Iowa's Jan Jensen Explains Being 'Hot' About Referee No-Call During Ohio State Loss

Iowa Hawkeyes coach Jan Jensen didn't agree with a few referee decisions at the end of her team's loss on March 7.

Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Jan Jensen watches the action Wednesday, March 5, 2025, in a round one game at the 2025 TIAA Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Wisconsin Badgers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. | Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

After two impressive performances to start the Big Ten Conference Tournament, the Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball team suffered a heartbreaking 60-59 defeat to the Ohio State Buckeyes on March 7, which knocked them out of the tournament.

The game's ending was not without controversy. With a few seconds remaining, Iowa player Hannah Stuelke was called for a foul while guarding Ohio State standout Cotie McMahon that many believed was questionable. McMahon then hit the two free throws, giving the Buckeyes a one-point lead over the Hawkeyes.

Moments later, Hawkeyes guard Sydney Affolter was driving to the basket when it looked like she came into contact with Ohio State players. However, a foul wasn't called, Affolter missed the shot, and the game ended soon after.

Really tired of refs deciding games. Final play, no foul called, Iowa loses by 1. pic.twitter.com/BQx6zUD443

— HammerDownHanna 🇺🇸 (@Hammerdownhanna) March 8, 2025

After the game, Hawkeyes head coach Jan Jensen explained her feelings about the officiating in these final moments

"I can't say a whole lot, but I think the situation on the other end before that happened, I thought that was kind of an unfortunate way [for Ohio State] to have to shoot free throws with six seconds left. Been there, done that a few weeks ago," Jensen said, per an article from Hawkeye Central's Chad Leistikow.

"Then this one, when Hannah [Stuelke] was trying to run... in my opinion, she was being held all the way. So when she was being held instead of being handed the ball... so I thought maybe we could have had a holding foul and we could have maybe shot a free throw.

"I'm not criticizing because I don't want to get in trouble, but that's why I was hot, because I was like, she couldn't even get set to go."

Therefore, it sounds like Jensen was more upset about a no-call on Hannah Stuelke than the one with Affolter. But the bottom line is that the Hawkeyes received a tough break in terms of officiating at the end of that defeat.