AP PHOTO BY NICK ROHLMAN/THE GAZETTE - Iowa guard Addison Deal (7) shoots over a pair of Western Illinois defenders during a college basketball game in Iowa City, Iowa on Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025.

IOWA CITY — Addison Deal scored 17 points of the bench, Ava Heiden had her fourth double-double of the season, and No. 11 Iowa defeated Western Illinois 86-69 on Wednesday night.

The Hawkeyes made 16 of 20 shots inside the arc in the first, 19 of 31 overall, and led 44-25 at the break. Heiden made 5 of 5 shot attempts and scored 13 points. She grabbed eight rebounds in the half.

Iowa’s lead ranged from 18 to 23 points throughout the second half until Kennedy Herrig made two free throws for Western Illinois in the final minute.

Heiden, a sophomore, earned National Player of the Week honors from the United States Basketball Writers Association following her efforts against No. 7 Baylor and Miami at the WBCA Showcase. She recorded 18 points, 11 rebounds and three assists against Baylor and scored 20 points against Miami as the Hawkeyes won the tournament championship.

Against Western Illinois, Heiden finished with 18 points on 6-of-7 shooting plus 10 rebounds and three steals. Deal, a freshman, had her career highs in points, assists (5) and rebounds (3). Taylor McCabe scored 15 points and Hannah Stuelke 12 for the Hawkeyes (7-0).

Mia Nicastro scored 20 points, Reagan McCowan 16, and Addie Brownfield and Mallory Shetley 10 each for the Leathernecks (4-1).

Up next

Iowa: The Hawkeyes host Fairfield on Sunday, then open Big Ten play at Rutgers on Dec. 6.

Western Illinois: The Leathernecks host St. Francis of Illinois on Dec. 4.

No. 11 Iowa 86, Western Illinois 69.

W. ILLINOIS (4-1) — Nicastro 8-19 1-1 20, Brownfield 2-6 5-6 10, McCowan 6-14 2-3 16, Meadows 1-7 0-0 2, Reed 0-2 0-0 0, Eggena 0-2 1-2 1, Shetley 5-8 0-0 10, Skrobot 0-2 1-2 1, Bowman 1-2 0-0 3, Davis 1-3 2-2 4, Herrig 0-0 2-2 2, Holthaus 0-0 0-0 0. TOTALS 24-65 14-18 69

IOWA (7-0) — Stuelke 5-8 2-2 12, Heiden 6-7 3-4 15, Feuerbach 1-4 2-2 4, McCabe 5-11 0-0 15, Stremlow 2-3 2-2 7, Gyamfi 0-0 0-0 0, Hays 3-3 1-2 7, Deal 7-10 0-0 17, Houston 1-3 1-3 3, Johnson 0-0 0-0 0, Levin 2-4 2-2 6. TOTALS 32-53 13-17 86

W. Illinois 9 16 19 25 — 69

Iowa 20 24 18 24 — 86

3-Point Goals–W. Illinois 7-27 (Nicastro 3-6, Brownfield 1-4, McCowan 2-6, Meadows 0-5, Reed 0-2, Skrobot 0-2, Bowman 1-2), Iowa 9-20 (Feuerbach 0-3, McCabe 5-10, Stremlow 1-2, Deal 3-4, Levin 0-1). Assists–W. Illinois 13 (Brownfield 4, Reed 4), Iowa 22 (Deal 5, Stremlow 5). Fouled Out–McCowan. Rebounds–W. Illinois 25 (Nicastro 7), Iowa 41 (Heiden 10). Total Fouls–W. Illinois 19, Iowa 20. A–14,998.