Hawkeyes turn tables on Purdue, 70-50

IOWA CITY - Two weeks. A 42-point swing.

Credit the Iowa Hawkeyes for not mailing in their season.

And credit Thin Mints.

Iowa bolted to a 19-1 lead in the first eight minutes and avenged its worst loss of the season with a 70-50 romp over Purdue in a Big Ten women's basketball game Sunday afternoon before a season-high crowd of 7,737 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

"It was an exact role reversal (from the last meeting, an 81-59 Purdue laugher at West Lafayette on Jan. 17)," said Boilermakers Coach Sharon Versyp.

The Hawkeyes (11-10 overall, 4-6 Big Ten) won their third straight game.

They did it in front of a national TV audience on ESPN2 and more than a thousand shrieking Girl Scouts at Carver, who were at full throat when the Boilermakers (11-11, 6-5) were at the free throw line.

"I was like, ‘What? What are they saying,' " said Iowa's Kachine Alexander.

They were chanting, "Thin Mints! Thin Mints!" in reference to the popular and tasty cookies they sell each year.

Purdue was 10-of-24 from the line.

Distraction wasn't the only factor, though. Purdue was playing its third game in seven days while Iowa was fully rested.

Plus, Iowa was simply superior on this day.

Freshmen Morgan Johnson and Gabby Machado split post duties and combined for 27 points and 20 rebounds.

"This had to be my best (college) game," Machado said. "Coach (Jan Jensen) told me not to think, just play my game."

Johnson posted 16 points and 11 rebounds; Machado had 11 points and nine boards.

"We spread out the court a lot better today," Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder said. "We gave them more opportunities to get the ball."

Johnson made her first seven shots before misfiring on her eighth with 2:10 to go and the game in hand.

Purdue missed its first 12 shots from the floor - its first make came at the 11:40 mark of the first half - as Iowa stormed to a big lead.

Jaime Printy's basket made it 19-1 with less than eight minutes elapsed. The 33-20 halftime margin was Iowa's largest at intermission this season.

The Boilermakers drew within 38-30 when K.K. Houser scored with 13:45 to go.

But Machado scored back-to-back baskets to restore order. Later, at 53-41, Iowa scored eight straight to put it away.

Five Hawkeyes, including the aforementioned Johnson and Machado, reached double figures.

Alexander added 16 points and 10 rebounds, Printy added 12 points, Kamille Wahlin registered 11.

Brittany Rayburn led Purdue with 15 points.

Iowa is at Ohio State at 6:30 Thursday night.