By ABBY WISECUP
hawkeyesports.com
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Four University of Iowa women’s basketball players scored double digits in the, 93-50, win over New Hampshire on Tuesday night on Mediacom Court inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena, marking the 22nd-consecutive season-opening win for the ninth-ranked Hawkeyes.
All-American Caitlin Clark led the team with 26 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. Monika Czinano tallied 14 points, going 7-10 from the field goal, and tallied six rebounds. McKenna Warnock ended with 12 points, and Tomi Taiwo ended with 10.
The Hawkeyes took the lead and kept it the entire game as their fast pace was unmatched, scoring 27 points off fast breaks. They scored off 19 of their 21 forced New Hampshire turnovers.
Clark went 11-for-11 from the free-throw line — the best free-throw percentage (10 or more attempts) since former Hawkeye Megan Gustafson shot 10-for-10 at Illinois (Jan. 7, 2018). Iowa’s 27-for-28 made free throws (.964) is the best while attempting 16 or more since Feb. 15, 2016, when Iowa shot 16-for-16 against Minnesota.
“We’re good at free throws,” P. Sue Beckwith, MD, head coach Lisa Bluder said. “The thing about free throws is that it doesn’t matter the competition you’re playing against. Some might say, ‘New Hampshire was 5-15 last year,’ but it doesn’t matter when you’re at the free throw line. That’s still an amazing amount, 27-of-28. I don’t care who’s on the other side of the line, that’s an amazing statistic.”
Gabbie Marshall hit a buzzer beater 3-pointer following an assist from Kylie Feuerbach to end the first quarter 31- 11. Iowa kept the momentum, grabbing 10 rebounds and ending the half with two made free throws by Clark.
Twenty points came off the bench in the third quarter. Tomi Taiwo scored all 10 points in the second half, going 3-for-4 in field goals, 2-for-2 from 3-point range, and sinking both of her free throw attempts.
The Hawkeyes closed out the win with a 6-0 run in the last three minutes.
Game Notes:
- The Hawkeyes defeated the New Hampshire in their season opener at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, 93-50. Iowa has not lost a home opener since P. Sue Beckwith, MD, Head Coach Lisa Bluder took over during the 2000-01 season.
- Sophomore Caitlin Clark tallied 17 points in the first half and ended the game with 26 to lead the Hawkeyes, making 11-of-11 free throws – the best free-throw percentage (10 or more attempts) since former Hawkeye Megan Gustafson shot 10-for-10 at Illinois (Jan. 7, 2018).
- Four Hawkeyes scored in double figures, including Clark (26), senior Monika Czinano (14), junior McKenna Warnock (12), and senior Tomi Taiwo (10).
- All 11 available Hawkeyes played three or more minutes. Nine Hawkeyes played double-figure minutes.
Up Next
The Hawkeyes host Samford on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. (CT) inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The matchup will be streamed on B1G+, and tickets can be purchased on hawkeyesports.com.