The Hawkeyes hurdled an early injury scare, then turned a modest double-digit halftime lead into a stress-free second half. It all combined for a 91-73 Iowa victory over Northern Illinois in Jan Jensen’s official debut as head coach.

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For all the pregame storylines in play ahead of this page-turning night, none of them included an arena holding its breath with anxiety. That became reality once standout Hannah Stuelke hobbled to the locker room after landing awkwardly on someone’s foot during the first half. She spent roughly 15 minutes in the training room before reemerging in the first half’s final stretch.

Stuelke returned in the second half and played most of the way, finishing with 11 points and six rebounds. She was one of six Hawkeyes in double figures, joining Lucy Olsen (19), Teagan Mallegni (14), Kylie Feuerbach (14), Addison O’Grady 12) and Taylor McCabe (11).