Huskers Fall to No. 15 Iowa
Lincoln - Britt Prince led three Huskers in double figures with 13 points, but No. 15 Iowa jumped out to a first-quarter lead and did not look back in an 80-67 win over the Nebraska women's basketball team on Monday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
In an 11 a.m. Presidents' Day tip with nearly 7,000 fans on hand in front of a FOX national telecast, Eliza Maupin added 11 points and a team-high six rebounds. Amiah Hargrove contributed 10 points, but the Huskers slipped to 16-10 overall and 5-10 in the Big Ten.
Ava Heiden led Iowa with a big double-double of 27 points on 12-of-15 shooting while adding a game-high 11 rebounds. Taylor Stremlow pitched in a career-high 17 points on a career-high three three-pointers - all in the first quarter.
Chazadi "Chit-Chat" Wright added 14 points and a game-high seven assists, while Journey Houston put four Hawks in double figures with 10 points off the bench.
Iowa improved to 20-5 overall and 11-3 in the Big Ten with the victory.
Nebraska hit 46.6 percent (27-58) of its shots from the field but just 4-of-19 threes (.211), while going 9-for-13 at the free throw line. The Huskers also were plus-two in turnover margin, 20-18.
Iowa responded with a scorching 60.4 percent (32-53) shooting, including 6-of-16 threes (.375) and 10-of-13 free throws. The Hawks also won the battle of the boards, 31-23.
Nebraska struggled in the first half, managing just 27 points while committing 13 turnovers against an over-playing Iowa defense. The Huskers hit 12-of-27 shots (.444), but just 2-of-8 three-pointers.
Iowa set the tone with a blistering first quarter, outscoring the Huskers 25-13 by hitting 10-of-14 shots from the field, including 5-of-6 three-pointers. The Hawkeyes went 0-for-5 from long range in the second quarter but still outscored the Big Red 20-14 in the second stanza thanks to 14 points in the quarter from forward Ava Heiden.
Heiden led the Hawks with 18 first-half points on 8-of-9 shooting, while adding six rebounds. Taylor Stremlow contributed nine points on three first-quarter three-pointers, while Journey Houston pitched in eight points off the bench on 4-of-4 shooting.
Iowa went 19-for-28 (.679) in the half from the floor, including 5-of-11 from long range (.455). The Hawkeyes outrebounded the Huskers, 15-11, and won the first-half turnover battle, 13-9.
Iowa pushed the lead to 20 points on the first possession of the second half and maintained a 51-31 lead 3:30 into the quarter, before Nebraska rallied with an 8-0 run sparked by a three-pointer from Logan Nissley. Kennadi Williams and Maupin combined for the next five points to pull within 51-39 with 4:54 left in the period.
Hannah Stuelke stopped the run with a free throw, before Petra Bozan scored to trim the margin to 52-41 with 4:24 left.
However, Iowa answered with a 13-1 surge that included seven points from Wright, four from Stremlow and two points from Stuelke to take a 65-42 lead.
Iowa's lead grew to 25 before Nebraska dominated down the stretch, outscoring the Hawkeyes, 16-4 over the final five minutes.
Nebraska heads to the northwest to battle Oregon on Thursday. Tip-off between the Huskers and Ducks in Eugene is set for 8 p.m. (CT) with live audio from the Huskers Radio Network on Huskers.com and the Huskers App. A live video stream also will be available on B1G+.