Nov. 28, 2009
The University of Iowa women’s basketball team defeated Columbia, 72-69 Saturday in the consolation game of the Nugget Classic in Reno. The Hawkeyes are now 5-2 overall, and 2-1 on the road.
Trailing by three with 52 seconds left, freshman Jaime Printy hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 69. After the Hawkeyes stopped Columbia on its next possession, sophomore Kamille Wahlin drained a shot from behind the arc with 16 seconds left to give Iowa a 72-69 lead. Columbia’s desperation three-pointer at the buzzer fell short, giving Iowa the win.
Iowa was led by freshman Morgan Johnson, who notched career-highs with 18 points and 12 rebounds for her first-career double-double. Wahlin also scored 18 points (4-7 3Pt. FG’s), while freshman Jaime Printy added 12 points and five rebounds. Freshman Theairra Taylor had 11 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
Iowa tied a school record for free throw percentage, shooting 1.000 (16-16). The only other Iowa team to shoot perfect from the charity stripe was in 1998, when the Hawkeyes went 13-13 vs. Purdue. In Saturday’s game, Morgan Johnson was 6-6 from the line, and Wahlin and Taylor each went 4-4. Gabby Machado finished 2-2.
Saturday’s game was the first-ever matchup between Columbia and Iowa. The Hawkeyes now hold a 1-0 advantage in the all-time series.
Saturday’s game saw 15 ties and 30 lead changes, with the largest lead being five points for Iowa at the 12:13 mark in the second half.
Iowa played the last 6:56 with only six players. The Hawkeyes had eight players available for Saturday’s game, but Gabby Machado was ejected with just over seven minutes left after committing a flagrant foul. Kelly Krei fouled out with 6:56 left in the second half, leaving just six players in uniform.
Columbia turned 21 turnovers into 28 points, while Iowa forced 13 turnovers and recorded 13 points.
Iowa returns to action Wednesday, when it hosts Boston College at 7:30 p.m. in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The game will be televised live on the Big Ten Network.