After starting the season with 12 straight wins, the No. 20 Nebraska women’s basketball team lost its second straight game, losing 86-76 to No. 14 Iowa Thursday in Iowa City.
The Cornhuskers (12-2, 1-2 Big Ten) led the game 45-44 at the half, but the Hawkeyes (12-2, 3-0) took the lead in early in the second half, never again trailed, then responded after Nebraska tied the game at 70 with a 10-0 run to take an 80-70 edge with under two minutes to go in the game.
Chazadi Wright scored 24 points to lead Iowa, shooting 11-for-12 from the free-throw line. Hannah Steulke added 21 on seven-for-11 shooting and seven-for-seven from the free-throw line, while pulling down 10 rebounds for a double-double. Ava Heiden contributed 18 and seven rebounds.
Britt Prince led all scorers with 27 points for the Huskers, shooting 10-for-18 from the field. Jessica Petrie scored 17 on seven-for-18 on the field, while Eliza Maupin notched her a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Nebraska outshot Iowa, 50 percent to 49, while the Hawkeyes made one more three-pointer than the Huskers (seven to six). At home, the Hawkeyes had a major free-throw advantage, getting 28 free-throw attempts (while making 23), while Nebraska was 12-for-15 from the charity stripe.
The Huskers return to action Sunday at 2 p.m. at Pinnacle Bank Arena against Purdue. Pregame coverage begins at 1:30 p.m. on KLIN and B-107.3.