Iowa Women's Basketball to Host Maryville Exhibition
The Hawkeyes will take on the St. Louis-based Division II squad on October 29.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Basketball
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The Iowa women's basketball team is set to face Maryville in a preseason exhibition game on October 29. This matchup marks the Hawkeyes' first opportunity to play in front of fans this season.
Why it matters
The game serves as a dress rehearsal for new players to adapt to a live environment and gives the coaching staff a chance to test defensive strategies against deep-shooting centers.
Maryville arrives in Iowa City coming off a successful campaign that saw them win the Great Lakes Valley Conference. They previously demonstrated their offensive capability by securing a 90-84 exhibition victory over Missouri last season.
The players
Iowa Women's Basketball
The Hawkeyes represent the University of Iowa and are currently preparing for the upcoming season under new leadership.
Maryville
This St. Louis-based Division II institution maintains a competitive basketball program that secured a conference title last season.
Jan Jensen
Serving as the head coach for the Iowa women's basketball team, she is responsible for managing the roster and preparing the squad for play.
The details
Coaches are utilizing this exhibition alongside previous closed scrimmages against Oklahoma State and Lindenwood to experiment with different lineup combinations. The team will focus on fine-tuning their defensive rotations ahead of the upcoming regular season opener.
Timeline
Maryville won the Great Lakes Valley Conference in the 2025-26 season.
Jan Jensen held a press conference on October 28, 2026.
Iowa plays the exhibition game against Maryville on October 29, 2026.
Iowa opens the regular season against Towson on November 2, 2026.
Season Trajectory
This exhibition allows Iowa to test its internal roster dynamics before moving into the high-stakes regular season. The game follows a pattern set by the Great Lakes Valley Conference championship where Maryville established their regional dominance.
Fans attending the October 29 exhibition will see the coaching staff rotate players to determine the most effective matchups for the regular season. This game provides a key look at how the team plans to defend perimeter-shooting centers.
The takeaway
Preseason exhibitions are essential tools for coaches to evaluate new players in live settings. Readers should monitor these early games to identify which tactical rotations become permanent fixtures once the regular season begins.
What happens next
Iowa will begin their regular season on November 2, 2026, when they face off against Towson.
Further reading
For more on the team's upcoming schedule and roster developments, visit the Basketball page.
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Do you find preseason exhibition games useful for gauging how well your local college team will perform?
