INDIANAPOLIS ― Iowa women’s basketball took down Michigan, 59-42, to advance to the Big Ten Tournament championship game for the fifth time in the last six years on Saturday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
No. 2 Iowa and No. 1 UCLA will meet in the championship game on Sunday (2:15 p.m., CBS).
The Wolverines were inconsistent throughout. They had a dismal first quarter, went on a run to take the lead at the third, then couldn’t finish the job in the fourth. Two subpar quarters doomed Michigan in what was an otherwise competitive game; Michigan scored four points in the first quarter and six in the fourth. The Wolverines shot 27.1% from the field.
The two teams traded baskets throughout the third, but Iowa pulled away with a 10-0 run over three minutes midway through the fourth quarter, riding that run through to the end of the game.
Ava Heiden led the Hawkeyes with 16 points, and Hannah Stuelke recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Foul trouble plagued Michigan’s frontcourt as well. Michigan starting center Ashley Sofilkanich fouled out with two minutes remaining. With Sofilkanich limited to 16 minutes, Iowa won the rebounding battle, 40-32.
Mila Holloway and Olivia Olson led the Wolverines with 10 points each.
End 3Q: Michigan 36, Iowa 35
Michigan managed to close the gap with an early run, but It was a tough quarter for both teams as they each went over five minutes without a field goal.
Iowa shot just 3-of-10 from the field in the third quarter with eight turnovers. Michigan went 6-of-16 from the field.
Michigan takes lead in third quarter
Michigan has outscored Iowa 12-5 to start the third quarter and has taken the lead, 34-33, for the first time in the game.
Iowa hasn’t scored in over two minutes and has four turnovers to start the second half.
Halftime: Iowa 28, Michigan 22
It was a quarter of runs, as Michigan started hot but Iowa finished strong.
Michigan is still shooting 26% overall from the field, plagued by its dismal first quarter. Olivia Olson is leading the Wolverines with eight points.
Ava Heiden is leading the Hawkeyes with 10 points, while Chit-Chat Wright has seven.
Michigan finds scoring in second
Michigan has cut its deficit to just three points, 19-16, at the under-5 media timeout of the second quarter. The Wolverines have scored 12 points in five minutes, with six of them coming from Syla Swords’ 3-pointers.
Iowa has not scored in just over two minutes of game time and has turned the ball over three times in that span.
End Q1: Iowa 13, Michigan 4
Michigan had multiple open looks, including a wide open 3-pointer and transition layup attempt, but they just didn’t go in. The Wolverines are 2-of-16 from the floor, and Olivia Olson has all four of their points.
Iowa wasn’t able to take much advantage, though, as the Hawkeyes finished the quarter on a three-minute scoring drought. The Hawkeyes are shooting 6-of-15, and Ava Heiden is leading them with six points.
Fast start for Iowa
Iowa held Michigan scoreless for the first four minutes of the game, starting the semifinal on a 9-0 run.
Ava Heiden has been an early contributor for Iowa, with six points on 3-of-5 shooting.
What time is Iowa vs. Michigan?
Date: Saturday, March 7
Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Indianapolis)
The UCLA Bruins play the Ohio State Buckeyes in the first Big Ten semifinal game at 2 p.m. ET Saturday, March 7 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Iowa-Michigan will tip off after.
Iowa vs. Michigan: TV, streaming
TV: Big Ten Network
Stream: Sling TV
Iowa arrives
Michigan gets hyped
No. 2 Iowa vs. No. 3 Michigan, 4:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network
Iowa starting lineup
Head coach: Jan Jensen
11 Chit-Chat Wright | G 5-4 Sophomore
1 Taylor Stremlow | G 5-10 Sophomore
4 Kylie Feuerbach | G 6-0 Graduate student
45 Hannah Stuelke | F 6-2 Senior
5 Ava Heiden | C 6-4 Sophomore
Michigan starting lineup
Head coach: Kim Barnes Arico
1 Olivia Olson | G 6-1 Sophomore
3 Mila Holloway | G 5-10 Sophomore
5 Brooke Q. Daniels | G 5-7 Senior
12 Syla Swords | G 6-0 Sophomore
15 Ashley Sofilkanich | F 6-3 Junior