Des Moines Sun

Positive COVID-19 tests forced the Iowa women’s basketball team to pull out of three games, including a holiday tournament south of the border.

"NEW! COVID has introduced an unplanned pause in the season for Iowa women's basketball and led to the cancellation of three upcoming games," Go Iowa Awesome said in a Nov. 21 tweet. 

The 4-0 Hawkeyes didn’t play a Nov. 22 game against Drake, as well as cancelled their appearance in the Cancun Challenge, according to the FanNation blog Inside the Hawkeyes.

Lisa Buder, the P. Sue Beckwith, MD, head women's basketball coach, said she and her players are “obviously disappointed” with the circumstances.

"We're obviously disappointed but understand this is the right decision," Buder said in a statement obtained by ESPN. "Our team and staff have followed best practices. But unfortunately, a number of individuals experienced symptoms and tested positive.”

Buder said that the program will follow the advice of medical staff with all eyes on a future return to the hardwood.

Inside the Hawkeyes said that the school’s athletic ticket office would reach out to those who had tickets to the Drake game.

Iowa reeled off victories over Southern, Northern Iowa, Samford and New Hampshire to begin the 2021 season, with sophomore Caitlin Clark — 21.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists per contest — figuring prominently in the streak.

ESPN reported that the next time the Hawkeyes could see action again is Dec. 2 when they do battle against Duke in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.