Hawkeyes Edge Athletes in Action

Nov. 6, 2003

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IOWA CITY, IA – Most basketball players can only dream of sinking the game-winning shot. For Iowa senior Jennie Lillis, that dream became reality. With 2.9 seconds left on the clock and the Hawkeyes down to Athletes in Action, 89-88, Lillis hit a game-winning lay-up at the buzzer to give Iowa a 90-89 exhibition victory Thursday night in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

After trading baskets to begin the game, Iowa pulled out to a 17-10 advantage. The Hawkeyes continued to hold the lead until Athletes in Action tied the score at 26-26. Iowa answered with a 10-0 run to take its biggest lead of the game at 38-28. The Hawkeyes collected four of the final 11 points to go into halftime with a 42-35 advantage. Iowa shot 17-of-33 from the field and connected on six of nine free throws. Lillis and senior Kristi Faulkner led Iowa with nine points each in the first half. Sophomore Johanna Solverson collected five rebounds.

Athletes in Action carried the momentum into the second half, posting a 12-7 run to pull within a point with the score, 47-46. Athletes in Action managed to tie the score, 52-52, but the Hawkeyes once again fought back, collecting the next four points on a basket by Lillis and a pair of free throws by senior Becca McCann to make the score, 56-54. Athletes in Action continued to keep the game close. Two consecutive Iowa turnovers allowed Athletes in Action to take its first lead of the second half on a fast break lay-up by Mandy Arndtson to make the score 70-68.

The Hawkeyes bounced back with a 12-4 run to take the 80-74 lead. Athletes in Action fought back with an 8-2 run to tie the score, 82-82. With the score once again tied at 86-86, Lillis hit a clutch lay-up with 30 seconds left for the 88-86 advantage. Athletes in Action pulled to within a point to make the score 88-87. After missed free throw opportunities by Iowa, Katie Voight was sent to the line and hit two clutch free throws for the 89-88 lead with 2.9 seconds left on the clock. The Hawkeyes took a time out to draw up a final play that worked to perfection. Solverson threw an inbound pass the length of the floor to Lillis who hit a driving lay-up just before time expired to give Iowa the 90-89 victory.

The Hawkeyes shot 57.1 percent for the game connecting on 36-of-63 from the floor. Iowa was 5-of-14 from three-point range and 13-of-18 from the free-throw line. The Hawkeyes dominated the glass, out-rebounding Athletes in Action, 41-29.

Faulkner led all Iowa scores with 20 points. Lillis collected 18 points, dished out five assists and pulled down five boards. Junior Jamie Cavey registered 15 points and blocked two shots. Solverson tallied eight points and had a team-high eight rebounds.

Athletes in Action’s Voight led all scorers with 29 points and tied a team-high six rebounds. Tasha Pointer collected a double-double with 10 points and 10 assists. Lisa Eckart scored 14 points.

Iowa will return to action next Thursday when it hosts reigning Division II champion South Dakota State.