Feb. 4, 2010
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COLUMBUS, Ohio — “A lot of good stuff by the Hawkeyes out there today.”
Those were the words of University of Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder after league-leading Ohio State squeaked past Iowa, 86-82, in Big Ten Conference women’s basketball Thursday in front of 2,926 at Value City Arena.
The No. 8 Buckeyes needed a late burst to improve to 22-3 overall, 10-2 in the Big Ten; Iowa is 11-11, 4-7.
With 6:00 remaining, UI junior Kachine Alexander drained a 3-point field goal breaking a 69-69 tie. The Hawkeyes remained on 72 points for the next 2 minutes, 34 seconds, and when they scored again, Ohio State had an insurmountable four-point cushion.
“We can’t hang our heads,” Bluder said. “This was a one-possession game with (28 seconds) left. We’ll learn from it, move on and get ready to take on Michigan State.”
Iowa hosts the Spartans on Sunday, Feb. 7, at 3:30 p.m.
It was another big night for Hawkeye freshman guard Jaime Printy, who made 9 of 11 field goals (and all four 3-pointers) to score 22 points. Alexander added 20 points and Kamille Wahlin scored 18 points on 8 of 12 shooting from the field.
“Jaime Printy shot the ball extremely well and required so much of their defensive attention,” Bluder said. “Kachine had a double-double again (her ninth of the season — 20 points, 10 rebounds).”
Printy became Iowa’s all-time leader for 3-pointers made by a freshman. Her four treys gives her 50 for the season, one more than the 49 made by Lindsey Meder during the 1998-99 season.
Bluder was pleased that the Hawkeyes outrebounded Ohio State, 35-31, on the Buckeyes’ home court. Morgan Johnson and Kelly Krei both pulled down six rebounds and Wahlin had five.
There were two key areas that boosted the Buckeyes. Iowa committed 19 turnovers, which Ohio State turned into 23 points. The Buckeyes also ruled at the free throw line, making 28 of 34. Iowa attempted 13 free tosses, making nine.
“We turned the ball over too many times and they got to the free throw line too much,” Bluder said. “We need to stop fouling and take better care of the ball.”
The hard-fought loss shouldn’t overshadow an impressive shooting display by the Hawkeyes. On the road, Iowa made 31 of 58 field goals (53.4 percent) and 11 of 21 3-pointers (52.4). The game was tied nine times with 11 lead changes.
The Hawkeyes led by nine points, 13-4, when Johnson made a field goal with 16:15 left in the first half. Iowa led, 44-43, at halftime, with Printy netting 13 of her 22 points. Ohio State closed the final six minutes on a 17-10 run.
Alexander and Wahlin enjoyed hot hands over the final 20 minutes, contributing 14 and 13 points respectively.
Samantha Prahalis led four Ohio State players in double figures with 22 points. She made 8 of 8 free throws.
Michigan State improved to 15-7, 6-5 with a 65-44 win at home against Penn State on Thursday.