#18 Iowa Hawkeyes overcome Halftime Deficit, beat K-State

By: Nick Fetty

The 18^th-ranked Iowa women’s basketball team rolled to 8-1 after beating the previously undefeated Kansas State Wildcats 68-62 in front of more than 7,000 fans in Carver-Hawkeye Arena Sunday afternoon.

Iowa women's basketball coach Lisa Bluder has the #18 Hawkeyes off to an 8-1 start (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

The Hawks got off to a bit of a slow start scoring just 13 points in the first 10 minutes but they maintained the lead throughout most of the first half. Sophomore guard Jamie Printy drained a three with just five minutes left in the half, giving Iowa a 21-13 lead and forcing the Wildcats to burn their first timeout.

The timeout must have been just the thing the Wildcats needed because they went on a 16-4 rally in the final 5 minutes of the half, claiming a 29-25 lead going into halftime. Junior guard Kamille Wahlin had a hard time finding her rhythm in the first half, making just 1 of 8 field goal attempts accounting for just 2 of her 4 first half points. Printy had a very accurate first half, going 4-5 from the field and racking up 9 points.

After what head coach Lisa Bluder described as a “lackluster” first half performance, the Hawks found their groove in the second half. Iowa regained the lead 4 minutes into the second half and held on to it for the rest of the game. The Hawks almost had a scare in the final minutes of the game when K-State pulled it to within 3 but precise free throw shooting (16-19 all game) helped to keep the Hawkeyes’ undefeated home game streak going.

Printy was once again the Hawks’ top performer, finishing with 20 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists.  Sophomore center Morgan Johnson also had an impressive game, posting 13 points, 6 rebounds and 5 blocks.

The Hawks went just 2-8 from behind the arc all game and all 8 of those attempts came in the first half.

“Today we got high percentage shots,” head coach Lisa Bluder said. “We also got to the rim with some good penetration, too.”

The Hawkeyes take on the #19 Iowa State Cyclones in Carver-Hawkeye Arena this Thursday. This will be the first time ever in the series that both teams come into the contest ranked. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.