Dec. 29, 2012
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Video interview with Coach Bluder
SAN DIEGO — Make that 3-for-3 against nationally ranked opponents.
The University of Iowa women’s basketball team dominated and upset No. 20 Texas, 86-63, late Friday (or early Saturday Iowa time) in the first round of the Maggie Dixon Surf `N Slam Classic in the Jenny Craig Pavilion on the University of San Diego campus.
The latest Hawkeye stunner complements a 79-70 win against No. 12 West Virginia on Nov. 25 and a 50-42 win against No. 22 Iowa State on Dec. 6.
“Our kids were fired up to play a ranked team on a neutral floor and we took full advantage of it,” UI head coach Lisa Bluder said. “We socked them early. We shot the ball well, we defended well, we rebounded.”
Three UI players scored 20 or more points, yet the most impressive statistics line belonged to sophomore guard Samantha Logic, who compiled 15 rebounds and a school-record 14 assists. Sophomore Melissa Dixon came off the bench to make 5-of-10 3-point field goals and finished with a game-high 23 points — also a career-high for the guard from Johnsburg, Ill. Jaime Printy scored 21 points and Morgan Johnson had 20. Bethany Doolittle added 10 points.
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“I have been coaching 20 years and I don’t know if I have ever seen a guard have a double-double without being points,” Bluder said. “Those are amazing numbers.”
Johnson and Doolittle pulled down five rebounds apiece.
The Hawkeyes shot 52.2 percent from the field, making 35-of-67 field goals. They scored 40 points in the paint with 24 points off turnovers. Iowa handed out 23 assists and committed 10 turnovers.
“We did a good job of penetrating and finding the open person,” Bluder said. “We did a good job of having our hands and feet ready to catch and shoot.”
Fittingly, Iowa extended its lead to a game-high 27 points with 3:58 left when Logic assisted Dixon to make the score 82-55.
Iowa led by 20 (41-21) at intermission. The Hawkeyes forced 14 turnovers in the first half and converted those into 21 points. Iowa made 17-of-35 field goals, and after a made jumper by Doolittle, had its largest lead of the first half, 41-19 with 1:23 left before the break.
And to think, it took the Hawkeyes nearly three minutes to score — a layup by Johnson. Despite sitting the final five minutes of the first half with two fouls, Johnson sank 5-of-6 field goals for 10 points at the break. Dixon led all players with 11 points at halftime, making 3-of-6 3-pointers.
Iowa had 11 assists and nine steals during the first 20 minutes.
“We came into the locker room feeling pretty good about ourselves,” Bluder said. “We tried to keep our confidence high.”
Logic’s assist total surpassed the old school mark of 12 held by Cara Consuegra (2001), Laurie Aaron (1992), LaTonya Tate (1991), and Michelle Edwards (1987).
The Hawkeyes take on host San Diego (8-3) in the Surf `N Slam championship Sunday, Dec. 30, beginning at 4 p.m. (CT). It will be the first meeting between the schools. The Toreros advanced with a 78-72 overtime victory against Central Michigan.
“Now we have to play the home team, so this is always a little but more difficult,” Bluder said. “We saw them them play a very good zone defense (Friday) and we’ll have to be ready for that. They will have the crowd with them.”