Iowa Women’s Basketball is back. The Hawkeyes kicked off the 2025-26 season on Thursday night with a 104-63 exhibition win over DII Ashland University. They will officially begin the regular season on Monday with a matchup against the Southern Jaguars.
The visiting Eagles scored the first basket of the game, but the Hawkeyes answered with nine straight points to take a 9-2 lead. As you’d expect in an exhibition, Iowa was in complete control from then on, taking a 51-27 lead into the locker room at halftime. They put a game-high 30 points in the third quarter, cruising to a 41-point victory.
Iowa scored 104 points on 84 possessions (1.238 points per possession), while shooting 42-of-75 (56.0%) from the floor, 8-of-24 (33.3%) from three-point range and 12-of-21 (57.1%) from the free throw line. Hannah Stuelke led all scorers with 23 points, nine rebounds and four assists. UCF transfer Emely Rodriguez added 17 points, including three triples, while Ava Heiden recorded a double-double 14 points and 12 rebounds. Georgia Tech transfer Chit-Chat Wright tacked on 12 points and four assists.
Ashland University scored 63 points on 80 possessions (0.788 points per possession), while shooting 23-of-66 (34.8%) from the floor, 5-of-20 (25.0%) from three-point range and 12-of-20 (60.0%) from the free throw line. Corri Vermilya led the Eagles in scoring with 16 points and four rebounds.
The Hawkeyes outrebounded the Eagles 58-27, pulling down 43-of-47 (91.5%) defensive rebounds and 15-of-38 (39.5%) offensive rebounds. The turnover battle went in favor of the Ashland, turning it over just 12 times to 15 turnovers for the Hawkeyes. Iowa outscored the Eagles 33-13 in points off turnovers/second chance points.
BOX SCORE: IOWA 104 ASHLAND UNIVERSITY 63
