Hawkeyes withstand late UNI run

CEDAR FALLS -- A seemingly comfortable lead was gone. The largest crowd ever to see a women's basketball game in the McLeod Center was roaring.

So Kamille Wahlin did what leaders do.

Wahlin hit a 3-pointer with 29 seconds left to give Iowa the lead for good, and the Hawkeyes escaped, 78-74, Saturday afternoon in front of 4,077.

"I felt bad because I had just made a bad turnover, and I found myself open," Wahlin said. "I really wanted to knock it down."

Iowa (3-1) held a 14-point lead on three occasions in the second half, and it was still 67-55 with 6:39 left. But the Panthers (2-1) stormed back behind a 19-6 run -- capped by Katelin Oney's two free throws with 41 seconds left -- to take a 74-73 advantage with 41 seconds left.

Then, Wahlin converted on the game's pivotal possession.

"Seniors make big plays, and Kamille made one for us today," said Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder.

Oney had a chance to answer, but her 3-point try was deflected. The Hawkeyes blocked UNI's final three shots.

"Their height was a little disruptive," Oney said. "But I don't think it came down to the last few shots."

No, it really came down to Iowa's size. Six-foot-5 Morgan Johnson scored 23 points and 6-4 freshman Bethany Doolittle added 10. The center duo combined for 13-of-18 shooting from the floor and helped Iowa to a 48-31 rebounding advantage.

Johnson has been dealing with patellar tendonitis throughout the season, and it flared up again Saturday.

She assisted on a 3-point goal by Kelly Krei to make it 45-39 with 16:54 left, then went to the ground in pain.

"It's just really painful," Johnson said. "I rolled it today, and I thought I was OK. But I wasn't. It's just something I have to deal with. The more I play or the more I practice, the more it's going to hurt."

Johnson returned at the 14-minute mark, then scored three quick baskets as Iowa stretched the lead to 57-43.

The teams played evenly for the next few minutes, and Samantha Logic's free throws made it 67-55 with 6:39 left.

Then the Panthers chipped away, with the McLeod crowd spurring them on.

"I know it made me pound my chest harder," said K.K. Armstrong -- who, like Oney, took the Cedar Rapids Washington-to-UNI route. "Four thousand tonight? That's ridiculous. I remember playing in front of a few hundred."

Oney's 3-pointer got the Panthers within 73-70 with 1:37 to go, then Armstrong's steal-and-score made it 73-72. Oney was fouled on the perimeter and cashed in on both ends of the bonus to give UNI its first lead of the second half, 74-73.

First lead, only lead. Wahlin took care of that.

"We were in an extended 2-3 zone, and I think it bothered them late," said UNI Coach Tanya Warren. "I'd rather give up a 23-footer than a 3-footer up one point.

"(Wahlin) wanted the shot, and she hit it."

Five players hit double figures for Iowa. Johnson had 23, followed by Jaime Printy with 18. Doolittle, Wahlin and Logic posted 10 apiece.

"Morgan's been really helpful, teaching me what I can do better," Doolittle said.

Johnson said, "Bethany's learning. She takes her mistakes to heart. She's getting better and better."

Oney led UNI with 20 points. Armstrong added 19, Rachel Madrigal 16.

The first half contained two ties and nine lead changes before Iowa went on a 12-3 surge to take a 31-23 lead. The Hawkeyes led 36-32 at intermission.

IOWA 78, NORTHERN IOWA 74

IOWA (78): Kamille Wahlin 4-12 0-0 10, Morgan Johnson 9-13 5-7 23, Kelly Krei 2-6 0-0 6, Samantha Logic 3-11 4-4 10, Jaime Printy 6-12 4-4 18, Kalli Hansen 0-2 0-0 0, Melissa Dixon 0-0 1-2 1, Theairra Taylor 0-2 0-0 0, Kathryn Reynolds 0-0 0-0 0, Bethany Doolittle 4-5 2-2 10. Totals 28-63 16-19 78.

NORTHERN IOWA (74): Amber Kirschbaum 4-9 2-2 10, Katelin Oney 6-15 4-4 20, Rachel Madrigal 6-9 3-3 16, K.K. Armstrong 6-17 6-6 19, Mercedees Morgan 2-5 0-0 4, Sharnae Lamar 0-3 0-0 0, Jess McDowell 2-4 0-0 4, Brooke Brown 0-2 1-2 1, Brittni Donaldson 0-2 0-0 0, Amanda Barton 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-66 16-17 74.

Halftime: Iowa 36, Northern Iowa 32. 3-point goals: Iowa 6-19 (Wahlin 2-6, Krei 2-4, Logic 0-2, Printy 2-5, Hansen 0-1), Taylor 0-1), Northern Iowa 6-22 (Kirschbaum 0-1, Oney 4-12, Madrigal 1-3, Armstrong 1-4, Morgan 0-1, Donaldson 0-1). Team fouls: Iowa 16, Northern Iowa 17. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: Iowa 48 (Logic 11), Northern Iowa 31 (Madrigal 7). Assists: Iowa 15 (Logic 4), Northern Iowa 12 (Armstrong, Morgan 4). Steals: Iowa 6 (Logic, Printy 2), Northern Iowa 11 (Madrigal 3). Turnovers: Iowa 18, Northern Iowa 11.

Attendance: 4,077.