Hawkeyes Handle #15 Maryland in Overtime

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - No. 10 Iowa (17-2, 8-0) defeated No. 15 Maryland (17-4, 5-4) on Thursday night inside the Xfinity Center, 85-78 in overtime.  

Five different Hawkeyes registered double figures. Sophomore Ava Heiden led the Hawkeyes with 20 points, her sixth 20-point game of the season. Sophomore Chit-Chat Wright was close behind with 18 points of her own going 3-for-6 on three-pointers and 7-for-8 from the charity stripe.   

Senior Taylor McCabe got the scoring started for the Hawkeyes with a shot beyond the arc off of a Maryland turnover. Iowa was able to hold the Terrapins to just 36.2 percent shooting from the floor in the first quarter. Wright drained a three-pointer at the four-minute mark to propel a 9-0 run, leaving Maryland scoreless for two minutes. Five total Hawkeyes contributed to the 16-12 lead headed into the second quarter.   

Iowa’s offense continued to make plays in the second quarter. Heiden and McCabe both tallied six a piece. The Hawkeyes forced seven Maryland turnovers in the quarter and collected nine of the 17 quarter points from deep. Iowa went into half with a 33-27 lead over the Terps.   

The Hawkeyes score five points out of the break. Maryland was able to capitalize on a few Iowa miscues, leaving the Hawkeyes scoreless for two minutes. Heiden and Stuelke were able to break this drought getting back in the paint. Stuelke finished the quarter with six points and four rebounds. Iowa held the Terrapins without a field goal for the last 5:58 of the quarter, to claim a 48-39 lead after three.   

Six different Hawkeyes scored to help finish the game strong. The bench contributed 11 points, and Iowa was able to bank themselves nine second-chance points in the quarter. Freshman Journey Houston went 3-for-4 with six points and four rebounds.   

With 22 seconds left, the Terrapins downed a pair of free throws to cut the lead to one. The Hawkeyes were able to build it to a three-point lead, but Maryland junior Oluchi Okananwa drained a three-pointer to send the game into overtime.  

In overtime, the Terps got an early bucket, but Iowa was able to respond. Wright and Heiden handled the scoring for the Hawkeyes. Wright notched eight points including six clutch free throws, and Heiden had four points. Iowa was able to shut down the Terps for the last three and a half minutes of the game to secure their eighth Big Ten victory. 

INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Hannah Stuelke notched 12 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists.
- It was Stuelke’s fifth double-double of the year which ties for a team-high.
- Stuelke has registered at least 10+ points and 5+ rebounds in 13 of Iowa’s last 15 games.
- Stuelke has amassed 1,400 career points which is good for 20th all-time in school history.
- Stuelke extended her streak of eight or more rebounds to four straight games. 
- Chit-Chat Wright registered 18 points (7-8 FT), five assists, and two rebounds.
- Wright has recorded 10+ points and 3+ assists in seven out of the last eight games.
- Ava Heiden led all scorers with 20 points (9-13 FG) and eight rebounds. 
- It was Heiden’s sixth 20+ point performance this season.
- Heiden became the first Hawkeye to record 300+ points this season. 
- Heiden has reached double figures in seven straight games and against all eight Big Ten opponents.
- Taylor McCabe registered 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting from 3-point range. 
- McCabe has made three or more 3-pointers this season on nine occasions. 
- Journey Houston recorded 10 points (5-8 FG) and six rebounds. 
- It was Houston’s third game in double figures against a Big Ten team. 

TEAM NOTES
- Iowa picked up its third win all-time against Maryland in College Park. (1992, 2024)
- The Hawkeyes have now won four out of the last six matchups with the Terps. 
- Iowa extended their win streak to seven games. 
- Iowa’s 8-0 start to Big Ten action ties for the best start since 1995-96 when the Hawkeyes began league play, 12-0.
- Jan Jensen’s Hawkeyes improved to 7-8 against AP Top 25 teams over the past two seasons. 
- Iowa is 4-2 against AP Top 25 foes this season. 
- Iowa improved to 20-1 when scoring 80+ points in the Jensen era.

UP NEXT
The nationally ranked Hawkeyes will return home to face No. 12 Ohio State on Sunday, Jan. 25 at 1 p.m. (CT) in Iowa City. The contest will air on Peacock and the Hawkeye Radio Network.