John Bohnenkamp, The Hawk Eye, Burlington, Iowa –
IOWA CITY – Iowa’s women’s basketball team made a school-record 14 3-pointers in Thursday’s game against Mississippi Valley State.
The Hawkeyes needed every one.
Iowa nearly let a 22-point lead slip away in the second half before holding on for an 86-80 win at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Iowa coach Lisa Bluder wasn’t bothered by the number of 3-pointers her team took – the Hawkeyes were 14-of-35. It was on the defensive end that Bluder had her issues.
Mississippi Valley State shot 58.9 percent for the game, 62.1 percent in the second half.
“In my mind, we have got to become a better defensive team, and we have got to figure out how we are going to get it done,” Bluder said.
The Hawkeyes (8-5) were hitting from behind the arc for most of the night, but needed free throws from Kamille Wahlin and Jaime Printy in the final seconds to clinch the win against the Devilettes (2-6), who have not beaten an NCAA Division I team all season.
Mississippi Valley State had a shot to take the lead and a shot to tie in the final 1:19, but couldn’t convert. Wahlin and Printy then clinched the win at the line.
Thirteen of Iowa’s 3-pointers came in the first 20 ½ minutes of the game. When the shots quit falling, the Devilettes made their run.
Wahlin’s 3-pointer to start the second half gave the Hawkeyes a 56-38 lead. Then Mississippi Valley State went on a 27-10 run, and it was clear Iowa wasn’t going to have it easy.
The Hawkeyes responded with a 14-3 run, but again the Devilettes weren’t going away. They scored the next nine points, then Printy stopped the run with a layup with 82-77 to play.
All five Iowa starters scored in double figures, led by Printy’s 22 points. Samantha Logic had 15 points. Wahlin and Kelly Krei each had 14 points. Morgan Johnson, who fouled out late in the second half, finished with 10.
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE (2-6)
Brittney Lakes 0-1 0-0 0, Arvilia Young 0-2 0-0 0, Ka’Neshia Smith 10-17 1-4 23, De’Kisha Fondon 4-4 0-0 11, Lenise Stallings 6-9 2-2 18, Olivia Kennedy 1-2 0-0 3, Khristina Clemmons 2-4 0-0 4, Davina Jefferson 2-3 0-0 5, A’Shanti Weathers 0-0 0-0 0, Alia Frank 8-14 0-4 16, Aspen Clemmons 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 33-56 3-10 80.
IOWA (8-5)
Kelly Krei 5-9 0-0 14, Morgan Johnson 4-8 2-2 10, Kamille Wahlin 4-10 2-2 14, Samantha Logic 5-8 3-6 15, Jaime Printy 5-18 9-9 22, Kalli Hansen 0-3 0-0 0, Trisha Nesbitt 0-1 0-0 0, Melissa Dixon 1-6 4-4 7, Theairra Taylor 0-1 0-0 0, Kathryn Reynolds 0- 0-0 0, Bethany Doolittle 1-1 2-2 4. Totals: 25-65 22-25 86.
Halftime: Iowa 55, Mississippi Valley State 38. Total fouls: Mississippi Valley State 19, Iowa 12. Fouled out: Johnson. 3-point goals: Mississippi Valley State 11-19 (Stallings 4-7, Fondon 3-3, Smith 2-4, Jefferson 1-1, Kennedy 1-2, Frank 0-2), Iowa 14-35 (Krei 4-7, Wahlin 4-8, Printy 3-11, Logic 2-2, Dixon 1-5, Hansen 0-1, Nesbitt 0-1). Rebounds: Mississippi Valley State 31 (Smith 9), Iowa 38 (Krei 7). Assists: Mississippi Valley State 16 (Smith 6), Iowa 19 (Wahlin 7). Blocked shots: Mississippi Valley State 1 (Lakes 1), Iowa 5 (Logic 2). Turnovers: Mississippi Valley State 24, Iowa 20.
