Hawkeyes Pull Away from Wolverines

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Second-seeded Iowa (26-5) defeated third-seeded Michigan (25-6) in the Big Ten Tournament Semifinals on Saturday afternoon inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, 59-42.
 
Sophomore Ava Heiden led the day for the Hawkeyes with 16 points (7-of-15) and two assists. Senior Hannah Stuelke had a day of her own notching a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.  

The Hawkeyes start the game on a 9-0 run to get the first quarter rolling. Heiden led the scoring with six points (3-for-5) in the paint. Iowa pulled down an impressive 15 rebounds and held the Wolverines to just 12.5 percent shooting from the field. The Hawkeyes headed into the second quarter with a 13-4 lead.  

Michigan came back to fight in the second quarter. The Hawkeyes were held to just six points in the first five minutes before breaking away on a 6-0 run. Iowa notched three points on four Wolverine turnovers. The Hawkeyes held onto their 28-22 lead as they headed to the locker room.  

It continued to be a back-and-forth battle as the third quarter kicked off. Iowa notched themselves five second-chance points. The Wolverines were held to just 37.5 percent from the field. Michigan was able to pull ahead of Iowa with a last second basket, ending the quarter up 36-35. 

The Hawkeyes dominated the fourth quarter. Senior Hannah Stuelke led a 13-2 run to give Iowa their second-largest lead of the day. Stuelke dished out 11 points and one rebound to notch a double-double. Iowa shot 60 percent from the field. The Hawkeyes closed out a strong 59-42 win to send them to the Big Ten Championship game.  

INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Hannah Stuelke led Iowa with 13 points and a team-high 10 rebounds.
- It was Stuelke’s 20th career double-double.
- Ava Heiden recorded 16 points, two assists, and a rebound.
- Heiden has reached double figures in 19 straight games and against all 17 Big Ten opponents played this season.
- Heiden has netted double figures in four consecutive Big Ten Tournament games dating back to last year.
- Taylor Stremlow filled the stat sheet with 11 points, six assists, and six rebounds.
- Over the last four games, Stremlow has 31 assists to six turnovers.
- Stremlow has dished out five or more assists 12 times this season. 
- Stremlow made her seventh consecutive start and 15th of the year. 
- The Hawkeyes are 15-0 in such games when Stremlow is in the starting lineup this season.  
- Chit-Chat Wright notched 13 points, five rebounds, and three assists.
- Wright has recorded three straight games in double figures.
- Journey Houston added six rebounds, four points, and a block.

TEAM NOTES
- Iowa advanced to the Big Ten Tournament Championship for the third time in the last four seasons.
- The Hawkeyes have won 26+ games 11 times in program history and in three out of the last four years.
- Iowa improved to 5-0 all-time against the Wolverines in the Big Ten Tournament.
- Iowa is 20-0 when leading at halftime this season.
- Jensen’s Big Ten Tournament record improved to 4-1 in her first two seasons.
- Iowa has won at least two games in the Big Ten Tournament in six consecutive seasons.
- Iowa and Michigan last met in the 2024 Big Ten Tournament Semifinals in Minneapolis.
- The Hawkeyes are 18-3 in Big Ten Tournament play since 2018-19.
- In two games in Indy, Iowa’s defense has held their opponents to 8-of-35 from 3-point range.
- Iowa has outscored Michigan, 44-13 combined in fourth quarters this season.
- The Wolverines combined for a total of 86 points in both games faced against Iowa. Michigan averages 85 points per game. 

UP NEXT
The nationally ranked Hawkeyes will face 1-Seed UCLA in the Big Ten Tournament Championship on Sunday at 1:15 p.m. (CT) inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.