No. 13 Iowa tops No. 6 Michigan 62-44 behind Ava Heiden’s 24 points

Iowa sophomore center Ava Heiden celebrates a bucket in the paint at the basketball game between No. 13 Iowa and No. 6 Michigan at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. Heiden led the Hawkeyes to a big win with her 24 points, 11 more points than anyone else at the game today. Iowa beat Michigan 62-44, the first time this season that Michigan has scored under 50 points. (Photo/Travis Crabb, Daily Iowan)

JOHN BOHNENKAMP | Associated Press

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Ava Heiden had 24 points and 10 rebounds to help No. 13 Iowa beat sixth-ranked Michigan 62-44 on Sunday.

Hannah Stuelke added 11 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists for the Hawkeyes (22-5, 13-3 Big Ten), who held the Wolverines (22-5, 13-3) to their lowest point total of the season and moved into a second-place tie in the Big Ten with Michigan heading into the final week of the regular season.

Michigan came in ranked fifth nationally in scoring offense at 86.6 points per game, but shot just 30.5% from the field for the game and committed 24 turnovers.

Heiden, who ranks fourth in the nation in field-goal percentage at 64.4%, was 11 of 17 from the field. Iowa led for the final 28 minutes, making shots to answer any run by the Wolverines.

Michigan got within 39-35 with 15 seconds left in the third quarter on a 3-pointer by Syla Swords, but Iowa’s Kylie Feuerbach banked in a 3-pointer before the buzzer sounded.

Then, in the fourth quarter, after the Wolverines got to within 46-40 with 6½ minutes to play, Iowa went on a 12-2 run, with Heiden scoring eight points.

The Hawkeyes shot 60.7% in the second half, including 71.4% in the fourth quarter, to pull away from the Wolverines. Michigan shot 31% for the half, making just three field goals in the fourth quarter.

Olivia Olson led Michigan with 13 points. Mila Holloway had 11.

Iowa led 27-20 at halftime, taking advantage of Michigan’s shooting struggles and turnovers. The Wolverines were just 9 of 30 from the field in the first half, including 4 of 17 in the second quarter when they were outscored 15-8. Michigan also had 16 turnovers, 11 in the first quarter, which Iowa converted into 11 points.

IOWA INDIVIDUAL NOTES
– Ava Heiden recorded 24 points, 10 rebounds, two blocks and two steals.
– It was Heiden’s eighth career double-double
– Heiden has reached double figures in 15 straight games and against all 15 Big Ten opponents played this season.
– Heiden has scored 20+ points a team-best 10 times this season.
– Hannah Stuelke notched 12 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists, and two steals.
– It was Stuelke’s 19th career double-double and eighth of the season.
– Taylor Stremlow notched six points, three assists and three steals.
– Over the last three games, Stremlow is 10-of-16 from 3-point range.
– Stremlow made her third consecutive start and 11th of the year.
– The Hawkeyes are 11-0 in such games when Stremlow is in the starting lineup this season.
– Journey Houston recorded four points, five rebounds, and two assists.
– Kylie Feuerbach added eight points, three rebounds, and two assists.

IOWA TEAM NOTES
– Iowa has won the last six against the Wolverines.
– Jensen is just one win shy of 46 wins in her first two seasons which would be the most by an Iowa women’s basketball coach in program history. (Angie Lee, 45)
– Since 2000, Iowa has won 21 games against AP Top 10 teams.
– Iowa improved to 7-2 in the Jensen era against ranked teams at home.
– The Hawkeyes are 7-3 against AP Top 25 foes this season.
– It was the second-highest ranked win of Jensen’s tenure.
– The Hawkeyes held Michigan to their season-low in points.
– Iowa held Michigan to their seventh-lowest point total since 2009.
– The Hawkeyes turned the Wolverines over 24 times.
– Iowa dominated the paint, 40-22.