Jan. 2, 2012
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COLUMBUS, Ohio — The University of Iowa women’s basketball team provided a stiff challenge to No. 12 Ohio State on Monday, but a 45-point second half bailed the Buckeyes out, 84-71, at Value City Arena.
The Hawkeyes (9-6 overall, 1-1 Big Ten Conference) led by 15 points with 5:19 left in the first half when junior guard Jaime Printy converted a left-handed layup, putting them up, 37-22. Ohio State (15-0, 2-0) closed the half on a 17-3 run and cut Iowa’s led to 40-39.
Then it was all Ohio State. Buckeye senior guard Samantha Prahalis made a 3-point field goal with 1:16 into the second half, giving them a 42-40 lead (their first since 4-3 at the 18:33 mark of the first half). Ohio State led the rest of the way.
Iowa held advantages in rebounding (36-33), assists (15-10), points in the paint (30-24), second-chance points (20-13) and points off turnovers (11-9), but on this day, it wasn’t enough…especially when the Buckeyes made 10-of-15 from long range.
“That’s what hurt us; the 3-point shooting is what beat us,” UI head coach Lisa Bluder said.
Hawkeye center Morgan Johnson poured in 25 points on 11-of-16 shooting from the field with six rebounds. Point guard Kamille Wahlin added 17 points (4-of-5 3-pointers) and Printy tossed in 13 points with five rebounds and five assists.
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“I’m disappointed because it was working so well in the first half,” Bluder said of getting the ball inside to Johnson. “The second half we quit doing it and that’s frustrating; we made too many one-on-one decisions by our players instead of doing what was working — trying to drive, draw the help and dish to the person who was open.”
Prahalis led all scorers with 30 points and seven assists, and her backcourt partner Tayler Hill scored 28.
“We let two players come out and beat us,” Bluder said. “All you have to do when you play Ohio State is stop two players, but those two are very good — Tayler Hill and Samantha Prahalis proved again why they are first-team Big Ten players, they are tremendous.”
The Hawkeyes dominated the early stages of the first half and made 5-of-7 3-point field goals during the first 20 minutes. Johnson added an inside presence with 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the field.
For the game, freshman guard Samantha Logic contributed five assists and three steals; Kelly Krei had eight rebounds, eight points and a blocked shot.
Now Iowa turns its attention to winning its seventh straight on Mediacom Court inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Thursday against Illinois. The Hawkeyes host Nebraska on Sunday, Jan. 8.
“Let’s focus on the defense,” Bluder said. “We scored enough points to win, we took care of the ball well enough to win, we crashed well enough to win, we out-rebounded them by three, but we have to defend better, especially the 3-point line. Hopefully we’ll really get after it defensively because Illinois is another athletic team that can drive to the hole very well.”