In a thrilling display of talent and teamwork, Taylor Stremlow once again shattered her career-high scoring record for the second time in just five days. By the time the second quarter was halfway through, Stremlow had already tallied an impressive 19 points, all in the first half, propelling the 13th-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes to an 83-74 victory over Purdue in a Big Ten showdown at Mackey Arena.
With this win, Iowa (21-5 overall, 12-3 Big Ten) not only secured their third consecutive victory but also claimed sole possession of third place in the conference standings, with just three games left in the regular season. This triumph also marked Iowa's 10th straight win over Purdue, nudging them ahead in their all-time series at 41-40.
The Hawkeyes faced this challenge without their senior forward, Hannah Stuelke, who was sidelined due to an upper-body injury. Stuelke, a Cedar Rapids native and the Big Ten's leading rebounder, averages 8.8 rebounds and 13.8 points per game.
Her absence paved the way for freshman Journey Houston’s first start, and the Davenport native seized the opportunity with a career-high-matching 16 points. Houston's early success set the tone for the Hawkeyes, who surged to a 15-6 lead with a flawless 6-for-6 shooting start.
Reflecting on her performance, Houston shared with the Iowa Radio Network, “Surprisingly, I wasn’t very nervous.”
Iowa’s dominance was evident during a decisive 20-1 run, extending their lead to 39-15. Ava Heiden, who led all scorers with 21 points on 10-of-12 shooting, also pulled down 13 rebounds, showcasing her prowess on both ends of the court.
Stremlow, a sophomore from Verona, Wis., had previously set her career-high with 16 points but surpassed it with 17 points against Nebraska earlier in the week. On Thursday, she was nearly unstoppable, shooting 7-of-8 from the field and a perfect 5-of-5 from beyond the arc in the first half.
For Purdue, Kiki Smith led the charge with 17 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Iowa’s relentless attack.
Looking ahead, the Hawkeyes are set to return home for “Senior Sunday” against No. 6 Michigan at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, with tipoff scheduled for 11 a.m. The team is hopeful for Stuelke’s return, as her injury is considered day-to-day.
Iowa’s recent performances have certainly put the rest of the Big Ten on notice, as they continue to build momentum heading into the final stretch of the season.