Iowa women’s basketball defeated Michigan 59-42 in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals on Friday, advancing to the championship game for the fifth time in the last six years. The Hawkeyes sealed the win with a 10-0 run midway through the fourth quarter that Michigan was unable to answer, capping a game in which the Wolverines were inconsistent for long stretches and never found a consistent offensive rhythm.
Michigan scored just four points in the first quarter and six in the fourth, leaving the team with too much ground to make up despite a competitive third quarter in which the two teams traded baskets. The Wolverines shot just 27.1% from the field for the game, a figure that made their brief momentum in the third quarter difficult to sustain.
Foul trouble and rebounding defined Michigan’s downfall
Foul trouble in Michigan’s frontcourt compounded the offensive struggles. Starting center Ashley Sofilkanich fouled out with two minutes remaining after being limited to just 16 minutes of action. Her absence on the interior was felt in the rebounding column, where Iowa won the battle 40 to 32. With Sofilkanich unable to stay on the floor, Michigan had no consistent answer for Iowa’s presence in the paint.
Mila Holloway and Olivia Olson led the Wolverines with 10 points each. No other Michigan player made a significant offensive impact.
Heiden and Stuelke lead Iowa to the championship game
Ava Heiden led Iowa with 16 points and was the Hawkeyes’ most consistent offensive performer throughout the afternoon. Hannah Stuelke recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, providing the interior presence that Iowa needed while Michigan’s frontcourt struggled with foul trouble.
Iowa will face No. 1 UCLA in the Big Ten Tournament championship game on Sunday at 2:15 p.m. on CBS. It will be the fifth time in six years that Iowa has reached the Big Ten title game, a run of sustained success that has made the Hawkeyes one of the most consistent programs in the conference over that span.
Michigan entered the tournament ranked third in the Big Ten at 28 and 2 overall and 18 and 1 in conference play. The loss ends what had been an exceptional regular season for the Wolverines, who were unable to carry that form into the postseason when it mattered most.
