Iowa Women Outlast Michigan State In Top-15 Clash

IOWA CITY, Iowa—In a Carver-Hawkeye Arena packed to the rafters with anticipation, the No. 11 Iowa women’s basketball team showed grit, depth, and a dash of flair as they toppled No. 15 Michigan State, 75-68, on January 18, 2026. With the win, the Hawkeyes improved to 16-2 overall and an unblemished 7-0 in Big Ten play, matching their best conference start in recent seasons. Michigan State, who entered the game riding a nine-game winning streak and boasting one of their best starts in program history, fell to 17-2 overall and 6-2 in the conference.

The matchup was billed as one of the season’s marquee showdowns, and it certainly delivered on the hype. Iowa entered the game holding a 44-31 all-time series lead over Michigan State, including a 23-10 advantage at home. The Spartans, meanwhile, had been on a tear, averaging an impressive 82.4 points per game and holding opponents to just 64.3 points during their win streak. Their offensive proficiency was fueled by the dynamic play of Grace VanSlooten, who led the team with 15.3 points per game, and Rashunda Jones, close behind at 14.7 points.

But on this night, it was Iowa’s senior forward Hannah Stuelke who stole the spotlight. Stuelke put on a clinic, stuffing the stat sheet with 22 points, nine rebounds, and five assists. Her leadership and poise were evident, especially when the Spartans closed the gap late. “I’ve been feeling great, doing a lot of recovery because I realize I’m old now,” Stuelke joked in the post-game press conference. “But these high-energy games give us a lot of fuel, especially at home. It’s been great.”

Stuelke’s impact went beyond the box score. With Iowa’s lead shrinking to just five points with 3:28 left, she delivered a clutch baseline jumper to beat the shot clock, extending Iowa’s lead to 73-66 with just under three minutes to play. “I was floating like a butterfly,” Stuelke said of her baseline floater. That basket, along with a critical steal in the game’s final minute after Michigan State had grabbed a rebound, helped seal the win for the Hawkeyes.

Not to be overshadowed, sophomore center Ava Heiden continued her breakout campaign with 20 points, six rebounds, and two blocks. The chemistry between Stuelke and Heiden was on full display, as the duo combined for 42 points and 15 boards. “She knew that was going in,” Heiden said with a grin, referencing Stuelke’s clutch shot. “When she was going up, she winked at me.” Stuelke confirmed, “I did for sure wink.”

Head coach Jan Jensen heaped praise on her veteran forward after the game. “I’m just really impressed. I’m so happy for Hannah,” Jensen said. “She just works really hard and battling in there with the bigs.” Jensen noted that Stuelke may have felt the pressure of her senior year early on, but now she’s leading by example and with her voice on the court. “She just kind of freed up and now she’s just doing it with her actions as she’s talking more, even on the floor she was trying to direct them.”

Iowa came out of the gates strong, building a 22-16 lead after the first quarter, thanks in part to Stuelke’s early eight points and a buzzer-beating three-pointer from sophomore guard Chit-Chat Wright that sent the crowd into a frenzy. Wright finished with 11 points and five assists, and her steady hand at the point was crucial in navigating Michigan State’s aggressive defense. “That was huge,” Jensen said of Wright’s long-range buzzer-beater. “It was just great. The weird thing was I usually don’t have feelings when you watch things like that. But where she shot it and where I happened to be standing, out loud I said, ‘that’s good’ because it was a long launch.”

Former five-star recruit Addie Deal provided a spark off the bench, scoring all eight of her points in the first half, including a slick assist that led to a Stuelke fastbreak layup. Iowa shot a blistering 51.6% from the field in the opening half, making 16 of 31 attempts and 5 of 12 from beyond the arc, building a 41-29 halftime lead. The Hawkeyes’ defensive intensity was also on display, forcing eight turnovers, blocking six shots, and nabbing three steals over the course of the game.

Michigan State, however, refused to go quietly. Led by VanSlooten—who finished with 17 points despite being limited to just nine first-half minutes due to foul trouble—and Woodard, who added 14, the Spartans surged in the third quarter, making 9 of 14 field goals (64.3%) and trimming Iowa’s lead to five with just over three minutes to play. Rashunda Jones chipped in with key fourth-quarter points, but Iowa’s defense clamped down, allowing just two points in the final 3:28 of the contest.

Both teams were missing key contributors due to injury. Iowa’s Emely Rodriguez remained sidelined, as did senior forward Jada Gyamfi, who has been out since early December. Michigan State was without guard Theryn Hallock (10.6 ppg) and forward Isaline Alexander (9.6 ppg), forcing the Spartans to rely more heavily on their stars.

The atmosphere in Carver-Hawkeye Arena was electric from start to finish, with fans feeding off every big play and defensive stand. As predicted, the home crowd played a pivotal role, energizing the Hawkeyes at key moments and rattling the visiting Spartans. “These high-energy games give us a lot of fuel, especially at home,” Stuelke reiterated after the game.

With the win, Iowa not only maintained its perfect record in Big Ten play but also demonstrated the depth and resilience that could carry them deep into March. The Hawkeyes will look to build on this momentum as they head to Maryland for their next contest, while Michigan State aims to regroup and continue their strong season.

In a battle of ranked powers, Iowa’s balance, experience, and home-court advantage proved decisive. As the conference season heats up, the Hawkeyes have shown they’re more than ready for the tests ahead.