The University of Iowa women’s basketball team improved to 11-2 and 2-0 in Big Ten play with a commanding 99-76 win over Penn State on Sunday afternoon inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena behind a career high 27 points from Ava Heiden. Heiden was connected on 13-of-19 shooting and added nine rebounds and an assist. Sophomore Chit-Chat Wright added 16 points and six assists, while senior Hannah Stuelke and sophomore Taylor Stremlow each had 14 of their own.
The Hawkeyes came out with a 29-14 lead after the first quarter behind a 14-0 run midway through the period. Wright scored 12 points in the opening frame, and Iowa dominated the paint early with 10 points inside while forcing six Penn State turnovers.
Penn State responded in the second quarter, outscoring Iowa, 23-20. Iowa maintained control behind Heiden’s 11 points in the period, and the Hawkeyes entered the break ahead, 49-37.
After halftime, Heiden and freshman Addie Deal combined for 12 third-quarter points, and Deal’s fast break layup off a Penn State turnover stretched Iowa’s lead to 73-52 heading into the fourth. The Hawkeyes shot 45.8 percent in the third and tallied 18 points from the paint.
In the final frame, Iowa closed strong with seven points each from Deal and Houston. The Hawkeyes finished with 56 points in the paint, 23 second-chance points, and shot 50 percent from the field overall. Defensively, the Hawkeyes forced 20 turnovers.
Up next for the Hawkeyes is no. 20 Nebraska on New Years Day at 1pm. Coverage of the Hawkeyes is brought to you by Ed Morse Chevy Buick and GMC, Meineke Muffer, Muscatine Power and Water and Community Health Care Dental Clinic.
