No. 9 Hawkeyes Fall to No. 2 UCLA in Big Ten Championship

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – 2-seed Iowa (26-6, 15-3) fell to 1-seed UCLA (31-1, 18-0) in the Big Ten Tournament Championship on Sunday afternoon inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse, 96-45.

After the first quarter, the Hawkeyes trailed the Bruins, 22-5. Iowa shot 2-of-13 from the field in the opening 10 minutes while committing seven turnovers. Sophomore Taylor Stremlow led the Hawkeyes with three points, knocking down the team’s lone 3-pointer of the quarter.

UCLA extended its lead in the second quarter and held a 42-20 advantage at halftime. Sophomore Ava Heiden paced Iowa with seven points and three rebounds, while Stremlow added six points. Through two quarters, the Hawkeyes were shooting 7-of-28 (25 percent) from the field and 3-of-9 (33.3 percent) from 3-point range.

After 30 minutes, the Hawkeyes trailed the Bruins, 67-36. Heiden added six points shooting 3-of-4 from the field in the third quarter. UCLA pulled away in the final quarter as they defeated the Hawkeyes, 96-45.

Heiden led Iowa with 15 points shooting 7-of-11 from the field while pulling in four rebounds. Freshman Addie Deal rounded out Hawkeyes in double digits with 11 points while making three, 3-pointers, tying a career high. Sophomore Chit-Chat Wright added nine points to go along with five assists.

The Hawkeyes shot 17-of-61 (27.9 percent) from the field and 5-of-23 (21.7 percent) from beyond the arc while shooting 6-of-8 (75 percent) from the charity stripe.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Ava Heiden had a team-high 15 points (7-11 FG) and four rebounds.
- Heiden has reached double figures in 20 straight games and against all 17 Big Ten opponents played this season.
- Heiden has netted double figures in five consecutive Big Ten Tournament games dating back to last year.
- Taylor Stremlow notched six points, two assists, four rebounds, and two steals.
- Stremlow made her ninth consecutive start and 16th of the year.  
- Chit-Chat Wright nine points, five assists, and four rebounds.
- Addie Deal registered nine points (3-5 3FG), three assists, and a rebound.
- It was Deal’s sixth career game in double figures and first since Jan. 25, 2026. (Ohio State)
- Deal tied her career-best with three 3-pointers.
 
TEAM NOTES
- Iowa has played six of the last eight Big Ten Tournament titles.
- Jensen is 4-2 all-time in the Big Ten Tournament.
- The Hawkeyes are 18-4 in Big Ten Tournament play since 2018-19.

UP NEXT
NCAA Tournament Selection Sunday Show on March 15 at 7 p.m. (CT) on ESPN.