There are nights when style points don’t matter, and Iowa women’s basketball proved exactly that in Evanston. In a game that tested patience, poise, and toughness, the Hawkeyes leaned on resilience rather than rhythm to escape with a hard-earned Big Ten road victory. It wasn’t clean, and it certainly wasn’t comfortable but wins like this often reveal more about a team than blowouts ever could.
Iowa women’s basketball guts out road win at Northwestern
Ranked No. 14 nationally, Iowa women’s basketball did just enough to leave Welsh-Ryan Arena with a 67–58 win over Northwestern on Monday night. The Hawkeyes improved to 13–2 overall and a perfect 4–0 in Big Ten play, while Northwestern dropped to 6–9 and remains winless in conference action.
From the opening tip, this game felt uneasy. Iowa never fully found its offensive rhythm, and Northwestern fed off that discomfort, hanging around long enough to make things interesting deep into the fourth quarter. Still, road wins in the Big Ten are rarely pretty, and this one was no exception.
Turnovers nearly open the door
The biggest storyline was Iowa’s ball security or lack of it. The Hawkeyes committed 20 turnovers, including 13 in the first half alone. Those miscues repeatedly gave Northwestern extra possessions and kept the Wildcats within striking distance.
At times, it felt like Iowa was playing uphill, stopping its own momentum just as it began to build. Against a more explosive opponent, that kind of sloppiness could be costly. Iowa managed to survive this time, but the takeaway is clear: this isn’t a sustainable formula as the schedule intensifies.
Ava Heiden dominates when she’s on the floor
If there was one constant for Iowa, it was Ava Heiden’s presence in the paint. When she wasn’t battling foul trouble, the sophomore center was simply unstoppable.
Heiden finished with a team-high 23 points on an ultra-efficient 9-for-11 shooting performance, adding five rebounds and knocking down 5-of-6 free throws. Her touch around the rim was soft, her positioning strong, and her confidence unmistakable.
The frustrating part for Iowa and Heiden alike was how often she was forced to the bench due to whistles. Some calls felt borderline, but the impact was obvious: Iowa is a different team when Heiden is on the floor. Her continued development is quickly becoming one of the Hawkeyes’ most important storylines this season.
Journey Houston provides timely spark
With Iowa searching for energy, Journey Houston delivered exactly that off the bench. Her stat line won’t dominate headlines, but her impact was felt throughout the game.
Houston chipped in five points, grabbed six rebounds, and came up with two steals doing a little bit of everything when Iowa needed it most. In a game that lacked flow, her hustle helped steady the Hawkeyes and keep Northwestern from seizing control.
Injuries loom large for the Hawkeyes
This was also a game that highlighted how much Iowa misses Kylie Feuerbach and Emely Rodriguez. Without Feuerbach’s perimeter defense and timely shooting, the Hawkeyes lacked their usual edge on the wing. Her absence was noticeable, especially during Northwestern’s mini-runs.
Rodriguez’s absence hurt in a different way. Outside of Chit-Chat Wright, she’s Iowa’s most dangerous player off the dribble, capable of creating offense when possessions break down. On a night when turnovers and cold shooting plagued the Hawkeyes, her ability to attack would’ve been invaluable.
Both injuries Feuerbach’s ankle and Rodriguez’s back remain concerns, and Iowa will be eager to get them healthy as conference play rolls on.
Why this win still matters
No one will frame this as Iowa’s sharpest performance. But road wins in the Big Ten demand toughness, and Iowa women’s basketball showed plenty of it. The Hawkeyes found a way to win despite mistakes, missing pieces, and prolonged discomfort.
Those are the victories that quietly build confidence and sometimes, they’re the ones that matter most when March arrives.
