Iowa women's basketball advances in NCAA Tournament with 58-48 win over FDU

Hawkeyes defeat 15-seed FDU in First Round, head coach Jan Jensen picks up 50th career win

Mar. 22, 2026 at 8:10am

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The 2-seed Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball team defeated the 15-seed FDU Knights 58-48 in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament in Iowa City. Iowa head coach Jan Jensen picked up her 50th career win, the most by any coach in program history through their first two seasons. Sophomore Ava Heiden led the Hawkeyes with a career-high 29 points, while senior Hannah Stuelke recorded a double-double with 13 points and 16 rebounds.

Why it matters

This win advances Iowa to the next round of the NCAA Tournament, keeping their championship hopes alive. The Hawkeyes are one of the top teams in the country and a victory over a lower-seeded opponent demonstrates their ability to overcome challenges and win close games in the high-pressure environment of March Madness.

The details

Iowa came out strong, going on a 10-0 run early in the first quarter to pull away from FDU. The Hawkeyes played tough defense, holding the Knights to just 11.1% shooting in the second quarter. Iowa maintained a narrow lead throughout the game, with Heiden and Stuelke leading the way offensively. The Hawkeyes sealed the victory by holding FDU scoreless in the final three minutes.

  • The game was played on March 21, 2026 in Iowa City, Iowa.
  • This was the First Round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament.

The players

Jan Jensen

Head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball team, who picked up her 50th career win in the program, the most by any coach in their first two seasons.

Ava Heiden

Sophomore guard for the Iowa Hawkeyes, who led the team with a career-high 29 points in the win.

Hannah Stuelke

Senior forward for the Iowa Hawkeyes, who recorded a double-double with 13 points and 16 rebounds.

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What they’re saying

“I'm just really pleased that we found a way to win. What I told the players is there's no time where the phrase 'survive and advance' is truer than in March, Credit FDU. They're scrappy. Small ball teams can do a lot of damage from the three. We did what we needed to do, and I am really thrilled and proud of our team.”

— Jan Jensen, Head Coach

What’s next

The Hawkeyes will face the winner of the game between 7-seed Georgia and 10-seed Princeton in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

Iowa's gritty performance against a lower-seeded but scrappy FDU team demonstrates the Hawkeyes' ability to win close games and advance in the NCAA Tournament, keeping their championship aspirations alive.