nebraska vs iowa: Preview for Men's Clash and Recap of Iowa Women's Win
The Nebraska vs Iowa matchup is front and center this week with men's teams set to meet on Tuesday (ET) and the women's squads having just met in Lincoln on Monday afternoon (ET). The men's game carries Big Ten implications and a need for response from a struggling Iowa squad, while the women's Hawkeyes delivered a convincing 80-67 win highlighted by a dominant performance from Ava Heiden.
Men's preview: Stakes, form and broadcast notes
The men's matchup pits a Hawkeyes squad that has slipped in recent outings against a Cornhuskers team riding momentum. Iowa enters the contest 18-7 overall and 8-6 in conference play after back-to-back setbacks, the most recent a 78-57 loss to a ranked opponent. Nebraska comes in at 22-3 and 11-3 in Big Ten play, buoyed by a 68-49 win in its last outing.
Iowa's six-game winning run earlier in the season has given way to questions about depth and late-season stamina. The Hawkeyes have yet to record a victory over a ranked opponent this year, which casts doubt on their ability to topple a top-tier Nebraska side. The team's recent offensive struggles, particularly in the loss to Purdue, make Tuesday's contest a must-win for confidence and postseason positioning.
Fans looking to watch should note the game is available on a streaming service that offers a free trial option, with kickoff scheduled for Tuesday (ET). Expect Iowa to lean on its veteran pieces to regain rhythm, while Nebraska will aim to continue the form that has put it among the conference leaders.
Women's recap: Heiden's big day powers Hawkeyes to 80-67 win
The women's teams squared off Monday afternoon (ET) in Lincoln, where No. 13 Iowa left town with an 80-67 triumph. Sophomore Ava Heiden delivered a standout performance, finishing with 27 points on 12-of-15 shooting and 11 rebounds for a double-double. That scoring display tied her career high and marked her sixth career double-double.
Iowa opened the game on a 10-0 run and sustained pressure through the first half, leading 45-27 at intermission after an efficient display that included 71. 4 percent shooting in the opening stanza. Heiden dominated the paint in the second quarter, going 6-for-6 and contributing 14 of Iowa's 20 points in the period. The Hawkeyes forced 18 turnovers from Nebraska, converting those miscues into 27 points — a season-best mark against Big Ten opposition.
Contributions were spread across the roster. Taylor Stremlow poured in a career-high 17 points while connecting on three 3-pointers, Chit-Chat Wright added 14 points and seven assists, and Journey Houston chipped in 10 points. Defensive intensity and ball security on offense kept Iowa in control; the team pushed its lead to 69-49 after three quarters and withstood a late Nebraska push to seal the victory.
Team milestones accompanied the win. The Hawkeyes notched their 10th consecutive 20-win season for the second time in program history, and the coaching staff reached a significant early-career mark with a second straight 20-win campaign. Iowa also improved its record when leading at halftime to 16-0 this season and extended its recent dominance in the series, having won 13 of the last 15 meetings and holding a 27-17 edge overall.
Looking ahead, the men's Nebraska vs Iowa meeting on Tuesday (ET) will offer a quick turnaround of focus for Hawkeyes supporters, who will want to see the men's program respond after two straight losses as the conference race intensifies. The women's program, meanwhile, will take confidence from Monday's performance as it continues its push through Big Ten play.
