Bluder’s Bunch Goes Distance and Then Some

Feb. 1, 2009

Box Score

IOWA CITY, Iowa – It took three overtimes, but the University of Iowa women’s basketball team finally secured its 13 victory of the season and sixth in Big Ten Conference playing, handing Penn State a 97-89 defeat on “Pink Zone” day inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

PSU’s Mashea Williams sent the contest into extra periods when she cashed a layup in with 30 seconds to play in regulation to tie the game at 70-all. Iowa’s Wendy Ausdemore’s three-pointer to win the game rattled of the rim.

The Nittany Lions’ Tyra Grant pushed the contest into its first five-minute extra period when she dropped a jumper to knot the game at 81-81with 57 seconds left on the clock. PSU’s JanessaWolf had a chance to give the visiting team the lead, but she missed both attempts from the charity stripe with nine ticks on the clock.

The Hawkeyes raced to a 85-81 advantage in Overtime No. 2 on four free throws by Kachine Alexander. The Lions didn’t buckle, and eventually sent the game into its third extra period when Grant sank a layup with 14 seconds left to play.

Two baskets by Kamille Wahlin and buckets from Alexander and Ausdemore gave Iowa a commanding lead in the final overtime period. PSU was limited to just a pair of free throws

“I am really proud of this team. Everyone was exhausted but we buckled down and really took advantage of our crowd. This win really shows a lot about our women and the way they handled the situation,” a delighted Lisa Bluder said afterward.

“I will remember how we stuck together as a team,” added Whalin, who scored a career-high 18 points in her third start as a Hawkeye. “They came back but when we were in the huddles we just knew that we could win because we came together. Everyone was picking each other up and making sure everyone was confident when we went back out on to the floor. I am just going to remember that feeling of being together.”

Alexander pace the Hawkeyes with 26 points and 21 rebounds.

“I’m tired. The legs took a beating but we will have a nice day off tomorrow,” “Kach” (pronounced “cash”) said afterward. ” Everybody will have to rest because we have a big turnaround Thursday against Indiana. That is a big game.”

Kristi Smith added 21 points and four rebounds. Ausdemore added 15 and Megan Skouby 10 to give Iowa a victory in the team’s first triple overtime game ever.

Iowa won this game on the free throw line where they shot 88 percent, sinking 14 of 16 attempts, totals that included a perfect 6-for-6 in the overtime periods.

The win improved Iowa to 13-8 overall and 6-4 in Big Ten play. Penn State dropped to 8-12, 3-7.