nebraska basketball left searching after Iowa’s Stremlow sparks 80-67 defeat
LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska basketball endured a rough Presidents Day in Lincoln on Feb. 16, dropping an 80-67 decision to Iowa as sophomore guard Taylor Stremlow erupted for a career-high 17 points. The loss highlighted roster pressure that has surfaced for both Cornhusker programs as the Big Ten season heads into its final weeks.
Stremlow’s breakout stuns Nebraska women
Stremlow, thrust into a starting role after Taylor McCabe suffered a season-ending knee injury more than three weeks ago, provided the spark the Hawkeyes needed. She buried three first-quarter 3-pointers and finished 3-for-4 from deep while converting 17 points in her second straight start. Iowa led by as many as 27 points and closed out an 80-67 victory in a game that tipped at 11: 00 a. m. ET.
The sequence that drew the loudest reaction came late in the third quarter: Stremlow forced a steal and flipped a no-look assist to Chit-Chat Wright, who finished midair for a layup that put Iowa ahead 65-42. Wright, who is among the nation’s most efficient 3-point shooters, drew plenty of help from Stremlow’s willingness to look for big moments.
“She gets us really fired up. She’s a spark for this team, ” teammate Ava Heiden said after the game. Iowa head coach Jan Jensen praised Stremlow’s selflessness and composure, noting how quickly she bounces back from mistakes and rallies her teammates — characteristics reminiscent of a previous Hawkeye leader.
The change at shooting guard has yielded results so far: in the two starts since Stremlow moved into McCabe’s spot, she has scored 26 points on 10-of-13 shooting over 60 minutes and 32 seconds of game action, and Iowa is 2-0 in that stretch. Freshman Addie Deal, who filled the role earlier, struggled again against the Hawkeyes with zero points and three turnovers in 13 minutes.
For Nebraska’s women, the defeat underlined a need for steadier defense and more consistent offense to counter hot perimeter shooting. The Cornhuskers chipped away late but never managed to erase the deficit built in the first three quarters.
Men’s program faces looming tests amid scoring concerns
On the men's side, Nebraska’s 22-3 overall mark and 11-3 Big Ten ledger mask some recent vulnerability. After a 20-0 start, the Cornhuskers have gone 2-3 in their last five conference games, with losses to strong opponents revealing cracks that opponents are trying to exploit.
Pryce Sandfort has been a consistent threat, entering one recent stretch with double-digit scoring in 13 straight games and multiple 20-point performances, including a 29-point outburst. His ability to score both inside and out presents matchup problems for conference foes.
But the Cornhuskers need more reliable secondary scoring. Questions remain about who will consistently support leading scorers like Bennett Stirtz; in several losses there has been scant help from the bench. The team’s depth and ability to generate points beyond its primary options will be a major storyline as Nebraska navigates the final weeks of Big Ten play and eyes postseason positioning.
Looking ahead, Nebraska will have to shore up both end-of-game execution and rotation contributions if the program expects to regain the early-season momentum that produced an unbeaten start. For now, the twin setbacks — a decisive road loss for the women and mounting concerns for the men — put pressure on coaching staffs and players to adjust quickly.
With the Big Ten grind showing few favors, Nebraska basketball enters a critical stretch where every performance will be evaluated through the lens of postseason hopes and the need for timely answers.
