KISSIMMEE, Fla. (Interstat) — The Iowa Hawkeyes remained undefeated, holding off a late surge from the Miami Hurricanes for a 64-61 victory in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Saturday at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

In a contest defined by defense and missed opportunities from beyond the arc, Iowa improved to 6-0 while Miami fell to 4-1.

Ava Heiden led the Hawkeyes with 20 points, consistently scoring in the paint, while Hannah Stuelke added 17 points. The duo anchored an Iowa offense that dominated inside, outscoring Miami 46-26 in the paint.

The Hurricanes were led by Amarachi Kimpson’s 19 points and a 17-point, 34-minute effort from Ra Shaya Kyle. Vittoria Blasigh contributed 11 points for Miami.

Iowa seized control of the game with a dominant second quarter, outscoring Miami 22-15 to take a 36-28 lead into halftime. The Hawkeyes maintained that advantage through the third quarter, leading 55-49 heading into the final period.

Miami mounted a fierce comeback in the fourth quarter, capitalizing on a stifling defensive effort that held Iowa to just nine points. The Hurricanes chipped away at the lead and had a chance to tie or take the lead in the final seconds, but a desperation 3-point attempt by Kimpson as time expired missed its mark.

Both teams struggled from long range. Miami shot just 4 of 19 from 3-point range, while Iowa was only marginally better at 3 of 21. The difference came from the field overall, where Iowa connected on 27 of 62 attempts compared to Miami’s 22 of 57.

Miami’s defense was active, forcing 15 Iowa turnovers and converting them into 17 points. The Hurricanes also recorded 10 steals and four blocks. Iowa, however, won the battle on the glass, securing 11 offensive rebounds to Miami’s four, which led to crucial second-chance opportunities.

The game was a defensive grind, with Miami posting an offensive rating of 84.1 points per 100 possessions and Iowa managing a 90.5 rating.

The attendance was 2,774.

Iowa’s next game is at home against Western Illinois on Wednesday. Miami will travel to Parry Sound, Ontario, to face George Washington next Friday.