Free-throw parade sends Iowa women’s basketball past Nebraska, 93-83

IOWA CITY — Put the Iowa Hawkeyes at the free-throw line repeatedly, and consider yourself sunk.

Foul shots got the Hawkeyes back in the game, and foul shots were the final exclamation point in a 93-83 Big Ten women’s basketball victory over Nebraska in front of a crowd of 8,473 Sunday evening at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

“We kept fighting. There was no panic,” Caitlin Clark said after the Hawkeyes (10-4 overall, 4-1 Big Ten) shrugged off an early 16-point deficit. “Defense got us back in the game.”

And so did the fact that the Hawkeyes were able to rally, two points at a time from the line, with the clock stopped.

The nation’s leading free-throw shooting team at 86.7 percent, Iowa finished 31 of 34 from the stripe Sunday. Nebraska (13-4, 2-4) was 5 of 8.

“We’re a great free-throw shooting team. We were able to get to the line early,” Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder said. “When you have that opportunity, you have to take advantage.”

Iowa won its third straight game, which has included a season sweep of the Huskers, achieved in the span of eight days.

The Hawkeyes won at Lincoln, 95-86, last Sunday.

Clark posted a Big Ten record-tying third triple-double of the season (31 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists), grabbing her final rebound with six seconds left. It was the fourth triple-double of her career.

Monika Czinano matched Clark with 31 points of her own. Czinano has scored 20 points or more in five straight games.

“My role is to be as consistent as I can,” she said. “I try to be consistent and be really physical.”

Clark and Czinano combined to make 21 of 22 from the line.

“We harp on free throws all the time,” Clark said. “They’re free points, and they’ll win you basketball games.”

Clark drew 10 fouls from the Huskers.

“I think I’m good at creating contact,” she said. “Using my body is a skill. I wasn’t looking to draw fouls. It wasn’t the goal.”

But it was the result.

Alexis Markowski, a Lincoln native, made all six of her shots — 4-for-4 from 3-point range — in the first quarter, and the Huskers led, 30-14.

“It didn’t look great after the first quarter,” Czinano said. “We really had to battle back.”

Markwoski entered the game with four 3-pointers in her first 16 games.

But the fouls started coming and kept coming against the Huskers. The visitors were whistled for 16 of them in the first half, Iowa was called for one, and the Hawkeyes were able to convert from the free-throw line with the clock stopped.

Iowa was 18 of 20 from the line before intermission, Nebraska was 0 for 0, and the Hawkeyes went into the locker room within 42-41.

The Hawkeyes took their first lead, 54-53, on Czinano’s two free throws with 6:13 left in the third quarter. Nebraska scored the next eight points for a 61-54 advantage, then the Hawkeyes fought back again.

Gabbie Marshall’s 3-pointer late in the third quarter put Iowa up 67-66, and the Hawkeyes led the rest of the way.

Czinano opened the fourth quarter with a hook, then Clark followed with a steal that turned into a three-point play that made it 72-66.

The Huskers were without starters Jaz Shelley and Sam Haiby, who combine to average 24.8 points per game.

“Our program is at the point that we don’t have to be satisfied with moral victories in any way, shape or form,” Nebraska Coach Amy Williams said. “But I’m proud of how we played under tough circumstances.

“Iowa did a really good job getting itself to the free-throw line. That’s when (the game) shifted. They went to the basket, and they were rewarded for their aggressive mentality.”

Kate Martin added nine points for the Hawkeyes, McKenna Warnock finished with eight points and eight rebounds.

Markowski finished with 27 points to pace the Huskers. Isabelle Bourne added 15.

The Hawkeyes will play at Minnesota at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Iowa 93, Nebraska 83

At Iowa City

NEBRASKA (83): Isabelle Bourne 6-12 2-2 15, Alexis Markowski 10-12 1-2 27, Ashley Scoggin 3-12 0-0 9, Allison Weidner 4-10 0-1 8, Ruby Porter 2-3 0-0 5, Mi’Cole Cayton 1-6 0-0 3, Whitney Brown 2-7 0-0 5, Annika Stewart 1-1 0-0 3, Kendall Coley 0-2 0-0 0, Kendall Moriarty 2-3 1-2 5, Bella Cravens 1-1 1-1 3. Totals 32-69 5-8 83.

IOWA (93): McKenna Warnock 3-6 1-2 8, Monika Czinano 11-17 9-10 31, Kate Martin 2-3 5-6 9, Caitlin Clark 9-22 12-12 31, Gabbie Marshall 2-6 0-0 6, Kylie Feuerbach 1-2 2-2 4, Addison O’Grady 1-3 2-2 4, Tomi Taiwo 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 29-59 31-34 93.

Nebraska 30 12 24 17 — 83

Iowa 14 27 26 26 — 93

3-point goals: Nebraska 14-30 (Bourne 1-3, Markowski 6-7, Scoggin 3-7, Weidner 0-1, Porter 1-2, Cayton 1-4, Brown 1-4, Stewart 1-1, Moriarty 0-1), Iowa 4-11 (Warnock 1-3, Martin 0-1, Clark 1-4, Marshall 2-3). Team fouls: Nebraska 28, Iowa 7. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: Nebraska 32 (Scoggin 6), Iowa 37 (Clark 10). Assists: Nebraska 19 (Weidner 5), Iowa 16 (Clark 10). Steals: Nebraska 6 (Markowski, Brown 2), Iowa 10 (Clark 4). Turnovers: Nebraska 13, Iowa 10.

Attendance: 8,473.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com