What a way to ring in the New Year in Iowa City! On January 1, 2026, the No. 14 Iowa Hawkeyes (12-2, 3-0 Big Ten) outlasted the No. 20 Nebraska Cornhuskers (12-2, 1-2 Big Ten) in a high-octane showdown at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, claiming a hard-fought 86-76 victory. The win marks Iowa’s third straight in conference play and keeps their momentum rolling as the Big Ten season heats up.
The story of the afternoon was all about resilience and timely execution, with Iowa’s sophomore guard Chit-Chat Wright seizing the spotlight. Wright put together a career-best performance, racking up 24 points on 5-for-12 shooting, including a red-hot 3-for-5 from beyond the arc and a near-perfect 11-for-12 from the free-throw line. She also chipped in three assists and two steals, proving to be a thorn in Nebraska’s side all game long. "Wright led the Hawkeyes in scoring with 24 points," reported HawkeyesWire, highlighting the sophomore’s knack for rising to the occasion.
Senior forward Hannah Stuelke was every bit as pivotal, notching her third double-double of the season with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists. Stuelke’s relentless energy in the paint and clutch free-throw shooting—especially after a late-game review—helped keep the Hawkeyes in control during the game’s most critical moments. According to Nebraska Athletics, "Stuelke added a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds."
But the Hawkeyes didn’t do it alone. Sophomore Ava Heiden delivered a crucial 18 points and seven rebounds, rounding out a trio of Iowa players in double digits. Heiden’s presence was felt especially in the second quarter, where she went a perfect 4-for-4 from the field, helping Iowa claw back from an early deficit and keep pace with Nebraska’s sharpshooters.
The Cornhuskers, meanwhile, came out firing. Nebraska stormed to a 12-2 lead, thanks in part to senior Eliza Maupin, who made her first start of the season and quickly tallied five points before foul trouble sent her to the bench. Britt Prince, Nebraska’s standout sophomore guard, was electric in the first half, pouring in 17 of her game-high 27 points before halftime. She shot an impressive 10-for-18 from the floor, 2-for-4 from three-point range, and a perfect 5-for-5 from the charity stripe. Jessica Petrie added 17 points, while Maupin finished with her first career double-double—12 points and 11 rebounds in just 21 minutes.
Despite Nebraska’s early surge, Iowa never blinked. The Hawkeyes responded with a 7-0 run led by Heiden late in the first quarter, trimming the gap to 12-9. Yet it was Nebraska who held a narrow 21-18 lead after one. The second quarter saw both teams trading blows, with nine ties and six lead changes before the break. Wright’s three-pointer knotted the score early, and Iowa’s defense forced seven Nebraska turnovers in the half, converting them into nine points. Still, the Huskers clung to a slim 45-44 advantage at halftime, thanks in part to Petrie’s timely shooting and bench contributions from Petra Bozan and Callin Hake.
Both squads shot the lights out in the first half—Nebraska at a blistering 61.5 percent (20-for-33) and Iowa at 57.1 percent (16-for-28). But a key difference emerged at the free-throw line: Iowa was a perfect 7-for-7, while Nebraska didn’t attempt a single free throw before the break. The Hawkeyes also trailed slightly in rebounding (13-12) and turnovers (9-7) at halftime, but their aggressive defense was beginning to pay dividends.
The third quarter saw Iowa seize the initiative. The Hawkeyes opened on an 8-2 run, forcing four quick turnovers and jumping ahead 52-47. Stuelke and Heiden continued to pile up points inside, while Taylor Stremlow and Taylor McCabe provided timely perimeter shooting. Nebraska, however, clawed back with a late surge to close the gap to 64-61 entering the fourth quarter. Prince continued to carry the Huskers, but Iowa’s defense was tightening the screws, forcing Nebraska into tough shots and costly mistakes.
As the fourth quarter unfolded, the game’s intensity ratcheted up another notch. The teams traded baskets until Nebraska’s Fisher tied it up at 70 with 5:44 to play. That’s when Iowa turned on the jets. Wright, who had been steady throughout, exploded for eight points in the final 2:45, fueling a decisive 10-0 Hawkeye run. Stuelke and Heiden contributed key rebounds and defensive stops, while McCabe’s clutch three-pointer with 4:32 left forced a Nebraska timeout and sent the Carver-Hawkeye crowd into a frenzy. "McCabe's 3-pointer forces a Cornhuskers timeout as the Hawkeyes lead by four points," noted HawkeyesWire, capturing the game’s turning point.
Turnovers ultimately told the story. Nebraska committed 18 on the day—11 of them in the second half—while Iowa capitalized with 22 points off those miscues. The Hawkeyes also won the battle of second-chance points (15-11) and finished with eight steals and three blocks. Defensively, Iowa’s pressure was relentless, especially in the closing stretch, as Nebraska’s offense sputtered under the weight of the Hawkeye onslaught.
For Nebraska, the absence of sophomore forward Amiah Hargrove (12.0 points, 6.4 rebounds per game) due to injury was keenly felt. Maupin stepped up admirably, but the Huskers missed Hargrove’s interior presence, particularly as Iowa ratcheted up its inside attack. Still, the Huskers showed plenty of fight, with Prince notching her fifth 20-plus point game of the season and Petrie providing a steady scoring punch.
The victory keeps Iowa unbeaten in Big Ten play and sets the stage for a pivotal stretch of conference games, including upcoming road matchups at Northwestern and Indiana. Nebraska, meanwhile, will look to regroup at home against Purdue on January 4, hoping to snap a two-game skid against top-20 opponents.
As the final buzzer sounded, the Hawkeyes’ blend of star power, defensive grit, and clutch shooting proved just enough to topple a determined Nebraska squad. With the Big Ten race just heating up, both teams showed they’ll be forces to reckon with as the season unfolds.
