Hawkeyes Dominate Racers, 92-57, Advance to Round of 32

 NORMAN, Okla. – The University of Iowa women’s basketball team defeated 11th-seeded Murray State, 92-57, on Saturday in the Lloyd Noble Center in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. The Hawkeyes advance to the Round of 32 where they await the winner of third-seeded Oklahoma and 14th-seeded FGCU.

Murray State would open the game on a 6-2 run as junior Hannah Stuelke picked up her second personal foul just a couple minutes into the game. Freshman Ava Heiden would make an instant impact off the bench, sparking a 13-0 Hawkeye run as Iowa’s lead grew to nine with just under five minutes to play in the opening quarter. Iowa’s defense held the Racers scoreless for over three minutes of gametime. Following the run, the Hawkeyes had a 2:45 scoring drought before freshman Taylor Stremlow would come in off the bench and knock down a three-pointer to end the drought. Heiden led all scorers after 10 minutes with nine points. After the first, Iowa led Murray State, 18-12.

Stremlow got the scoring started in the second quarter with a three-pointer. Heiden would then score three consecutive buckets to give Iowa a 10-point lead while marking a new career high in points. Murray State would cut the lead to three before senior Lucy Olsen scored back-to-back buckets to push the lead back to seven. The Hawkeyes ended the half on a 7-0 run as freshman Aaliyah Guyton’s jump shot at the buzzer would give Iowa a 42-30 advantage after 20 minutes. Olsen led the way with eight points and three assists.

The third quarter was all the Hawkeyes as Iowa outscored Murray State, 30-10, over the 10-minutes. The Hawkeyes outscored the Racers, 20-4, in the first five minutes including making nine straight field goals as 14 of their 20 points came in the paint. Senior Sydney Affolter co-led the scoring attack with nine points on 4-of-4 shooting to go along with four rebounds. After sitting for much of the first half, Stuelke also added nine points and three rebounds. The Hawkeyes shot 13-of-19 (68.4 percent) from the field and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc in the third. Iowa dominated the glass outrebounding the Racers, 13-5. After three, Iowa led Murray State, 72-40.

Seven different Hawkeyes scored in the fourth quarter as senior AJ Ediger and senior Addison O’Grady led the way with four points apiece. Iowa outscored the Racers 20-17 in the fourth, once again winning the rebound battle, 10-7.  Freshman Callie Levin and junior Jada Gyamfi each added two points apiece. Levin was the 12th different Hawkeye to score as everyone who played in the game for Iowa ended up in the scoring column.

Iowa shot 41-of-73 (56.2 percent) from the field and 8-of-17 (47.1 percent) from deep. The Hawkeyes shot just four free throws were they converted on two. Iowa won the rebounding battle 44-32 as they also held Murray State to a season low 57 points. Olsen notched a double-double with 12 points and 12 assists, marking a new career high for assists. Heiden led Iowa with 15 points and 7 rebounds. Affolter added 11 points while grabbing eight rebounds whole Stuelke matched Affolter with 11 points, all coming in the second half. Stremlow rounded out Hawkeyes in double-digits with 10 points, marking a new career high.

POST-GAME NOTES
- Iowa broke its program record for most assists in a NCAA Tournament game. (28)
- Ava Heiden set a new career-high with 15 points (7-11 FG) and seven rebounds.
- Heiden is the fifth Hawkeye freshman since 2009 to net 15+ points in a NCAA Tournament game.
- Heiden’s 15 points tied for the most of any freshman this season.
- Heiden has scored 10+ points in three straight games which is a career-best.
- Taylor Stremlow also recorded a new career-high reaching double figures for the first time.
- Lucy Olsen dished out a career-best 12 assists and recorded her first double-double as a Hawkeye.
- Olsen became the third Hawkeye since 2009 to register 10+ assists and a double-double in a NCAA Tournament game. (Caitlin Clark and Sam Logic)
- Iowa recorded a season-high with 62 points in the paint.
- The Hawkeyes are 11-3 this season when Olsen registers six or more assists.
- Iowa’s defense held Murray State without a field goal for the final 4:41 of the first half.
- Iowa improved to 3-0 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament with a first-year head coach.
- The Hawkeyes are 7-2 on a neutral floor this season.
- Iowa has won 11 out of their last 14 games.
- Iowa’s last seven wins have come by double digits.
- The Hawkeye defense held the Racers to a season-low five 3-pointers.
- The Hawkeyes snapped Murray State’s 10-game winning streak in the first meeting between the two programs.
- Iowa held the nation’s leading offense (87.8 ppg) to 57 points which was its lowest of the season.
- Murray State is now 1-5 when being held to 75 points or less.
- Iowa is 17-5 in the NCAA Tournament since 2019.
- The Hawkeyes are 25-4 in a tournament setting since the 2022-23 season.
- Iowa has won six straight first round games in the NCAA Tournament.
- The Hawkeyes have won their opening round game by double digits five consecutive times.
- Iowa has earned nine straight 20-win seasons, which is the second longest streak in program history. (1984-94)
- Jensen surpassed Lisa Bluder and now has the second most wins by a head coach in their first season at the University of Iowa. (23)
- Jensen third coach to win 20+ games at Iowa in first season.
- Iowa is 19-2 this season when scoring 70+ points.
- Iowa is 16-7 all-time in first round NCAA Tournament contests.
- The Hawkeyes are 95-6 when recording 80+ points and 20+ assists since 2018-19.
- Iowa is 79-7 when dishing out 20+ assists in a single game since 2020-21.
- Since 2020-21, Iowa has won 104 games when scoring 80+ points.

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UP NEXT
Iowa will take on the winner of 3-Seed Oklahoma and 14-Seed Florida Gulf Coast on Monday, March 24 in Norman, Oklahoma. Game time and tv designation is to be announced later today