Iowa Beats Vanderbilt 75-65 in Sioux City
Chazadi Wright scored 16 points as Iowa held Vanderbilt to 36% shooting in the Bad Boy Mowers Series.
Updated on Nov. 15, 2026 in Basketball
Iowa defeated Vanderbilt 75-65 on Sunday in the Bad Boy Mowers Series in Sioux City. Ava Heiden scored 15 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, recording her 10th career double-double.
Why it matters
The win gives Iowa a strong early-season result against a Power Conference opponent in a state-hosted event. Holding Vanderbilt to 25 of 70 shooting reflects Iowa's defensive effort on the perimeter and inside.
Vanderbilt shot 25 of 70 (36%) and missed its first 13 three-point attempts, while Mikayla Blakes scored 20 points on 6-of-22 shooting. Blakes extended a double-digit scoring streak to 58 straight games, and Vanderbilt's streak against non-SEC teams reached 24 consecutive games.
The players
Ava Heiden
Ava Heiden is an Iowa women's basketball forward known for her rebounding and double-double production.
Chazadi Wright
Chazadi Wright is an Iowa women's basketball guard who was among the team's leading scorers in the game.
Mikayla Blakes
Mikayla Blakes is a Vanderbilt women's basketball guard who has built a long streak of double-digit scoring games.
The details
Iowa built a 19-7 early lead and led by double figures for the rest of the game. Amari Whiting added 11 points and 12 rebounds, while Aubrey Galvan's three-pointer with 7:11 left in the fourth quarter was Vanderbilt's first made three of the game.
Timeline
Sunday (November 15, 2026): Iowa beats Vanderbilt 75-65 in Sioux City.
Wednesday: Vanderbilt hosts North Alabama.
Thursday: Iowa hosts Montana State.
Season Trajectory
The result extends Vanderbilt's 24-game run of losses to non-SEC opponents, a streak that now becomes a measurable factor in its early-season evaluation. For Iowa, the win adds a conference-adjacent victory to a non-conference schedule that will be weighed later in the season.
Iowa hosts Montana State on Thursday, the next scheduled game for the team. Fantasy and bracket watchers tracking Ava Heiden's rebounding can use her 13-rebound performance as a current benchmark.
The takeaway
Balanced scoring and defensive pressure produced the margin, with Iowa controlling the game after its early run. Watching the next two home games will show whether the early defensive form holds.
Further reading
For more coverage, see Basketball in Iowa's sports section.
