Nov. 22, 2009
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – A “veteran” and a freshman carried the University of Iowa women’s basketball team to an 81-70 victory over intrastate rival Northern Iowa Sunday in the McLeod Center.
Sophomore guard Kamille Wahlin scored a career-high 33 points and freshman center Morgan Johnson added 11 points to lead the Hawkeyes to their third win against just one loss thus far this season.
Wahlin knocked down 11 of her 19 field goal attempts – a total that included six-of-10 shooting from behind the arc – to pace the Hawkeyes. Johnson also was credited with a school-record tying seven blocked shots.
Iowa’s used an 11-0 run to turn a 44-40 deficit into a 51-44 lead with a little more than 12 minutes to play to turn the game in their favor. Iowa trailed by three at intermission.
“I’m very proud of this basketball team. It was our first road game of the year against a UNI team that is extremely fast and scrappy. I could go down the list of players and highlight everyone. We played very well and we are happy to come away with the win,” said UI Coach Lisa Bluder, who has watched her team’s roster dwindle since the start of the season with the latest addition to the student-athletes at the end of the bench in street clothes being the dynamic Kachine Alexander.
“I was able to get open looks on screens, and my teammates did a great job of finding me,” said Wahlin, a product of Crookston, Minn. “It was great to come out and hit some shots, and our team did a great job of battling throughout the game. We have been through a lot to start the season, and this win feels great. UNI is a great team, and it’s always nice to get a win against an in-state rival.”
Jaime Printy and Theairra Taylor added 12 points, and Trisha Nesbit eight for the Hawkeyes.Northern Iowa was led in scoring by Nicole Clausen, who had 12 points for the Panthers.
Iowa shot 81 percent from the free throw line, making 17 of 21 for the game and 15 of 16 in the final 20 minutes.
Bluder’s Bunch returns to action Tuesday when they entertain William and Mary at 7 p.m.