Sophomore Ava Heiden is finding success as Iowa’s starting center.

(PHOTO): Freshman Addie Deal (7) of Iowa fires a shot over Western Illinois defenders on Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025, in Iowa City. (AP Photo/Iowa Athletics)

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Addison Deal scored 17 points of the bench, Ava Heiden had her fourth double-double of the season, and No. 11 Iowa defeated Western Illinois 86-69 on Wednesday night.

The Hawkeyes made 16 of 20 shots inside the arc in the first, 19 of 31 overall, and led 44-25 at the break. Heiden made 5 of 5 shot attempts and scored 13 points. She grabbed eight rebounds in the half.

Iowa’s lead ranged from 18 to 23 points throughout the second half until Kennedy Herrig made two free throws for Western Illinois in the final minute.

Heiden, a sophomore, earned National Player of the Week honors from the United States Basketball Writers Association following her efforts against No. 7 Baylor and Miami at the WBCA Showcase. She recorded 18 points, 11 rebounds and three assists against Baylor and scored 20 points against Miami as the Hawkeyes won the tournament championship.

Against Western Illinois, Heiden finished with 18 points on 6-of-7 shooting plus 10 rebounds and three steals. Deal, a freshman, had her career highs in points, assists (5) and rebounds (3). Taylor McCabe scored 15 points and Hannah Stuelke 12 for the Hawkeyes (7-0).

Mia Nicastro scored 20 points, Reagan McCowan 16, and Addie Brownfield and Mallory Shetley 10 each for the Leathernecks (4-1).

INDIVIDUAL NOTES
– Ava Heiden registered her fourth double-double of the season with 15 points (6-7 FG) and 10 rebounds. 
– It was Heiden’s sixth game of the season in double figures.
– Hannah Stuelke nearly registered a double-double with 12 points (5-8 FG), nine rebounds, four assists, and four steals. 
– It was her 67th career game in double digits, the most among any active Hawkeye. 
– Addie Deal notched 17 points (7-10 FG), five assists, and three rebounds.
– Her assist and point totals were both career-highs. 
– Taylor Stremlow filled the stat sheet with seven points, five assists, and three rebounds. 
– Stremlow made her second start this season. 
– Taylor McCabe scored a season-high 15 points and was 5-of-10 from 3-point range. 
– It was McCabe’s 16th career game in double figures.
– McCabe tied her career-high in 3-point field goal attempts. 
– Callie Levin netted a career-high six points. 

TEAM NOTES
– Iowa is 7-0 in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history. 
– The Hawkeyes have won eight consecutive matchups against Western Illinois.
– Iowa is 7-0 for the eighth time in program history. 
– Iowa has outscored all seven of its opponents by 10+ paint points this season. 
– The Hawkeyes have played in front of 40 consecutive sellouts which is the longest active streak nationally.
– Iowa is 15-1 when scoring 80+ points in the Jan Jensen era. 
– Iowa is 100-6 when scoring 80+ points and dishing out 20+ assists in the same game since 2018-19. 
– All available Hawkeyes saw action in tonight’s game.
– Iowa led the game 39:41. 

Up next

Iowa: The Hawkeyes host Fairfield on Sunday, then open Big Ten play at Rutgers on Dec. 6.

Western Illinois: The Leathernecks host St. Francis of Illinois on Dec. 4.