Nov. 26, 2011
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FREEPORT, Bahamas — Chalk it up as a learning experience for the University of Iowa women’s basketball team. The Hawkeyes went toe-for-toe with fourth-ranked Texas A&M for 20 minutes in the Junkanoo Jam championship game before the Aggies showcased their depth to run out 74-58 winners in The Bahamas.
“They won this game in the first four minutes of the second half,” said UI head coach Lisa Bluder. “They came out of the locker room really intense. We handled their pressure the first five minutes of this game very well, we just turned the ball over way to many times.”
After taking a nine point lead into the half, Texas A&M used an 19-7 run over the first five minutes of the second half to break the game open. During the stretch junior Morgan Johnson picked up her third and fourth foul in a 32 second span, sending the center to the bench.
“That was a difference maker for us,” said Bluder. “I thought Morgan getting in early foul trouble really hurt us.”
Johnson finished with four points, four rebounds and three blocks in 17 minutes of action.
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The Aggies built their lead to a game-high 26 points (66-40) at the 8:13 mark, before going on to the 16 point victory.
Freshman Samantha Logic led a pair of Iowa players in double figures, finishing with 16 points on 7-of-15 shooting to go along with nine rebounds. Junior Jaime Printy added 14 points, making 5-of-10 field goals. The Hawkeyes shot 40.7 percent (22-of-54) from the field and 26.7 percent (4-of-15) from long range.
Both players were named to the Junkanoo Jam all-Tournament team.
“I love the way Sam competed in this game,” said Bluder. “She made so many hustle plays out there. She wasn’t backing off; she looked like she belonged and wanted to be on the floor with them. Her presence on the floor today was really encouraging.”
The Aggies shot 43.8 percent (28-of-64) from the floor and 40 percent (2-of-5) from 3-point land. Texas A&M also held the 39-38 advantage on the glass and forced the Hawkeyes into 25 turnovers.
Printy and Logic got off to a quick start, helping Iowa build a 9-8 lead over the first five minutes of the game. Printy had a lay-up and 3-pointer on Iowa’s first two possessions and Logic had a pair of lay-ups. The Aggies, however, scored 16-of-22 points to grab a 24-15 advantage with 8:15 to go in the half.
Three-pointers from Printy and senior Kelly Krei helped the Hawkeyes pull to within five (28-23) points, but Texas A&M scored eight of the final 11 points of the half to take a 36-27 lead into the locker room.
The Hawkeyes (4-2) return to action Wednesday night, hosting Virginia Tech in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Mediacom Court inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena beginning at 7 p.m.