Hannah Stuelke scores 26 in return; Hawkeyes get past Northwestern, 85-80

IOWA CITY — As her teammates competed in the Pacific Northwest, Hannah Stuelke watched from home.

“It was really weird watching on TV, yelling at the TV,” Stuelke said. “I’d never experienced that before.”

Stuelke was back Tuesday, though. Needed, too.

The junior post from Cedar Rapids scored a season-high 26 points, and Iowa got past Northwestern, 85-80, in a Big Ten women’s basketball game before an announced crowd of 14,998 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Stuelke had been in concussion protocol after taking a knock to the head late in the Hawkeyes’ overtime loss to Nebraska on Jan. 16. She started individual workouts Wednesday.

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Photos: Northwestern at Iowa women’s basketball

“Once the symptoms were gone, I was cleared,” she said. “Then I was back at practice, and here we are.”

In Stuelke’s absence, the Hawkeyes lost at Oregon, then won at Washington.

Nobody in the Iowa camp was apologizing Tuesday over a five-point win over a team that is winless in the Big Ten.

“I am thrilled,” Iowa Coach Jan Jensen said. “We showed some growth. I’m proud of the team. I’m thankful. Whoever we play, I see TOUGH OPPONENT on the front of the jersey.”

Iowa (14-7 overall, 4-6 Big Ten) trailed by 10 points on three occasions in the first quarter, led 41-38 at halftime, maintained a slim lead throughout the second half and sent Northwestern (7-12, 0-8) to its sixth loss this season by six points or less.

The Hawkeyes’ largest advantage was 77-65 on Lucy Olsen’s two free throws with 3:15 remaining. Northwestern got within 83-80 on Caileigh Walsh’s 3-pointer with 0:11 to go.

Stuelke clinched it with two free throws. Iowa was 18 of 20 from the line, 12 of 12 in the fourth quarter.

Olsen added 16 points for the Hawkeyes. Aaliyah Guyton came off the bench to score 15; Sydney Affolter tallied 13.

Guyton posted a team-best plus-14 in her 30 minutes on the floor.

“It’s just a matter of being ready when my name is called,” said the freshman from Peoria, Ill.

Jensen said, “Tonight, (Guyton) was really, really big. She leans into what she is going to be.”

Five Northwestern players reached double figures, led by 15 apiece from Caileigh Walsh and Melannie Daley. The Wildcats were 9 of 15 from long range.

Up next is Sunday’s encounter here against No. 4 USC.

Two-time national player of the year Caitlin Clark will have her jersey retired postgame.

“It’s a lot,” Jensen said. “There’s storyline after storyline. You’ve got Caitlin, you’ve got her heir apparent in JuJu (Watkins).

“Once the ball goes up, it’s us and them. The task is tall, but it’s a really fun opportunity.”

Iowa 85, Northwestern 80

At Iowa City

NORTHWESTERN (80): Caileigh Walsh 6-11 0-2 15, Grace Sullivan 4-12 4-4 12, Taylor Williams 3-10 3-6 9, Kyla Jones 2-2 1-2 5, Casey Harter 3-5 3-3 11, Caroline Lau 4-7 1-2 13, Melannie Daley 7-12 1-1 15, Mercy Ademusayo 0-0 0-0 0, Xamiya Walton 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 29-60 13-20 80.

IOWA (85): Hannah Stuelke 10-17 6-6 26, Taylor McCabe 0-3 0-0 0, Sydney Affolter 4-5 2-2 13, Kylie Feuerbach 1-3 3-4 6, Lucy Olsen 6-13 3-4 16, Aaliyah Guyton 4-10 4-4 15, Addison O’Grady 2-4 0-0 4, Taylor Stremlow 2-3 0-0 5, Teagan Mallegni 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 29-60 18-20 85.

Northwestern 23 15 18 24 — 80

Iowa 20 21 21 23 — 85

3-point goals: Northwestern 9-15 (Walsh 3-5, Harter 2-3, Lau 4-6, Walton 0-1), Iowa 9-22 (McCabe 0-3, Affolter 3-4, Feuerbach 1-2, Olsen 1-4, Guyton 3-7, Stremlow 1-1, Mallegni 0-1). Team fouls: Northwestern 21, Iowa 20. Fouled out: Williams. Rebounds: Northwestern 33 (Williams 8), Iowa 33 (Stuelke, Affolter 6). Assists: Northwestern 18 (Lau 7), Iowa 23 (Olsen 6). Steals: Northwestern 8 (Williams, Lau 2), Iowa 5 (McCabe, Olsen 2). Turnovers: Northwestern 13, Iowa 14.

Attendance: 14,998.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com