NORMAN, Okla. — Hannah Stuelke picked up two fouls in less than 2 minutes.
Instead of a problem, it turned out to be an opportunity. For Ava Heiden.
The reserve post triggered a big first half for Iowa’s freshmen, and the Hawkeyes routed Murray State, 92-57, in an NCAA women’s basketball tournament first-round game Saturday afternoon at Lloyd Noble Center.
Some notable postgame stats:
Iowa had a 62-26 advantage in points in the paint and a 41-20 advantage in bench points.
Iowa had more assists (28) than Murray State had total field goals (19).
Murray State turned the ball over on 20.5 percent of possessions.
The Hawkeyes had a 50-27 scoring advantage after Murray State standout Katelyn Young exited the game with an injury.
Hawkeyes (23-10) will face Oklahoma/FGCU Monday (time TBA).
Racers finish 25-8.
Iowa 92, Murray State 57 (Final)
Every Hawkeye scores as the Hawkeyes ease past Murray State. Looked a lot better than a six-seed today.
Heiden with 15. Olsen with 12 points (and 12 assists). Affolter and Stuelke with 11. Stremlow with 10.
Iowa 90, Murray State 57 (1:19, 4th)
All 12 Hawkeyes to see the floor have either scored or (in Levin's case) has multiple assists.
Iowa 88, Murray State 56 (1:47, 4th)
Gotta say ... Levin isn't hunting points. Two nice feeds to others.
Iowa 82, Murray State 45 (5:03, 4th)
Jada Gyamfi and Callie Levin check in.
Iowa 77, Murray State 42 (6:59, 4th)
If this was high school, we'd have the continuous clock now.
Trinity White is down.
Iowa 72, Murray State 40 (End of 3rd)
Dominant quarter for the Hawkeyes. Outscored Murray State, 30-10.
Olsen has a double-double. Affolter (needs two more rebounds) and Heiden (needs three more rebounds) are close, too.
Iowa 72, Murray State 38 (0:26, 3rd)
We have Stuelke & Heiden on the court together. Get used to this, gonna see this a lot in 2025-26.
Iowa 64, Murray State 36 (3:04, 3rd)
Iowa has made its last 10 shots.
Iowa 62, Murray State 34 (4:55, 3rd)
Murray State held under 70 thrice this season. This will be the fourth.
Iowa 62, Murray State 34 (4:55, 3rd)
Iowa has outscored Murray State, 20-4, since halftime.
Hannah Stuelke has 8 points on 4-of-5 shooting so far in the quarter.
Iowa 57, Murray State 32 (5:56, 3rd)
Lucy Olsen has a double-double already with 12 points and 10 assists. Iowa is on another 6-0 run.
Iowa 49, Murray State 30 (8:03, 3rd)
The Hawkeyes are on a 14-0 run. Murray State has not made a field goal since the 4:41 mark in the second quarter.
Iowa 47, Murray State 30 (8:13, 3rd)
Stuelke 2+0. Iowa rebound. Feuerbach 3. Iowa's up 17, and this feels over-ish.
Iowa 42, Murray State 30 (9:20, 3rd)
Katelyn Young is down on Murray's first offensive possession of the second half.
Iowa 42, Murray State 30 (Half)
Points in the paint:
Iowa: 30
Murray State: 14
Iowa 42, Murray State 30 (Half)
Heiden: 13 points, 6-of-9 shooting, 6 rebounds, 3 fouls
Olsen: 12 points, 6-of-11 shooting, 6 assists, 3 fouls
Stremlow: 8 points, 3-of-4 shooting
Iowa 42, Murray State 30 (Half)
Big 7-0 rush to close the half, including Guyton at the horn.
Iowa 35, Murray State 28 (1:40, 2nd)
Lucy Olsen is called for her third foul on a charge. Iowa's top two scorers are on the bench with three fouls.
Iowa 33, Murray State 28 (2:19, 2nd)
Some foul trouble for the Hawkeyes. Heiden has 3. Olsen has 2. Stuelke has 2.
Iowa 33, Murray State 26 (3:00, 2nd)
Olsen has Iowa's last 6.
Iowa 29, Murray State 26 (3:52, 2nd)
Lucy Olsen picks up her second foul. Murray State is on a 9-2 run.
Iowa 29, Murray State 24 (4:17, 2nd)
Iowa's freshman class has 9 of the team's 11 second-quarter points on perfect 4-of-4 shooting.
Iowa 29, Murray State 24 (4:17, 2nd)
Heiden coming back in.
Iowa 27, Murray State 22 (5:01, 2nd)
Murray with 5 straight to cut it to 5.
Iowa 27, Murray State 17 (6:00, 2nd)
Ava Heiden: 13 points, 6-of-8 shooting,
Rest of Iowa: 14 points, 6-of-21 shooting
Iowa 27, Murray State 17 (7:01, 2nd)
This is becoming an Ava Heiden post clinic.
Iowa 23, Murray State 17 (7:40, 2nd)
Great start for Iowa's freshman class. Heiden has a team-high 9 points and 5 rebounds. Stremlow has 6 points on a pair of 3-pointers.
Iowa 18, Murray State 12 (End of 1st)
Heiden credited with 9 points (should be 7) and 4 rebounds. Young with just 3 shots, 2 points for MSU.
Iowa 15, Murray State 8 (1:47, 1st)
Neither team has scored in two-plus minutes. Iowa has missed its last six shots.
Iowa 14, Murray State 6 (4:32, 1st)
After Iowa started the game 2-for-7 from the field, the Hawkeyes have made their last five shots.
Iowa 14, Murray State 6 (4:32, 1st)
Heiden: Spark.
2+? off Olsen steal. Will shoot the FT when we return.
Iowa 8, Murray State 6 (5:58, 1st)
Iowa goes on a 6-0 run in a 75-second span to take its first lead of the morning.
Iowa 2, Murray State 2 (8:13, 1st)
Hannah Stuelke quickly picks up her second foul, and Ava Heiden replaces her.
Away we go...
Anthem, check.
Intros, next.
Tip, soon.
Maybe 2,000 Iowa fans here.
Iowa will be seeking its sixth consecutive win in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
The Hawkeyes' last first-round exit was in 2018, when sixth-seeded Iowa lost to 11th-seeded Creighton.
Starters:
Iowa: McCabe, Affolter, Feuerbach, Olsen Stuelke
Murray State: Poock, Ford, White, Learn, Young
Rosters:
With Mallegni presumably still in Iowa City, Olsen seizes first-on-the-floor status.
Good morning from Lloyd Noble Center, Norman.
What's up here today:
11 a.m. -- Iowa vs. Murray State
1:30 p.m. -- Oklahoma vs. Florida Gulf Coast
Iowa reserve forward Teagan Mallegni did not fly with the team Thursday due to concussion protocol. She is considered day-to-day, and there’s a chance she could make the trip Saturday.
