Iowa survives Fairleigh Dickinson upset bid in NCAA Tournament

Ava Heiden scores 15 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Hawkeyes to a 58-48 win

Mar. 22, 2026 at 6:10am

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No. 2 seed Iowa overcame a strong upset bid from No. 15 Fairleigh Dickinson, winning 58-48 in the first round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament in Iowa City. Ava Heiden scored 15 of her game-high 29 points in the fourth quarter to help the Hawkeyes pull away after they led by just two points entering the final period. Hannah Stuelke added a double-double with 13 points and 16 rebounds as Iowa advanced to host No. 10 seed Virginia on Monday.

Why it matters

This game highlighted the unpredictability of the NCAA Tournament, as a lower-seeded Fairleigh Dickinson team pushed the heavily favored Hawkeyes to the brink before Iowa was able to pull away late. The win keeps Iowa's hopes of a deep tournament run alive, while Fairleigh Dickinson's impressive season comes to an end.

The details

Iowa led by 15 points in the first quarter, but Fairleigh Dickinson rallied with a 12-0 run to cut the deficit to three by the end of the period. The Knights then outscored the Hawkeyes 16-15 in the middle two quarters to trail by just one at halftime. However, Heiden took over in the fourth quarter, scoring 15 of Iowa's 18 points in the period to secure the victory. The Hawkeyes dominated the glass, outrebounding Fairleigh Dickinson 47-28.

  • The game was played on Saturday in Iowa City.

The players

Ava Heiden

A standout player for Iowa who scored a game-high 29 points, including 15 in the fourth quarter, to lead the Hawkeyes to victory.

Hannah Stuelke

An Iowa player who recorded a double-double with 13 points and 16 rebounds.

Ava Renninger

The only Fairleigh Dickinson player in double figures, scoring 13 points in the losing effort.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

What’s next

The Hawkeyes will host No. 10 seed Virginia on Monday for a spot in the Sweet 16.

The takeaway

This game showcased the competitive nature of the NCAA Tournament, as a lower-seeded Fairleigh Dickinson team pushed Iowa to the brink before the Hawkeyes were able to pull away late. Iowa's ability to overcome the upset bid and advance to the next round demonstrates the team's resilience and championship aspirations.