Hawkeyes Knock Down Nebraska

IOWA CITY, Iowa - No. 14 Iowa (12-2, 3-0) defeated No. 20 Nebraska (12-2, 1-2) on New Years Day inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena, 86-76. 
 
Sophomore Chit-Chat Wright dominated the day for the Hawkeyes with a career-high 24 points, three assists, and two steals. Senior Hannah Stuelke followed with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists to notch her third double-double of the season.  

The Huskers came out to a fast-paced 8-0 run to start the game. Stuelke got the scoring started for Iowa by getting to the line, sinking both free-throws. Three minutes into gameplay, the Hawkeyes began to capitalize on Nebraska miscues. Sophomore Ava Heiden led a 7-0 run for Iowa to bring the gap to 9-12 with 4:46 left in the quarter. The Huskers contained a narrow 21-18 lead headed into the second quarter.  

Wright drained a three-pointer to start the second period, tying up the score for the first time on the day. The Hawkeyes went on to gain nine points on seven forced Husker turnovers in the half. Heiden led the quarter with eight points going 4-for-4 on field goals. A combined 26 points, shooting 66.7 percent in the quarter, left Iowa behind 44-45 at half. 

The Hawkeyes came out of the locker room with an 8-2 run to put them in front.  Iowa forced four Husker turnovers in the first three minutes of the third quarter, capitalizing five points off of them. Stuelke continued to be a difference maker for Iowa with seven points and two rebounds. This momentum pushed Iowa up 64-61 heading into the fourth. 

In the final quarter, the Hawkeyes continued their defensive pursuit, forcing five more turnovers, adding to their total of 18 on the day. Senior Taylor McCabe hit a three-point basket at 4:32 to power Iowa to the end. The Hawkeyes pushed out a 15-6 run to secure a Hawkeye victory.  

INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Hannah Stuelke registered a double-double with 21 points (7-7 FT) and 10 rebounds. 
- It was Stuelke’s 13th career game with 20+ points and third of the season. 
- It was also Stuelke’s second career 20-point double-double. 
- Stuelke is the 14th Hawkeye in program history to record 1,300+ points and 700+ rebounds in her career.
- Stuelke has notched double figures in five straight games and in 11 contests overall.
- Chit-Chat Wright set a new career-high with 24 points (11-12 FT), three assists, and two steals.  
- It was Wright’s seventh game in double figures as a Hawkeye.
- Taylor Stremlow recorded eight points and dished out career-high eight assists. 
- Ava Heiden netted 18 points (8-10 FG) and grabbed seven rebounds.     
- Taylor McCabe added nine points. 
- McCabe is 12-of-25 from 3-point range against the Huskers in her career.   

TEAM NOTES
- Iowa leads the all-time series against Nebraska, 26-17.
- The Hawkeyes have won 12 of the last 14 meetings. 
- The Hawkeyes are 2-2 against AP Top 25 opponents this season. 
- Iowa extended its home winning streak to 10 games. 
- The Hawkeyes have won all eight home contests this season by 10+ points. 
- Iowa has played in front of 44 consecutive home sellouts which is the longest streak nationally. 
- Iowa is 134-20 in Iowa City since Nov. 11, 2016.
- The Hawkeyes are 96-30 against Big Ten foes since the 2019-20 season.
- The Hawkeyes are 19-1 when scoring 80+ points in the Jan Jensen era. 
- Iowa improved to 88-7 when dishing out 20+ assists since the 2020-21 season.
- Since 2018-19, the Hawkeyes are 104-6 when registering 80+ points and 20+ assists in the same game.
- The Hawkeyes are 5-8 against AP Top 25 opponents in Jensen’s first two seasons.   

UP NEXT
The nationally ranked Hawkeyes will hit the road to face Northwestern on Jan. 5 in Evanston at 7:30 p.m. (CT). The contest will air on BTN and the Hawkeye Radio Network.