After No. 9 Iowa women’s basketball (22-5, 13-3 Big Ten) secured three wins this past week, including a 62-44 upset victory against then-No. 5 Michigan (22-5, 13-3 Big Ten) on Feb. 22, sophomore center Ava Heiden was named one of the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) National Players of the Week, according the organization’s annoucement on Feb. 24.
The 6-foot-4 native of Sherwood, Ore., led Iowa in scoring during all three games (Nebraska, Purdue, and Michigan) by averaging 24.0 points per game on 75% shooting from the field, 11.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.6 blocks, including three consecutive double-doubles to increase her career total to eight.
While she recorded a career-high-tying 27 points on 12-for-15 shooting and 3-for-3 from the free-throw line at Nebraska on Feb. 16, her 24 points on 11-for-17 shooting and 2-for-2 from the charity stripe, along with 10 boards, two blocks, and two steals against Michigan, sealed her National Player of the Week candidacy.
Through the Hawkeyes’ 27 games this season, Heiden leads the team with 17.3 points on 64.4% shooting (No. 4 nationally in field goal percentage), along with 7.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.1 blocks per contest.
Also earning USBWA National Player of the Week honors alongside Heiden are Rice guard Hailey Adams, Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo, TCU guard Olivia Miles, and South Carolina center Madina Okot.
Heiden’s USBWA National Player of the Week recognition this week marks the second of the campaign and her career, joining senior forward Hannah Stuelke’s Jan. 21 distinction as the only other Hawkeye to earn the honor this season.
Heiden will look to continue her impressive play this week as the Hawkeyes host their regular-season home finale on Thursday, Feb. 26, against Illinois inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena, followed by their Big Ten regular-season finale at Wisconsin on Sunday, March 1. Tipoff versus the Fighting Illini is scheduled for 8 p.m. CT on the Big Ten Network, while the clash against the Badgers is set for 2 p.m. CT on BTN+.
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions. Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews
This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa women’s basketball’s Ava Heiden named USBWA National Player of the Week
Reporting by Scout Springgate, Hawkeyes Wire / Hawkeyes Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
