Freshman replaces injured senior Hamlin in Hawkeye lineup

IOWA CITY - Iowa freshman Morgan Johnson came to the school with great hype because of her 6-foot-5 frame. She didn't disappoint Sunday afternoon.

Johnson, who replaced an injured JoAnn Hamlin, scored eight points and blocked six shots in the Hawkeyes' 88-60 exhibition win against Division II Washburn at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Johnson didn't know she was starting until Friday so she had to calm her nerves before the game.

“My teammates, the great teammates that they are, they kind of picked me up and told me that since that's what coach needed of me right now, I could step up and do that,” she said.

Johnson added seven rebounds in 29 minutes.

“As a freshman to start in the center position, I thought she did some nice things,” Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder said. “She missed some shots she's going to make down the line, but I don't remember the last time someone had six blocked shots in one of our games. That was kind of nice to see.”

Hamlin, a senior co-captain, was injured Thursday and was hospitalized Sunday. Her future status is undetermined.

“She's been diagnosed with a lower leg injury,” Bluder said. “She's been admitted to the hospital. We'll hopefully know a little bit more later in the day.”

Junior guard Kachine Alexander scored a game-high 25 points, grabbed seven rebounds and dished three assists. Sophomore point guard Kamille Wahlin added 18. Sophomore Kelly Krei, an Iowa City High graduate, made her first start and scored 12 points.

Iowa shot 52.4 percent from the field, hit 12 of 19 three-point attempts and had 19 assists.