What initially seemed like an injury-related absence turned into much more. A solid member of Jan Jensen’s rotation through the first five games of the season, Emely Rodriguez’s floor time sank to 4 minutes in the Miami (Fla.) game on November 22. Since that game, she was glued to the bench with fans assuming it was injury-related. But as her absence was extended, more eyebrows were raised. 

On3’s Talia Goodman reported that Rodriguez is “currently on an indefinite suspension due to a (violation of team rules).” The report said that Rodriguez “has the opportunity to rejoin the team if she recommits to the standards.”

It seems the guard has taken that opportunity, as coach Jan Jensen has announced her return, but with a caveat.

“She’s back, and we never announced ourselves (that she was suspended), but handled that internally,” Jensen said. “She’s back, and she’s battling her back. That’s been a chronic, and that’s a day-to-day situation.”

We still don’t know what the infraction was, but it seems to have been a thing of the past for Jensen and Rodriguez. In the 6 games she played, Rodriguez was averaging 7.2 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game. However, Jensen also has other injury woes with Kylie Feuerbach, Kennise Johnson, and Jada Gyamfi missing the game against the Lions.

Despite the absentees, Iowa routed Penn State 99-76 after two consecutive losses to UConn and Iowa State. Jensen flexed her depth as Ava Heiden’s career-best 27 points on 13-for-19 from the floor, and 1-for-1 from the free throw line carried Iowa offensively. Chit-Chat Wright’s 16 points, and Hannah Stuelke and Taylor Stremlow’s 14 points, just rounded out the score sheet.

Freshman guard Journey Houston recorded 11 points and 11 rebounds alongside three assists and 1 steal in 19 minutes off the bench. Rodriguez will just add to the depth this Iowa roster has, playing significant minutes from 1 through 10.

Jensen further expressed relief that the team did not have any UConn hangover. 

Jan Jensen, Iowa Turn the Page After UConn Rout

Iowa suffered demoralizing defeats just before the holiday week. The number-one-ranked Huskies dominated the Hawkeyes from the jump en route to a 90-64 rout at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The principal reason behind this loss was the 36 turnovers this team coughed up.

At times, a game like this can break you and derail the season. However, the team returned with a positive spirit against Penn State. 

“That’s the one thing I was really worried about,” Jensen said after the game. 

Top Stories

Sources: John Harbaugh Wasn’t Fired, Left Ravens After Refusing Major Staff Changes

Bill Cowher’s Strong Message to Steelers on Firing Mike Tomlin After HC’s Blunt Playoff Message

Bengals’ Cam Taylor-Britt Sentenced to Jail: Everything We Know About Charges Against Him

Golf Veteran, 62, Sparks Debate With Shock Move to Reclaim PGA Tour Status

Key Takeaways: Geno Auriemma’s UConn Rolls Past St. John’s in Comfortable Win

Pat McAfee Can’t Hide What He Thinks About Audi Crooks Leaving NBA, WNBA Stars Behind

“How do you go into Christmas when you’re bummed? You wish you could have it back, and you’re not feeling great about yourselves. So I think that was the challenge for our staff, to really make sure – we did have practice the next day – to really dissect it. Some of the things that I was not happy with, I pointed out. But I did point out some of the things that we did do well.”

Iowa understood how wide the gap is between the best team and them as of now. That doesn’t mean, though, that they can’t match them by the time March arrives. Jensen has assembled enough talent in the form of Chit-Chat Wright (Caitlin Clark’s favourite), Ava Heiden, and Hannah Stuelke, among others.  They did beat UConn in the 2024 Final Four game with Caitlin Clark. While they might not have the phenomenon anymore, the belief from that game remains.