KISSIMMEE, Fla. (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle defined by missed shots and tenacious effort, the Iowa Hawkeyes remained undefeated, edging the Baylor Lady Bears 57-52 in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Thursday at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

The game, played before a crowd of 2,532, was a stark departure from the high-scoring affairs often associated with these programs. Both teams struggled offensively, with Iowa shooting just 34.4 percent from the floor and Baylor faring even worse at 28.8 percent. The combined offensive rating for both squads was an almost identical 75.4 for Iowa and 75.3 for Baylor, underscoring the grind-it-out nature of the contest.

Iowa built an early lead, closing the first quarter ahead 11-9. Baylor responded with its strongest period in the second quarter, outscoring the Hawkeyes 19-14 to take a 28-25 lead into halftime. The Lady Bears’ run was fueled by Taliah Scott, who scored 12 of her game-high 32 points in the second quarter.

The Hawkeyes reclaimed control after the break, winning the third quarter 16-11 to carry a narrow 41-39 advantage into the final frame. Iowa then maintained its composure down the stretch, matching Baylor’s 13-point output in the fourth quarter to secure the five-point victory.

Ava Heiden led the way for Iowa with 18 points, while Taylor Stremlow provided a crucial 12 points and Hannah Stuelke added 10. The Hawkeyes dominated inside, outscoring Baylor 26-12 in the paint, a key factor in overcoming their overall shooting woes.

For Baylor, Scott’s 32-point performance was a bright spot in an otherwise difficult shooting night for her team. The Lady Bears hoisted 32 attempts from beyond the arc but connected on only eight. Bella Fontleroy was a force defensively, recording four of Baylor’s 11 blocked shots.

The game was a statistical oddity, with both teams finishing with an identical number of assists (6), steals (6), and turnovers (12). Baylor won the battle on the offensive glass, grabbing 10 rebounds to Iowa’s five, but could not convert those extra opportunities into enough points.

With the win, Iowa improved its season record to 5-0. The Hawkeyes are scheduled to face Miami (Fla.) on Saturday at the same venue in Kissimmee. Baylor’s record fell to 4-1. The Lady Bears will look to rebound against Davidson on Saturday.