Individual Milestones Not Enough

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Feb. 6, 2011

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By RICHIE ZAWISTOWSKI

IOWA CITY, Iowa — A game full of University of Iowa player milestones wasn’t enough for the Hawkeyes to overcome Penn State, falling 82-75 on Sunday on Mediacom Court inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Kamille Wahlin scored her 1,000th career point and Kachine Alexander became the first player in Iowa history and the fifth player in Big Ten history to amass 1,000 points, 800 rebounds, and 300 assists.

The statistical milestones show what Wahlin and Alexander bring to the Iowa women’s basketball team, but it wasn’t enough for the Hawkeyes, as they slipped to 17-7, 5-6 in Big Ten play. Penn State sits at 20-5 overall, 9-2 in the Big Ten.

“Penn State is a good team,” said UI head coach Lisa Bluder. “They showed why they’re No. 1 in our conference because they can score at will. Unfortunately that resulted in a loss today.”

Wahlin led Iowa with 24 points, Jaime Printy scored 20, and Alexander registered game highs with 17 rebounds and six assists to go along with her 12 points — her seventh double-double of the season.

Kelly Krei started the game off for Iowa as she drained a 3-pointer for Iowa’s first points of the game making the score 3-2 with 19:40 left.

Morgan Johnson showed off her defensive prowess early, sending back-to-back Penn State shots back to sender underneath the basket. Johnson finished the game with five blocks.

Iowa jumped out to a 12-8 lead early with six minutes gone by. However, Penn State responded with an 11-0 run over the next two minutes. Iowa had troubles at times of staying in front of Penn State in the first half on the defensive end, letting Penn State into the lane for easy baskets. On several occasions Penn State raced up the floor after an Iowa made basket, catching the Iowa defense off-guard before they could get set up.

“They can score and attack so well and they have their point guard that gets down there and we didn’t do a very good job of keeping her out of the paint, and that’s our fault,” said Wahlin. “But she’s also a good driver, and they take that momentum away right when we score with their comeback, and it’s tough to get back in the game when they come right back at you.”

“I think not getting back or communicating defensively who you have in transition, I think that really hurt us,” said Bluder.

However, Wahlin snapped the Penn State streak with a 3-pointer to make the score 19-15 in favor of Penn State with 11:02 left in the half.

Iowa went the final four minutes of the first half without a field goal, as Penn State ended the half on a 9-1 run. Wahlin hit a would-be 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded, but the officials waived the basket off, saying the shot was released after the buzzer.

Printy started the second half with 3-pointer, bringing Iowa within single digits 44-35 with 35 seconds gone by in the second half.

Wahlin reached her Hawkeye milestone early in the second half. With Iowa trailing 46-37, she put a quick crossover move her defender, drove hard into open lane and converted with a layup — her 1,000 career point as a Hawkeye — with 17:21 left. The basket made the score 46-39 with 17:23 left.

Later, Printy continued her form from deep, as this time she nailed a 3-pointer from 30-feet away as the shot-clock buzzer sounded. The trifecta pulled Iowa to 52-46 with 14:30 remaining.

Iowa then turned to its defense to make plays. Printy stripped a Penn State player, who got out on the break and dished to Alexander for layup. Alexander was fouled and converted the and-1 opportunity. Tough defense forced Penn State into a missed shot, and again Iowa got out on the break. This time Krei finished with a layup, bringing Iowa to within three, 54-51, and forced Penn State to call timeout with 13:20 left.

Penn State answered though, and after the timeout, rallied off an 8-0 run on the Hawkeyes making the score 62-51 with 9:11 left forcing Iowa to call timeout.

Like Penn State, Iowa rallied after the timeout. The Hawkeyes used an 11-4 run over the next five minutes, bringing Iowa within just four points after a Printy free throw 66-62 with 4:29 remaining.

Iowa would get no closer than four throughout the rest of the game, as Penn State converted 10 free throws in the final minute.

Iowa hosts Minnesota on Thursday withtip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. (CT).