Hawk Talk Monthly — February | Box Score (PDF) | Boxscore
By DARREN MILLER
hawkeyesports.com
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — A perfect shooting night by sophomore center Monika Czinano was not enough for No. 17 University of Iowa to overcome No. 10 Maryland on Thursday during a 93-59 loss in front of 5,446 in the XFINITY Center.
Czinano was 7 of 7 from the field and 1 of 1 from the line for 15 points. Senior guard Kathleen Doyle joined her in double figures with 10.
“Monika had a good game, we just couldn’t get her the ball,” Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder said. “Their ball pressure didn’t allow us to get her the ball.”
With the win, the Terrapins moved a game ahead of Iowa in the Big Ten standings at 21-4 overall, 12-2 in league play. The Hawkeyes fell to 20-5, 11-3.
Maryland shot above 50 percent in all four quarters and made 39 of 70 shots for the game (55.7). Iowa attempted 20 fewer field goals than the Terrapins, in part because the Hawkeyes committed 27 turnovers.
Czinano led Iowa with seven rebounds, senior Amanda Ollinger added six.
Five Maryland players scored in double figures, led by Kaila Charles with 21 points and nine rebounds and Shakira Austin with 20 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.
QUOTING COACH BLUDER
“Maryland’s press hurt us. We are usually pretty good at breaking presses; this is one of the very few times we have had trouble with it. I’m a little bit surprised by it, very surprised by the 27 turnovers.
“Even when we got to the quarter-court, their pressure defense took us out of anything we wanted to do offensively.”
STATISTIC OF THE GAME
Iowa committed 27 turnovers and Maryland scored 37 points off Hawkeye miscues. Maryland also scored 58 points in the paint.
WORTH NOTING
Twelve Hawkeyes scored points in the game with 24 points coming off the bench. Leading the way in scoring for the non-starters were freshman McKenna Warnock with seven points and sophomore Tomi Taiwo with six. Taiwo made both of her 3-point attempts.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes return to Carver-Hawkeye Arena for three straight games from Feb. 16-27. First is a rematch against Wisconsin (11-14, 3-11) on Sunday at 2 p.m. (CT). Iowa won the first meeting against the Badgers, 85-78, on Jan. 19, in Madison, Wisconsin.
“We pulled out a close one over there,” Bluder said. “I think we will be more prepared for it this time. We have to get after it on the film and come out and play a lot better physically and mentally on Sunday. Wisconsin is a much-improved basketball team where they have been in the past.”
IOWA-MARYLAND PHOTO GALLERY
