Thanksgiving Comeback for the Hawkeyes

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Nov. 25, 2010

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CANCUN, Mexico — The University of Iowa women’s basketball team overcame a 10-point deficit with 10:35 to go, but then used defense and free throws to post a 67-61 win over James Madison on Thursday at the Caribbean Challenge inside the Aventura Spa and Cove Palace.

The No. 20 Hawkeyes improve to 6-0 and James Madison falls to 2-2 in a battle of 2010 NCAA Tournament qualifiers. Iowa was 27 of 30 from the free throw line.

“Getting to the free throw line was a great way for us to score,” UI head coach Lisa Bluder said. “We weren’t shooting the ball well but I’m proud of them because they changed their attitude at halftime. We had more of an aggressive and assertive attitude.”

Hawkeye senior Kachine Alexander converted a left-handed layup off a Kelsey Cermak assist with 2:32 remaining, giving Iowa its first lead of the second half, 58-57. Duke All-American candidate Dawn Evans gave her team a 59-58 lead at the 2:16 mark and tied the game, 61-61, with 1:01 left, but her foul on Cermak with four seconds on the shot clock and 34.6 seconds left in the game gave the Hawkeyes a big assist. Cermak made both free throws and Kamille Wahlin and Jaime Printy were both 2 for 2 from the line in the final 25 seconds giving the Hawkeyes a six-point win.

“Our kids kept believing and I’m very proud of them,” Bluder said. “Kachine is not going to be denied. She was not going to lose this basketball game. Jaime Printy picked a good time to hit her 3.”

On a night when the 3-point shots were not falling, Iowa did a commendable job getting to the free throw line. The Hawkeyes made 12 of 14 in the first half and 15 of 16 in the second half, including their final 12.

Iowa was 19 of 62 from the field (30.6 percent), but heated up slightly during the final 20 minutes to convert 12 of 31. The Hawkeyes were 2 of 18 from 3-point range.

Wahlin finished with a double-double in points (10) and rebounds (11); the rebound total was a career-high. Alexander scored 18 points and Printy added 16. Iowa center Morgan Johnson, who had seven rebounds and four blocked shots, suffered a shoulder sprain and is day-to-day.

James Madison was paced by Evans’s 32 points and five 3-point goals.

The Dukes grabbed the largest lead of the first half on the final shot attempt of the first 20 minutes. Evans launched a 24-foot 3-point attempt that went through and James Madison had a 33-27 advantage at the break.

Defense kept the Hawkeyes in the game with the offense struggling through a frigid 7 of 31 effort from the field. Iowa was 1 of 11 from 3-point range. Alexander scored 10 first-half points. Iowa was 12 of 14 from the line.

The Hawkeyes take on Virginia Tech on Friday at 6:30 p.m. (CT).