Too many second chances for UNLV

By Jason Brummond, correspondent

IOWA CITY – The Iowa women's basketball team overcame another slow start. But this time it couldn't hang on.

The Hawkeyes fought back from an early double-digit deficit and controlled most of the second half, but a late 8 ½-minute stretch without a field goal doomed Iowa in a 69-59 loss to UNLV on Sunday afternoon in the championship game of the Hawkeye Challenge at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Iowa (1-1) had won 20 of the previous 25 tournaments it hosted, including the last three. In the second half, the Hawkeyes missed 13 3-pointers and only went to the foul line twice.

“We didn't play well those nine minutes and you just have to overcome that in the game,” Iowa's Jamie Printy said. “We need to shot the ball better. We're not going to win games if we don't shoot the ball better.”

Printy's 3-pointer with 1:14 left cut UNLV's lead to 62-57. Then the Hawkeyes forced a stop, but Kamille Wahlin misfired on a 3-point shot that would have cut the deficit to a single possession.

UNLV's Lenita Sanford hit two free throws with 39 seconds left to secure the win.

The Lady Rebels (2-0) out-rebounded Iowa 49-29, including 19 offensive rebounds that led to 11 second-chance points.

“I think it's not making the correct fundamental box-outs,” Iowa coach Lisa Bluder said. “We're just kind of watching the ball fly through the air instead of going to make that contact with the offensive player and getting inside position.”

Printy led Iowa with five rebounds. UNLV's Jamie Smith grabbed 17 boards and Sandrine Nzeukou had 15.

“When a shot goes up, you need to find a body and box,” Iowa forward Kelly Krei said. “Clearly we didn't do that tonight and it cost us.”

Guard Kelli Thompson led the Lady Rebels with 26 points. She connected on 4 of 9 3-pointers and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

UNLV coach Kathy Oliver was assistant coach for UCLA when the Bruins traveled to Iowa City in 1990 for the tournament. Then-head coach Billie Moore received a microwave as a gift. No kitchen appliance this time around.

“We just played a really good game,” Oliver said. “We were aggressive and we weren't going to be denied. We're excited.”

Printy scored 25 points to lead Iowa. Wahlin chipped in 15 points and Krei finished with nine.

Wahlin scored Iowa's first eight points and Printy tallied the next seven. It took almost 15 minutes into the game for another Hawkeye to get on the scoreboard.

Iowa center Morgan Johnson went down win an apparent ankle or lower leg injury with 5:12 remaining. She did not return. Johnson, who had 18 points and eight rebounds on Saturday, was held scoreless on Sunday.