Not much pretty about it, but Iowa tops Rutgers for its 6th consecutive win

IOWA CITY — Maybe Iowa was due for a clunker.

Lucy Olsen kept it from being a serious problem.

Olsen was a bright light in an otherwise-hazy Big Ten women’s basketball game Thursday night, striking for 27 points to lift Iowa past Rutgers, 55-43, before a paid crowd of 14,998 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

“Five weeks ago, I would have taken a game like this, but perspective can quickly change,” Iowa Coach Jan Jensen said after the Hawkeyes (18-7 overall, 8-6 Big Ten) won for the sixth consecutive time.

“We’ve gotten to the point that expectations have gotten higher. Sluggish games happen.”

Alas, this one was worthy of Big Ten+ streaming-only status.

Take away Olsen, and the rest of the Hawkeyes shot 9-of-35 from the field. Rutgers (10-15, 2-12) was 15 of 49 from the floor, for 30.6 percent.

The Hawkeyes dished out 12 assists and coughed up 16 turnovers.

“A win is a win, but this was an ugly win,” Iowa’s Sydney Affolter said. “You can’t underestimate anybody in the Big Ten.

“We held them to 40-something points. That’s pretty good.”

Rutgers was in danger of a fourth-quarter shutout until Zachara Perkins banked in a 3-pointer with 48 seconds left.

Iowa trailed through the first 12 minutes, and the ultimate difference was a 13-0 run that put the Hawkeyes in front, 28-19, late in the second quarter.

An 11-0 surge that bridged the third-quarter break blew it open at 53-37.

Other than that, well ...

“We wanted to play our best basketball in February, and I think we have, but not tonight,” Jensen said. “I can’t handle lukewarm water. That’s what I do not like.”

Olsen’s effort came on the heels of a season-best 32-point game at Nebraska three days earlier. She is averaging 22.8 points during the Hawkeyes’ win streak.

“Whatever it takes for us to win,” she said after hitting 11 of 19 shots (4 of 5 from distance). “Anybody can have a good game for us. The last few games, the ball is just falling for me.”

Jensen said, “Thankfully, (Olsen) has gotten into a better flow. It’s great she’s able to do that.”

Affolter added 10 points and 14 rebounds for the Hawkeyes. Nobody else scored more than six.

JoJo Lacey was Rutgers’ lone double-digit scorer. She had 11.

The Hawkeyes play at Ohio State at 11 a.m. Monday.

Iowa 55, Rutgers 43

At Iowa City

RUTGERS (43): Destiny Adams 3-15 2-3 9, Zachara Perkins 2-5 1-2 6, Mya Petticord 2-8 0-0 6, Ava Sidibe 1-3 2-2 4, JoJo Lacey 4-10 0-1 11, Lisa Thompson 2-5 0-0 4, Chyna Cornwell 1-3 1-2 3, Janae Walker 0-0 0-0 0, Kennedy Brandt 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 15-49 6-10 43.

IOWA (55): Hannah Stuelke 3-8 0-0 6, Taylor McCabe 0-5 2-2 2, Sydney Affolter 2-7 4-4 10, Kylie Feuerbach 1-4 0-0 3, Lucy Olsen 11-19 1-4 27, Taylor Stremlow 0-1 0-0 0, Aaliyah Guyton 2-6 1-2 5, Addison O’Grady 0-2 0-0 0, Teagan Mallegni 0-1 0-0 0, Ava Heiden 1-1 0-0 2, Callie Levin 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-54 8-12 55.

Rutgers 14 8 15 6 — 43

Iowa 10 18 18 9 — 55

3-point goals: Rutgers 7-17 (Adams 1-5, Perkins 1-2, Petticord 2-5, Lacey 3-5), Iowa 7-23 (McCabe 0-5, Affolter 2-5, Feuerbach 1-4, Olsen 4-5, Guyton 0-3, Mallegni 0-1). Team fouls: Rutgers 17, Iowa 14. Fouled out: none. Technical: Cornwell. Rebounds: Rutgers 31 (Lacey 9), Iowa 37 (Affolter 14). Assists: Rutgers 9 (Adams 3), Iowa 12 (Olsen 3). Steals: Rutgers 8 (three with 2), Iowa 6 (Feuerbach, Olsen 2). Turnovers: Rutgers 18, Iowa 16.

Attendance: 14,998.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com