Iowa Women’s Basketball Advances to NCAA Tournament Round of 32, Faces Virginia
IOWA CITY, Iowa — The No. 2-seeded Iowa Hawkeyes secured a hard-fought 58-48 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson (FDU) in the first round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.[1][2][3] Iowa will now advance to face No. 10 seed Virginia on Monday, March 23, at 1 p.m. CT, with the game broadcast on ESPN.[3]
A Challenging First Round
Iowa’s opening game against FDU proved to be more challenging than anticipated, with the Knights entering the tournament on a 22-game winning streak.[2] Despite the final score, the Hawkeyes struggled to pull away, leading by only 35-33 at the start of the fourth quarter.[2]
Heiden Leads the Way
Ava Heiden led Iowa with a career-high 29 points, including 12 consecutive points in the fourth quarter to help secure the win.[2][3] Hannah Stuelke added 13 points and 16 rebounds for the Hawkeyes.[2]
Looking Ahead to Virginia
Virginia (21-11, 11-7 ACC) has been in Iowa City for nearly a week, having won its First Four game against Arizona State and an overtime victory against No. 7 seed Georgia.[3] The Cavaliers will be playing their third game in five days.[3]
Key Matchups and Considerations
- Emotional Impact: Seniors Kylie Feuerbach and Hannah Stuelke will be playing their final game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.[3] Both players acknowledged the emotional challenge of balancing their desire to advance in the tournament with the significance of their final home game.[3]
- Defensive Focus: Iowa’s defense will be crucial in containing Virginia guard Kymora Johnson, who has been a consistent scoring threat for the Cavaliers.[3] Feuerbach will likely play a key role in defending Johnson, drawing on her experience against top scorers in the Big Ten.[3]
- Game Time: The 1 p.m. CT tip-off time presents a logistical change for Iowa, but players expressed confidence in their ability to adjust.[3]
Iowa’s Season Record
With the win over FDU, Iowa’s record improves to 27-6.[2][3]
Prediction
Analysts predict Iowa will overcome their first-round struggles and advance to the Sweet 16, defeating Virginia 75-60.[3]
[1] Iowa women’s opens NCAA Tournament with win over FDU
[2] No. 2 Iowa survives scare from Fairleigh Dickinson to advance
[3] Iowa women’s basketball survives First Round March Madness scare vs. FDU