No. 9 Iowa beats No. 8 Michigan 59-42, advances to Big Ten title game vs UCLA

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Iowa center Ava Heiden (5) shoots over Michigan forward Kendall Dudley (22) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament, Saturday, March 7, 2026 in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Michigan guard Macy Brown (2) falls after fouling Iowa forward Hannah Stuelke (45) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament, Saturday, March 7, 2026 in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) — Iowa center Ava Heiden (5) shoots over Michigan forward Kendall Dudley (22) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament, Saturday, March 7, 2026 in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

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6:43 PM on Saturday, March 7

By PHILLIP B. WILSON

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Ava Heiden scored 16 points, Hannah Stuelke and Chazadi Wright each had 13, and No. 9 Iowa pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat No. 8 Michigan 59-42 on Saturday in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals.

The Hawkeyes outscored the Wolverines 24-6 in the fourth quarter. Stuelke, who also had 10 rebounds, scored seven points in the initial 2:23 of the final quarter to push Iowa ahead 42-38.

That was part of a pivotal 15-2 run. Wright and Taylor Stremlow hit 3s on back-to-back possessions, then Heiden converted a layup for a 50-38 lead. Stremlow had 11 points with three 3s.

The Hawkeyes (26-5) advance to Sunday’s championship game against the second-ranked and defending champion UCLA Bruins (30-1), who beat No. 11 Ohio State 72-62 in Saturday’s first semifinal.

Iowa got off to a 9-0 start and limited Michigan to a season-low output for a first quarter in taking a 13-4 lead after one. But the Wolverines rallied. Mila Holloway, who missed her first seven shots, gave Michigan its first lead at 34-33 on a three-point play with 6:08 remaining in the third quarter.

Holloway sank a pullup jumper with 37 seconds left to give Michigan a 36-35 lead entering the fourth quarter.

Holloway and Olivia Olson each had 10 points, but combined to make 8 of 26 shots, including 1 of 9 on 3-pointers.

Michigan (25-6) set a program record for regular-season and conference victories. But their last two losses were to the Hawkeyes, who won 62-44 on Feb. 22 in Iowa City.

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