "Yeah, I just can't say enough about Taylor Stremlow. There's few kids I think in the country that can start, 'Yeah, I'm good with it.' Don't start, don't know how many minutes they're going to play. Play the three, play the one, back up the two. That kid would play center if I asked her to. She just has... the heart is golden. And she just is a competitor."
Iowa looks ahead to a matchup against rival No. 24 Nebraska (12-0, 1-0 Big Ten) on New Year's Day at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, tipping off at 1 p.m. CT on the Big Ten Network.
