Bruins Break Past Iowa

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - No. 2 UCLA (21-1, 11-0) defeated No. 8 Iowa (18-4, 9-2) inside Pauley Pavilion on Sunday afternoon, 88-65. 
 
Sophomore Ava Heiden led the scoring for the Hawkeyes with 19 points on the day. All 19 were scored in the second half as Heiden went 7-for-12 with three rebounds and one assist.  

The first quarter was an evenly matched shooting battle for both teams. Sophomore Chit-Chat Wright led with five points for the Hawkeyes with one rebound and an assist alike. Three Hawkeyes made up the scoring for the first quarter. Iowa was able to hold the Bruins scoreless in the last three minutes of the quarter, closing it out down 13-17.  

UCLA was able to extend the gap in the second quarter. Wright and senior Hannah Stuelke combined for ten points. Despite the Bruin persistence, Iowa’s defense was able to force six turnovers, allowing only two baskets from UCLA in the last three minutes. The Hawkeyes went into half, trailing 28-39.  

Sophomore Ava Heiden came out halftime with something to prove. Heiden scored all 10 of Iowa’s third quarter points through the three minute mark. A back-and-forth battle persisted before the Bruins took control on an 11-0 run to extend their largest lead of the day. The Hawkeyes managed to pull together a 6-0 run to close out the first half, with UCLA leading 62-45. 

Heiden started the spark for the Hawkeyes in the final quarter. Iowa was able to cut their deficit to 13 after a deep shot beyond the arc from sophomore Taylor Stremlow, forcing a UCLA timeout. Stremlow led the quarter with six points. Despite a strong Hawkeye effort, the Bruins managed to hold on to their lead, securing the 88-65 win. 

INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Ava Heiden led Iowa with 19 points (7-12 FG) and three rebounds.
- Heiden has reached double figures in 10 straight games and against all 11 Big Ten opponents.
- Chit-Chat Wright registered 10 points, a team-high seven assists, and three rebounds.
- Wright has dished out five or more assists in four out of the last five games.
- Taylor Stremlow added 12 points and four assists.
- Hannah Stuelke recorded 13 points, eight rebounds, and four assists.
- It was Stuelke’s 16th game with eight or more boards.
- Addie Deal made her second career start as a Hawkeye.

TEAM NOTES
- It was Iowa’s fourth loss in the last 21 Big Ten regular season games.
- The Hawkeyes fell to 5-3 against AP Top 25 foes this year.
- Iowa is 8-9 against AP Top 25 teams in the Jan Jensen era.
- The Hawkeyes are 4-1 against their last five ranked opponents.
 
UP NEXT
The nationally ranked Hawkeyes return home to host Minnesota on Sunday, Feb. 5 at 6 p.m. (CT) in Iowa City. The contest will air on BTN and the Hawkeye Radio Network.