Hawks advance for first time since 2002

STANFORD, Calif. - Bumped and bruised.

But not beaten.

Iowa countered Rutgers' physical nature with finesse, free throws and balance to prevail, 70-63, in a first-round game of the NCAA women's basketball tournament Saturday night at Maples Pavilion.

“That was one excited locker room,” said Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder. “I continue to be amazed by this team. I'm so proud of their effort.”

The Hawkeyes (20-13) won for the 12th time in the last 15 games and advance to face top-seeded, second-rated Stanford (32-1) in Round 2 at 8:30 (Iowa time) Monday night.

Iowa reached the second round for the first time since 2002 and the third time under Bluder.

The Hawkeyes won't savor it long.

“Tonight,” said Kachine Alexander. “That's it.”

The triumph was Iowa's first over Rutgers in three tries; Bluder's first conquest of C. Vivian Stringer in six.

Stringer coached at Iowa from 1983 to 1995, winning six Big Ten titles and advancing to the Final Four in 1993.

“Honestly, if I had to lose to somebody, there's no one I'd rather lose to that the Iowa Hawkeyes,” Stringer said. “They were just better today.

Iowa's starting five accounted for all of the 70 points, and all of them reached double figures.

Alexander scored 18 points, Jaime Printy and Kamille Wahlin added 15 apiece, Morgan Johnson 12 and Kelly Krei 10.

The Hawkeyes are 14-0 in games in which at least four players reach double figures.

“We had incredibly balanced scoring,” Bluder said. “That's been our calling card all year.”

Rutgers' Khadijah Rushdan said, “They're such a great shooting team, they were able to spread us out.”

The Hawkeyes were 8 of 12 from long range in the second half after suffering through a 2-for-11 first half.

They were deadly from the line throughout, making 22 of 28 while Rutgers was 6 of 12.

Iowa led by nine points early in the second half, but Rutgers (19-15) went on a 19-5 tear to take a 44-39 lead.

Alexander hit back-to-back 3-pointers to put the Hawkeyes up, 45-44, and it was back and forth for a while.

“They went on a run, and we had to stick together and stay together,” Alexander said.

Wahlin converted a conventional three-point play to give Iowa the lead for good, 59-56, then drilled a 3-pointer to make it 62-56.

"I was disappointed in my play in the first half, but I came back out and pitched in,” she said.

Rutgers got within 65-61 on Brittany Ray's 3-pointer with 1:24 left, then the Hawkeyes closed it out at the line.

A pair of freshmen, Printy and Johnson carried Iowa early, scoring 16 of the team's first 20 points.

The Hawks led, 28-21, at halftime, then took their largest lead at 34-25 on Krei's trey at the 19:00 mark.

Ray led the Scarlet Knights with 15 points. Chelsey Lee added 14.

“We were anxious and excited tonight, but we weren't very smart,” Stringer said. “That's why we're sitting here with an ‘L.'