Hawkeyes Inch Past Illinois

IOWA CITY, Iowa - No. 9 Iowa (23-5, 14-3) defeated RV Illinois (19-10, 9-8) inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Thursday night, 82-78. Jan Jensen picked up her 46th career win tonight, which is the most by an Iowa women’s basketball head coach in their first two seasons. 
 
Sophomore Ava Heiden led the Hawkeyes with a career-high 28 points (13-of-18) and four rebounds. Sophomore Taylor Stremlow also recorded her first career double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.  

The Hawkeyes came out strong on a 10-0 run in the first four minutes of play. Illinois was able to answer back, keeping it tight through the rest of the quarter. Heiden went 4-for-4 in the paint with eight points and two rebounds. Iowa was able to take the 20-17 advantage to end the first quarter after senior Kylie Feuerbach drained a last second three-pointer.  

The second quarter was a hard-fought battle. The Illini took a short lead at the eight-minute mark before Stremlow got herself under the hoop to convert an and-one to make it a one-point game. It remained a back-and-forth quarter with Stuelke and Stremlow each having seven points. Iowa headed into the locker room, tied at 35.  

The Illini took control of the first few minutes of the third quarter. Freshman Addie Deal found herself with an and-one to tie it back up with four minutes left in the third quarter. Iowa held Illinois scoreless for the last 2:50 of the quarter. At the end of the third frame, it was tied again at 56 a piece.

Iowa swung the momentum back in their favor late in the fourth quarter. Four Hawkeyes combined for 26 quarter points. Heiden propelled an 11-4 run, hitting a clutch layup in the paint, notching her career-high of 28 points to pull Iowa’s lead to four. Stuelke and Sophomore Chit-Chat Wright hit five crucial free throws to secure the Hawkeyes' narrow victory.  

INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Ava Heiden led Iowa with a career-high 28 points (13-18 FG) and four rebounds.
- Over the last four games, Heiden is 46-of-62 from the floor. (70 percent)
- Heiden has reached double figures in 16 straight games and against all 16 Big Ten opponents played this season.
- Heiden has scored 20+ points a team-best 11 times this season and in five out of the last six games.
- Hannah Stuelke became the seventh player in program history to record 1,500+ points and 850+ rebounds in a career.
- Stuelke recorded 18 points (4-6 FT), five rebounds, and four assists.
- Stuelke is the 16th player in program history to net 1,500+ career points. 
- Stuelke is the ninth player in school history to grab 850+ career rebounds.
- Taylor Stremlow notched her first career double-double with 11 points, a career-high 11 assists, and three rebounds.
- Stremlow has reached double figures in three out of the last four games.
- Stremlow made her fourth consecutive start and 12th of the year. 
- The Hawkeyes are 12-0 in such games when Stremlow is in the starting lineup this season. 
- Journey Houston added nine points and a team-high eight rebounds.
- Chit-Chat dished out five assists, four rebounds, and four points.

TEAM NOTES
- Iowa will finish the regular season 14-1 at home and 8-1 against Big Ten teams.
- The Hawkeyes have won 14+ games inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena for the 14th time in school history.
- Jensen’s 14 home victories are the most by a head coach in their second season at the helm.
- The Hawkeyes have won 14 or more conference games in six out of the last eight seasons including four out of the last five.
- Iowa has sold-out 51 consecutive games which is the longest active streak dating back to Feb. 26, 2023.
- The Hawkeyes have welcomed 224,970 fans in 15 regular season home games this season.
- Iowa has won 14 or more Big Ten games 16 times in program history. 
- Jensen becomes the second coach in program history to record 14+ Big Ten wins in their second season. (C. Vivian Stringer)
- The Hawkeyes have beaten the Illini 13 times in a row inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
 
UP NEXT
The nationally ranked Hawkeyes will hit the road for the regular season finale at Wisconsin on Sunday, March 1 at 2 p.m. (CT) in Madison. The contest will air on B1G+ and the Hawkeye Radio Network.