LINCOLN, Neb. (Interstat) — Ava Heiden scored 27 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the Iowa women’s basketball team to an 80-67 victory over Nebraska on Monday afternoon at Pinnacle Bank Arena. The Hawkeyes, now 20-5 overall, built a commanding 45-27 halftime lead and withstood a stronger second-half push from the Cornhuskers, who fell to 16-9. Heiden added three assists and three blocks in 31 minutes. Taylor Stremlow added 17 points for Iowa, while Chazadi Wright contributed 14 points and seven assists. Nebraska was led by Britt Prince with 13 points and Eliza Maupin with 11 points and six rebounds. A crowd of 6,771 attended the Big Ten Conference game.

LINCOLN, Neb. (Interstat) — The Iowa women’s basketball team used a dominant first quarter to set the tone and a career-high performance from Ava Heiden to secure a key Big Ten road victory, defeating Nebraska 80-67 on Monday afternoon at Pinnacle Bank Arena. The Hawkeyes, improving to 20-5 overall, seized control immediately with a blistering offensive display in the opening period. They connected on 10 of their first 13 field goal attempts, racing out to a 25-13 lead by the end of the quarter. The catalyst was a 13-0 run early in the frame, which turned a 4-2 deficit into a 15-4 advantage and forced a Nebraska timeout just over two minutes into the game. During that decisive stretch, Iowa forced three Cornhusker turnovers and converted them into easy baskets, showcasing the defensive intensity that would plague Nebraska all night. Heiden, a 6-foot-4 sophomore from Sherwood, Oregon, was the game’s standout player, posting a career-high 27 points on efficient 12-of-16 shooting from the floor. She added 11 rebounds, three assists and three blocked shots in 31 minutes, anchoring Iowa on both ends. Her interior presence was overwhelming, as she consistently finished through contact and protected the rim defensively. Nebraska, which fell to 16-9, struggled to find any consistent offensive rhythm against Iowa’s active defense. The Cornhuskers shot just 4 of 19 from three-point range and committed 17 turnovers, which Iowa converted into 18 points. While the home team made several pushes to cut into the deficit, they could never fully recover from the early hole. After trailing 45-27 at halftime, Nebraska showed life in the third quarter, outscoring Iowa 22-24 behind improved ball movement and a more aggressive approach. A 9-0 run late in the period, capped by a Hailey Weaver three-pointer, brought the Cornhuskers within 11 points at 64-53 heading into the final quarter. The surge created a flicker of hope for the crowd of 6,771. However, Iowa’s veteran composure and Heiden’s dominance quickly extinguished the comeback bid. The Hawkeyes opened the fourth quarter with six consecutive points, all scored or assisted by Heiden, to push the lead back to 17 and effectively seal the game. Nebraska would get no closer than 13 points the rest of the way. Iowa’s offensive efficiency was a defining factor. The Hawkeyes shot 60.4% from the field and posted an offensive rating of 112.4 points per 100 possessions. They shared the ball effectively, tallying 11 assists on 32 made field goals, and capitalized on their possessions, committing only one more turnover than Nebraska despite a faster-paced game. Supporting Heiden, Taylor Stremlow scored 17 points, including three three-pointers, while Chazadi Wright orchestrated the offense with 14 points and a game-high seven assists. Journey Houston provided a vital spark off the bench with 10 points and four rebounds. For Nebraska, Eliza Maupin led the way with 11 points, six rebounds and three assists. Britt Prince scored 13 points and Amiah Hargrove added 10 points and four rebounds, but the Cornhuskers’ backcourt combined to shoot just 10 of 32 from the field. The victory completed a regular-season sweep for Iowa over Nebraska, having also won 86-76 in Iowa City on Jan. 1. It also marked a bounce-back performance for the Hawkeyes following a 91-85 loss to Minnesota in their previous outing. Iowa now travels to face Purdue on Thursday, while Nebraska begins a difficult Pacific Northwest road trip at Oregon on the same night.

LINCOLN, Neb. (Interstat) — A critical Big Ten women’s basketball matchup with postseason implications is set for Monday afternoon as the Iowa Hawkeyes visit the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Iowa (19-5, 9-3 Big Ten) enters on a high note after a 65-56 home win over Washington last Wednesday, which snapped a three-game skid. The Hawkeyes’ fortunes often follow the play of junior guard Chazadi Wright, who scored 21 points in that victory. Over her last seven games, Wright is averaging 16.0 points and 6.4 assists, including a 20-point, 12-assist performance in a narrow loss to Minnesota on Feb. 5. Nebraska (16-8, 6-6), however, is in need of a resume-boosting win amid a difficult stretch. The Cornhuskers have dropped four consecutive games, most recently an 84-67 defeat at Minnesota on Feb. 12. Sophomore guard Britt Prince, the team’s engine, averaged 15.8 points during that losing streak but will need more support. She erupted for 28 points in a win over Northwestern on Jan. 28, highlighting her potential to take over a game. The Hawkeyes won the season’s first meeting, 86-76 in Iowa City on Jan. 1. In that contest, Iowa’s offense proved too potent, a constant theme for a team that ranks among the conference’s scoring leaders. For Nebraska, defending its home court is paramount to staying in the upper tier of the Big Ten standings and strengthening its NCAA tournament profile. Iowa, meanwhile, looks to solidify its position near the top of the league and avoid a regular-season split with the Cornhuskers. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. EST Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network.