Jan. 19, 2014
- Iowa at Ohio St. Highlights and Reaction
- Read the January issue of Hawk Talk Monthly
- 2014 Media Guide
- IowaWomensBasketball.com
- Order Iowa Women’s Basketball Tickets Online
- Download your Iowa Hawkeye iPhone/ipad app
- Download your Iowa Hawkeye android app
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
By DARREN MILLER
hawkeyesports.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Freshman Ally Disterhoft turned her first collegiate start into her first double-double Sunday as the University of Iowa snapped an 11-game losing streak at Ohio State, 81-74, in Value City Arena.
Disterhoft scored 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Hawkeyes improved to 15-5 overall, 3-3 in the Big Ten Conference. She was 12-of-12 from the free throw line and made six in a row during the final 28 seconds.
“That one worked out pretty well,” UI head coach Lisa Bluder said of the move to insert Disterhoft into the starting lineup. “Ally has been playing a whole bunch of minutes throughout the year but we felt like we needed a little more offensive fire power in the starting lineup and she came through.”
It was another Sunday on the road and another win for the Hawkeyes, who took care of Wisconsin a week ago in Madison, 82-65. Disterhoft scored a then career-high 20 at Wisconsin and topped it by four points at Ohio State this afternoon.
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The last time Iowa won in Columbus, Ohio, was 74-71 on Feb. 20, 1998, during Angie Lee’s third season as head coach.
The Hawkeyes made 17-of-30 field goal attempts in the first half, a total that included six made 3-pointers. By shooting 56.7 percent from the field, Iowa opened its biggest lead at 33-16 with 9:33 left in the first half. The Buckeyes never led, but three times whittled the advantage to two points — the latest with 6:05 remaining (68-66).
“That’s what makes this win special; we’re on the road, we took it,” Bluder said. “They kept coming back at us and we withstood their challenges. They got within two points, we come up with a big bucket, we come up with a big rebound.”
While Disterhoft stood out, it was once again a team effort for Iowa. Four players joined Disterhoft with double-figure points: Melissa Dixon (16), Bethany Doolittle (14), Theairra Taylor (11), and Alexa Kastanek (10). And there were plenty of key plays to go around.
“(Samantha Logic’s) offensive rebound, pulling it back out allowed us to work some more time off the clock, Ally hitting clutch free throws, Melissa hits a big 3, Bethany hits a big high-post shot,” Bluder said. “We withstood their challenges and answered with some really big shots.”
The Hawkeyes made 17-of-19 free throws. Disterhoft was 12-of-12 and Dixon was 4-of-4. Iowa won the rebound battle 32-31 with Disterhoft (10) and Taylor (seven) leading the way. Logic handed out five assists. For the game Iowa shot 48.3 percent from the field (28-of-58) and 47.1 percent from 3-point (8-of-17). It is the most 3-pointers for the Hawkeyes since draining nine against North Dakota on Dec. 28; it is their best shooting percentage from long range since making 17-of-34 (50 percent) against Idaho State on Dec. 7.
Ameryst Alston led Ohio State (12-9, 2-3) by making 11-of-19 field goals for 24 points.
Up next are five days off before a rematch against Indiana on Jan. 25 at 6 p.m. (CT) on Medicom Court inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hoosiers (15-3, 2-3) defeated Iowa 86-84 in the league opener Jan. 2.
“It’s nice going into a bye week off a win because then you can enjoy it a little more and feel better about yourself,” Bluder said. “I know it will not be hard to motivate my team this week to get ready (the Indiana) game.”
It is a “Go Red for Women” event with one catch. Since Indiana’s school colors include crimson, Hawkeye fans are encouraged to stick with wearing black and gold.
“We’re still going black and gold for Go Red for Women Day,” Bluder emphasized.