Dec. 31, 2004
IOWA CITY, IOWA (AP) – Crystal Smith scored 24 points and No. 18 Iowa extended its best start in 17 years, beating Indiana 62-51 in the teams’ Big Ten opener Thursday night.
Jamie Cavey added 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Hawkeyes (12-0), while Johanna Solverson finished with 13 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Only the 1987-88 Iowa team, which won its first 22 games, has started better than these Hawkeyes.
Iowa had trouble shaking Indiana early, then took control with a 29-9 run at the end of the first half and start of the second.
Cyndi Valentin led Indiana (7-4) with 15 points, and Leah Enterline scored 14. The Hoosiers shot just 26.7 percent (8-for-30) in the first half and 31.3 percent overall.
Playing aggressive defense, Iowa came up with 11 steals, including six by Smith.
Iowa led 20-19 when Smith hit a jump shot and then fed Jamie Cavey for a layup that turned into a three-point play, giving the Hawkeyes some breathing room.
Smith’s driving layup with 8 seconds left in the half made it 35-23, and Iowa outscored Indiana 14-5 in the first four minutes of the second half to increase its lead to 21.
Indiana closed within 51-43 on Valentin’s basket midway through the second half, but Tiffany Reedy made four straight free throws and Smith hit a layup to put the Hawkeyes back in control.