The No. 12 Iowa Hawkeyes, undefeated at 8-0, face the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in their Big Ten conference debut on Saturday. Iowa holds a dominant 14-3 all-time series lead, having won 13 of the last 14 meetings. The game tips off at 5:00 p.m. CT on FS1.
Iowa enters the matchup with strong offensive numbers, averaging 84.0 points per game on 50.6% field goal shooting and 35.8% from three-point range, while committing 16.0 turnovers. Defensively, the Hawkeyes allow 55.9 points per game, holding opponents to 32.8% from the field and 29.2% from beyond the arc, forcing 17.0 turnovers and boasting a +16.4 rebound margin.
Rutgers, at 7-2, averages 63.7 points on 38.6% shooting and 32.0% from three, with the same 16.0 turnover rate. Their defense yields 55.0 points, limiting foes to 35.2% from the field and 27.1% from three, forcing 16.3 turnovers and holding a +6.6 rebound margin. The Scarlet Knights, coached by Coquese Washington in her fourth season (40-66 overall, 10-44 in Big Ten), recently beat Rhode Island but lost to Auburn and Stony Brook.
A key player for Rutgers is junior guard Nene Ndiaye, a transfer from Boston College, leading with 16.9 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. She shoots 52.2% from the field (47-of-90) and 44.0% from three (11-of-25), averaging 5.22 free-throw points on 6.55 attempts. At 6-foot-1, she poses matchup challenges for Iowa's guards.
For Iowa, point guard Taylor Stremlow has stepped up, averaging 8.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.3 assists over her last four games, including a career-high seven assists against Fairfield. She ranks ninth in the Big Ten in assist rate at 27.5%, though turnovers have increased recently. With Chit-Chat Wright day-to-day, Stremlow may start her fourth straight game.
The pivotal matchup is Iowa's defensive rebounding against Rutgers' offensive glass work. The Scarlet Knights average 15.33 offensive rebounds and 16.0 second-chance points per game, despite shooting under 45% in seven of nine contests. Iowa ranks third nationally in defensive rebound percentage at 78.9%, led by Ava Heiden and Hannah Stuelke's combined 18.3 rebounds per game.
Other Rutgers standouts include grad senior Kayleh Ivey (9.7 points, 3.4 assists), sophomore Zachara Perkins (11.9 points, 5.8 rebounds), junior Janae Walker (6.2 points early), and Kansas State transfer Imani Lester (11.2 points, 6.14 offensive rebounds per 40 minutes). Off the bench, Antonia Bates averages 5.2 rebounds in 26.2 minutes, while Faith Blackstone contributes 7.0 points recently.
Projections favor Iowa, with Warren Nolan predicting 77-63 and Bart Torvik 72-59. Analysts expect Iowa to pull away in the second half by controlling the boards, projecting a 70-55 Hawkeye win.