In a game they needed to win the Fighting Illini faced the Iowa Hawkeyes in Iowa’s final home game of the regular season. Both teams were battling for Big Ten Tournament positioning, with Illinois seeking a bye and Iowa aiming for a No. 2 or No. 3 seed.
Iowa’s Stuelke opened the scoring on the Hawkeyes’ second possession but went down on the next play and left the game with an apparent forearm injury. Iowa responded with a 10–0 run, with Heiden contributing six of those points. The teams traded baskets before Stuelke returned from the training room with three minutes left in the quarter. Feuerbach knocked down two three-pointers including one at the buzzer to give Iowa a 20–17 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter brought increased physicality from both teams. Illinois took its first lead of the game as the score remained tight throughout the period. The teams shot similarly from the field, but fouls mounted quickly, with five called against Illinois and seven against Iowa in a tightly officiated stretch. Feuerbach went to the bench after picking up her second foul. Illinois hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to tie the game at 35 heading into halftime.
The pace quickened in the third quarter as Illinois opened with a pair of early three-pointers during a 6–0 run to take the lead. Heiden continued her dominant offensive performance, scoring eight of Iowa’s first 10 points of the second half. Deal converted a three-point play to tie the game at 50 with four minutes remaining in the quarter. Illinois stayed hot from beyond the arc, hitting four straight three-pointers. Both teams battled for every possession, and the game was tied again at 56 at the end of the third quarter.
Illinois continued its strong outside shooting to begin the fourth quarter, hitting three more three-pointers. Heiden responded with 10 points in the first five minutes of the period, along with a key block. Illinois grabbed the early lead, but Iowa cut the deficit to one with four minutes remaining.
The final minute was intense, with the score tied at 73. Wright made two free throws to give Iowa a two-point edge. After a timeout to reinsert Heiden into the lineup, she immediately scored to push the lead to four with 23 seconds remaining. An Iowa foul sent Illinois to the free-throw line, where the Illini cut the deficit to two with 18 seconds left. Illinois fouled Stuelke, who calmly made both free throws to restore Iowa’s four-point lead. Illinois answered with a three-pointer to make it a one-point game. The Illini then sent Wright to the line, where she made both free throws. An Illinois offensive foul gave Iowa possession, and Stuelke added one final free throw to seal the victory. Four Hawkeyes scored in the last quarter combining for 26 points.
Sophomore Ava Heiden led the Hawkeyes with a career-high 28 points (13-of-18) and four rebounds. Sophomore Taylor Stremlow had a day of her own with her first career double-double on 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Up next for Iowa is a trip to Madison to take on Wisconsin in their final game before the Big Ten Tournament starts next week. Coverage is brought to you by Muscatine Power and Water and Ed Morse Chevy, Buick and GMC.
