Hawkeyes earn a gritty victory over No. 7 Baylor, 57-52

Note: This report was written in Cedar Rapids

ORLANDO, Fla. — Gutsy? Courageous?

Yeah. And oh, yeah.

No. 19 Iowa held No. 7 Baylor without a field goal for the final 6:21 and outlasted the Bears, 57-52, as part of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Showcase on Thursday at State Farm Field House.

The Hawkeyes (5-0) prevailed despite the absence of leading scorer Chit-Chat Wright, who exited the game with injury with 9:19 remaining in the third quarter.

Wright was carried off the floor and did not return.

Ava Heiden led the Hawkeyes with 18 points and 11 rebounds, including the go-ahead bucket with 4:41 remaining.

Down 51-48, Iowa scored nine consecutive points to pull away.

Taylor Stremlow added 12 points and four assists. Hannah Stuelke, who missed a chunk of the game with a leg injury, came back and provided 10 points.

Another starter, Kylie Feuerbach, fouled out with 7:42 to go, and the Hawkeyes won despite shooting 34 percent, holding Baylor (4-1) to 29 percent.

Taliah Scott led Baylor with 32 points. She hit three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, then her three free throws put the Bears in front, 51-48, before the Bears went cold.

The Hawkeyes face Miami (Fla.) at 7 p.m. (CT) Saturday in their second game of the event.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com