Iowa freshman Jennings recharged her batteries with trip home

IOWA CITY - The Iowa women's basketball team got the usual scoring from its three senior starters and a big lift from sophomore Ally Disterhoft in its first-round NCAA tournament victory Friday. But freshman Whitney Jennings was as bright a star as anyone in the 75-67 victory over American University.

Jennings scored 16 points, 11 of which came in the second half, and made all six of her free throws, including two critical shots with 39 seconds left and Iowa nursing a precarious five-point lead. She played 35 minutes and had no turnovers.

Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder attributed part of Jennings' play to a vacation of sorts.

'We gave them a little time off - and I thought she came back with a kind of different attitude,” Bluder said. 'I think our little Logansport girl went back to the Berry Bowl (the high school gym) and got a feel back for what it feels like to put the ball in the hole. She was so successful as Miss Indiana Basketball, and I thought all week she has played very, very well and tonight I thought she did too.”

Jennings was a combined 1-for-15 shooting in the team's two Big Ten tournament games. And she's had games where she's really struggled to score. But Friday she made 4 of 5 shots, including 2 of 3 pointers.

'We went home for a few days which was nice just to kind of rest your mind a little bit and get away,” she said. 'It was nice to see family and friends. But we've all been really focused in practice and I think that knowing I've had my whole freshman season, I've played it, I was coming out with the confidence that everyone believes in me.”

She was efficient with her shots and creative when she had to be. She created the two big foul shots with 39 seconds left by driving aggressively to the basket. She created openings for herself with her slight-of-hand ball-handling skills.

As well as the whole team shoots free throws (72.5) Iowa might be just as happy having the freshman in that situation.

'We're definitely comfortable with her (at the line late in the game),” Disterhoft said of Jennings. 'She's a great shooter. And she's had some experience with that now. She's hit some pretty big free throws in big games this season.”

'I've shot a lot of free throws over the years,” Jennings said. '(It's easier) just kind of knowing how you've prepared for it, just having the confidence of my team and my coaches that I can knock them down.”

Balanced scoring

Iowa had great scoring balance with all five starters in double figures: Disterhoft (18), Jennings (16), Melissa Dixon (15), Sam Logic (14) and Bethany Doolittle (10). Disterhoft, a sophomore, has blossomed this season, upping her career point total to 959.

Logic had a double-double, the 32nd of her career, with 11 rebounds and eight assists.