The play Saturday in a steamy Carver Hawkeye Arena could be looked at in a couple of ways. Was it a one off game where Iowa just couldn’t do all the little things to grab a decisive win against FDU and in the end only escaped with a ten point win? Or is a sign of serious issues with this Iowa team who needed reluctant star Ava Heiden and four year tested vet Hannah Stuekle to grab the W in a game where the Hawks were 32.5 point favorites against a 15 seed?
When No. 2 seeds in the NCAA Tournament had never lost to a No. 15 in 126 meetings, to ask what the solution for Iowa going forward is, isn’t a bad question. The answer could speak to this young team’s touted resiliency … and forecast how long (or short) the Hawkeyes’ NCAA run could be.
The answer on Saturday turned out to be: Reluctant Hawkeye star Ava Heiden. The sophomore isn’t sure she wants to be the go-to player. But if she hadn’t been against FDU, Iowa might have suffered one of the biggest upsets in NCAA Tournament history. Heiden scored 15 fourth-quarter points, including 12 straight for her team, as Iowa survived an upset bid from FDU with a 58-48 triumph.
Survive and advance. That’s the March Madness motto. And as long as the Hawkeye’s shoot better and play a more complete game against Virginia, it’ll be back to business as usual. “We weren’t hitting necessarily, and Ava was firing,” Hawkeyes guard Taylor Stremlow said. “You can’t really stop her. So, just continuing to go with what works.” With the Hawkeyes holding tight to a 44-43 lead, Jan Jensen called a timeout with 6:17 left. She dialed up Heiden, who rolled into the lane on a feed from Chit-Chat Wright for two. Heiden knocked in two free throws after a defensive stop, and the crowd was roaring.
FDU’s 3-point weapon remained relentless, though, with Bella Toomey knocking in the 10th Knights shot from deep to cut it to 48-46. The tension at Carver Hawkey at that point wasn’t just about the heat. Heiden scored again in deep on a feed from Kylie Feuerbach, then again on a dime from Stremlow after a Feuerbach block at the other end. Heiden knocked down another two free throws to push the lead to 54-46 with 3:10 to go.
Heiden was Iowa’s first-team all-conference player this year. She was a difference-maker all season. The 6-foot-4 sophomore was THE difference in her first career NCAA Tournament start. Remember, a year ago in the postseason, she was just emerging as a valuable contributor for the Hawkeyes after spending most of the season on the bench.
“I think I’m finding my way,” Heiden said. “I’ve never been the person to be like, ‘I want that final shot.’ Like, ‘No, let someone else take it.’ I’m growing. Logically and statistically, that’s how my brain works. If my field-goal percentage is 65%, I get that it’s the most likely shot that’s going to go in. So I’ll take it if I need to.”
Heiden finished with a career-high 29 points on 11-of-16 shooting from the floor and 7-of-7 from the line. It’s clear that if Iowa’s shooting is off in any game going forward, Heiden is the answer down low. She’s the combo of power and finesse where Hannah Stuelke is more finesse than power.
In that crucial timeout in a one-point game, Jensen had to decide quickly what message to deliver. She chose to be stern. She told them to believe in what brought the Hawkeyes to 24 regular-season wins and the No. 2 seed line. That message was received, especially by Heiden. Iowa closed on a 14-5 run.
“Getting them to believe in how much belief the rest of us have in them,” Jensen said. “… That’s a sophomore that is learning to get used to the big bright lights of the biggest stage. She’s not quite there, but me — I’d give it to her 16 times out of 16.”
Iowa (27-6) will play 10th seeded Virginia at Carver Hawkeye Arena at 1 p.m. Monday. The winner heads to to the Sweet 16 in the Sacramento. Hawkeye basketball coverage is brought to you by Muscatine Power and Water.
