Cy-Hawk women’s basketball, the day after: Re-examining Iowa State’s win over Iowa

AMES — Lisa Bluder is a postgame press-conference multitasker.

She scans the final boxscore as she speaks at the podium. And Wednesday night, it didn’t take long to find a column of numbers that caught her eye, and raised her ire.

No. 12 Iowa shot six free throws, making five, in a 77-70 loss to No. 15 Iowa State at Hilton Coliseum.

The Cyclones attempted 22, sinking 16.

“It’s hard to win a game in which you don’t shoot free throws,” said Bluder, the Hawkeyes’ head coach. “I felt we should have been shooting more.

“When you give up 16 (more) free throws to a good team, it’s hard to win.”

Bluder was most displeased about a perceived lack of calls against the Cyclones in the paint on the defensive end.

“I think there were a lot of fouls that weren’t called,” she said. “I thought Monika (Czinano) got beat up like crazy. (ISU’s posts) had 15 fouls to use, and they were willing to use them.”

The Cyclones (9-1) ended a five-game losing streak to the Hawkeyes (5-2).

“This is definitely one thing I wanted to accomplish,” said ISU senior Ashley Joens, an Iowa City native who vanquished the Hawkeyes in (probably) her final opportunity.

Joens posted 26 points and 11 rebounds. Younger sister Aubrey Joens, a sophomore, had a double-double of her own — 12 points, 11 rebounds.

Lexi Donarski was equally instrumental in the Cyclones’ victory. In addition to her 16 points, she played adequate defense on Caitlin Clark, Iowa’s All-America guard.

Clark scored 26 points, but it took her 26 shots (10 made) to get there.

“I told Lexi that if (Clark’s) shots equaled her points, that’s exactly what we want,” ISU Coach Bill Fennelly said. “Caitlin’s a phenomenal player, but she had to work hard for her points tonight.”

Clark also posted seven rebounds, but committed six turnovers against three assists.

“When they were shooting free throws, they were also setting up their defense. That makes it challenging to have a transition offense,” she said.

Kylie Feuerbach’s return to Ames was relatively quiet. She had an assist and a turnover in eight minutes of playing time, but the Hawkeyes were a plus-6 when she was on the court.

So the Hawkeyes are 1-2 since returning from a two-week COVID hiatus.

“We’re a ways away (from being where we want),” Bluder said. “We need to get consistency. We need to play games.”

The next one is Dec. 18, at home against Central Florida.

Whatever happens for the Hawkeyes and the Cyclones the rest of the way, it’s unlikely either will play in an atmosphere like they did Wednesday.

The announced attendance was 11,348.

“To have a crowd like that, to have a student section like that, I love to see that. Good for them,” Clark said. “I’m glad these fans came out and watched two quality teams. I think that’s just great for women’s basketball and the state of Iowa.”

It’s a far cry from last year, when games were played in front of family only.

“Hilton is a special place to play,” Donarski said. “This is the first time I’ve experienced a packed gym.”

Fennelly said, “This was as good an environment as we’ve had here in a long time.”

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com