The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan
Donate
The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan
The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

Iowa women’s basketball defeats Purdue with new starting lineup

First-year forward Journey Houston matched a career-high 16 points in her first start as a Hawkeye.
Matt McGowan, Sports Editor
February 19, 2026
Reece Schrader
Freshman guard Journey Houston reaches to save knocked out ball during an in-state rivalry basketball game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Drake Bulldogs at Carver Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025. The Hawkeyes defeated the Drake Bulldogs 100-58. Houston had six rebounds and four total points in her fourteen minutes of play. Houston was a four star prospect from Davenport North High School.

The Iowa women’s basketball team is now on a three-game winning streak after dismantling Purdue on the road, 83-74, Thursday night in West Lafayette. The Hawkeyes led by 15 after the first quarter and by as many as 26 before a late run from the Boilermakers cut the deficit to single digits near the final buzzer. 

Following a 60 percent field goal percentage in its last win over Nebraska, Iowa shot 59 percent from the floor and 47 percent from long range. Four of Iowa’s starters finished in double figures, including 16 points for first-year Journey Houston, who made her first career start after senior forward Hannah Stuelke was ruled out hours before the game due to injury. 

With Houston in the starting lineup, the Hawkeyes trotted out their youngest group since March 2021 in the Sweet 16 against UConn, per Iowa Athletics. Sixth-year Kylie Feuerbach played at Iowa State back then, and on Thursday, she was the oldest Hawkeye on the court, joining Houston and a trio of sophomores in Ava Heiden, Taylor Stremlow, and Chit-Chat Wright. 

Heiden topped the Hawkeyes with 21 points on 10-of-12 shooting. She notched her seventh career double-double with a team-high 13 rebounds. Stremlow tallied a career-high 19 while Feuerbach added 10. 

Purdue’s Tara Daye scored the contest’s first basket, but the two-point lead would be the Boilermakers’ only advantage of the evening. The Hawkeyes closed the first quarter on a 14-4 run, finishing the frame with just three missed shots. 

Iowa stayed hot in the second quarter with Feuerbach connecting on consecutive triples. Stremlow then splashed three more from beyond the arc to bring the Iowa lead to 45-19. The duo shot 7-of-11 from beyond the arc. 

Purdue finally cut the lead to 10 with 8:43 remaining in the fourth after a triple from Nya Smith, who finished with a team-high 19 points. The Boilermakers again cut their deficit to 10 after another three-pointer from Kiki Smith, who scored Purdue’s next layup to get within single digits. 

Second-year Teagan Mallegni saw minutes for the first time since Feb. 1 against UCLA. The guard recorded two points and three rebounds. 

With the win, Iowa improved to 21-5 overall and 12-3 in the Big Ten. The Hawkeyes have won their last 10 meetings against the Boilermakers. 

Up Next 

Iowa returns home to face No. 6 Michigan on Sunday, Feb. 22, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Wolverines are 22-4 and rank second in the Big Ten, just ahead of the Hawkeyes, with a 13-2 conference mark. Second-year guard Olivia Olson leads the team with 19 points and six rebounds per game.