Feb. 21, 2015
By STEVE ROE
hawkeyesports.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State survived a fast start by the visiting Iowa Hawkeyes, using a strong second half in taking a 100-82 win here Saturday evening to earn a season split with Iowa and stop a five-game losing streak in the series.
The 11th-ranked Hawkeyes saw their record fall to 21-6 on the season, including a 12-4 record in Big Ten play while dropping back-to-back games for the first time this season. Ohio State improves to 19-9 overall (11-5 in the Big Ten). “I though their transition offense was really good, especially in the second half,” said Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder. “We just did not defend. That is the biggest difference (from first meeting in Iowa City); we held them playing them in Iowa City and we didn’t tonight.
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“You have to score with Ohio State because they are so explosive offensively and we just didn’t the second half,” said Bluder. “They are a talented offensive group. They picked up their defensive intensity certainly in the second half. I think they got a lot of momentum when their offense was hitting in the second half. They got a lot of momentum from that.”
Iowa scored the first five points of the game, hitting its first five field goal attempts in building an early lead. While the Hawkeyes would lead by as many as eight points in the opening half, Ohio State stayed within striking distance and trailed just 48-45 at the break.
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Bethany Doolittle scored six consecutive points for Iowa early in the second half, as Iowa led 56-54 before Ohio State used a 21-4 scoring run over a span of 6:04 to take control. Iowa was held scoreless for 4:06 during that stretch, not long after Doolittle was called for her third foul with 16:08 remaining.
The Buckeyes made five of their first eight field goal attempts in the second half, including three consecutive three-point baskets for a 63-56 advantage, and Iowa was never closer than seven points the rest of the way. Ally Disterhoft ended the Iowa cold spell with a basket at the 8:11 mark, but by that time the Buckeyes led 77-62.
Logic led Iowa’s fast start in the first half. She scored 11 of Iowa’s first 15 points and ended the first half with 17 points. Logic ended the contest with 23 points, seven rebounds and six assists. She now has 831 career assists, moving to third place in Big Ten history in career assists. Iowa shot 51.3 percent from the field in the first half, including 4-of-9 three-point attempts, while making all four free throw attempts. The Hawkeyes shot just 31.6 percent in the second half, making 1-of-12 three-pointers. For the game, Iowa shot 41.6 percent from the field, including 23.8 percent from three-point range, while connecting on all 13 free throw attempts.
After shooting 45.2 percent in the opening frame, Ohio State made 17-of-29 field goal attempts (58.6 percent) in the second half, ending the game at 50.7 percent overall. The Buckeyes shot 55 percent from three-point range (11-of-20) and 81 percent from the foul line (17-of-21).
Iowa led by as many as eight points on three occasions midway through the first half, the last time on a drive by Whitney Jennings to give the visitors a 25-17 advantage. OSU would take its first lead of the game at 27-25 as the lead changed hands six times in the opening half.
A three-point basket by Logic gave Iowa a 35-33 advantage, and she added a basket from the paint after two straight baskets by OSU to tie the score at 37-37. Disterhoft then scored Iowa’s next seven points, hitting a three-pointer, two free throws and a back-door lay-up for a 44-40 advantage just before the final media timeout of the frame. Disterhoft scored 11 points in the opening half and ended the contest with 15 points and nine rebounds. Doolittle added 18 points and Jennings scored 14.
Ohio State’s balanced scoring attack saw five players score in double figures, with Ameryst Alston scoring 29 points and adding 11 assists. Alexa Hart (17 points, 10 rebounds) and Shayla Cooper (14 points, 12 rebounds) added double-doubles.
Iowa returns home for its final two games of the regular season. The Hawkeyes host Wisconsin Thursday, Feb. 26 (7 p.m. CT) and Minnesota Sunday, March 1 (2 p.m.)
