Indiana senior Jori Davis moved into eighth spot on the all-time scoring list with 1,565 points, but her performance wasn’t enough as the Iowa Hawkeyes defeated the Hoosiers 93-79 on senior day at Assembly Hall.
The Hoosiers started the game playing very hesitate, turning the ball over five times in their first seven possessions.
“We had early game jitters and we hit a few shots and got going,” Indiana forward Hope Elam said.
After settling in, the Hoosiers found a rhythm and controlled the majority of the first half. Fouls and solid defense underneath the basket helped the Hawkeyes go on a 12-0 run with 4:45 left in the first half. Indiana was lucky to get into another rhythm pulling within one 33-32 with just over a minute left in the half, but then Iowa hit a pair of free throws and a late three pointer to take a 38-34 lead at the half.
The story of the game was Iowa sophomore guard Jaime Printy who finished the first half a perfect 4-4 from the field and 2-2 from the free throw line. “She took the ball to the hole hard and obviously she is so dangerous from three point range,” Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder said.
Printy missed her first shot with 15:38 left in the game and finished 8-11 from the field and a perfect 10-10 from the charity stripe. Printy tied an Iowa school record with free throw percentage.
Indiana struggled to keep up with Iowa’s offensive game plan. IU committed 24 fouls to Iowa’s 8 which proved to be the backbreaker for the Hoosiers. Iowa scored 26 points of off shots from the charity stripe while IU only reached the free throw line seven times. Iowa attacked the basket early and often which opened up the three point shot where the Hawkwyes connected 9-16 times.
After struggling to open up the 2nd half, the Hoosiers were able to settle in and pull within three (53-50) with 13:26 to go, but Iowa gained a rhythm after a Printy layup, beginning a 12-0 run.
The Hoosiers were able to pull into a single point deficit once again with 6:39 to go but after an easy missed layup by Indiana guard Andrea Newbauer, Iowa scored ten straight behind solid play from Iowa center Morgan Johnson. Iowa went on to win by a final score of 93-79, a season high point total for the Hawkeyes.
“They’re a better team than their record shows,” Iowa coach Lisa Bluder on the Indiana Women’s Basketball team.
Four Indiana players played their last game at Assembly Hall. Seniors Jori Davis, Hope Elam, Whitney Lindsay, and Andrea McGuirt received a standing ovation from the 5,490 in attendance upon exiting the game.
“This was a tough year in terms of wins and losses but easy year in terms of these girls character,” Coach Jack said. “Everyone will remember the four seniors and their character and what they left us with.”
Indiana is in action again beginning on Thursday March 3rd at the Big Ten Women’s Tournament at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN.
