Hawkeyes complete sweep of Rutgers

IOWA CITY — Megan Gustafson was coming off one of her worst games of a brilliant season.

Thursday night, she answered, authoritatively.

Gustafson posted her second gem against Rutgers this season, a 25-point, 12-rebound performance as the Iowa Hawkeyes pulled away late for a 71-57 Big Ten women's basketball triumph in front of 3,884 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

'I was coming off a not-so-good shooting (game, Sunday at Maryland), and that motivated me more,' Gustafson said.

'I knew they were going to have strong posts, so I needed to use my strength and my footwork.'

The sophomore hit 10 of 13 shots from the floor. In the two games against Rutgers this season, she sank 17 of 20.

'She did whatever she wanted to do,' Rutgers Coach C. Vivian Stringer said. 'If we tried to front her, they'd pass it over the top. Then we tried to get behind her ... I'm just frustrated with that.'

Thursday was National Girls and Women in Sports Day, and a pregame celebration featured Bluder, Stringer (Iowa's coach from 1983 to 1995), former women's athletics director Christine Grant and soon-to-retire administator Paula Jantz.

'It was a great day,' Bluder said. 'Vivian came back and Dr. Grant was here ... it was really special.'

Then the game began and the Hawkeyes (14-8 overall, 5-4 Big Ten) led from opening tip to final horn.

Iowa scored the first nine points and broke to a 17-4 lead before the Scarlet Knights (6-17, 3-7) settled in.

'I was never really nervous that we were going to lose the game,' Kathleen Doyle said. 'We got the win, so I'm a happy camper.'

The Hawkeyes took their largest lead at 55-41 late in the third quarter. Rutgers assembled a 10-0 run to creep within four with 8:51 remaining before Iowa pulled away again.

Ally Disterhoft hit a dagger 3-pointer to make it 65-55 with 1:23 left. Then after a Rutgers turnover, Aliyah Jeune was called for a foul — then a technical foul — with 59 seconds left.

Tania Davis sank all four free throws.

Gustafson's double-double was her 11th of the season. Disterhoft (20 points, nine rebounds) very nearly joined her.

'It's always good to see the ball go through the hoop,' Disterhoft said.

Iowa did not commit a foul through the first 15 1/2 minutes. The Hawkeyes were 20 of 26 from the free-throw line; Rutgers was 2 of 4.

'We attacked really well,' Bluder said. 'We got the ball inside, and that gave us opportunities to shoot free throws.'

In the final minute, the ball (already whistled dead) rolled Bluder's way. Despite high heels, she nimbly tapped the ball up to her hands from her foot to the delight of the Iowa bench.

'She's still got it,' Disterhoft said.

Bluder said, 'At my age, it's easier to do that than bend down and pick it up.'

This was Iowa's fourth straight win against Stringer and the Scarlet Knights.

'The hardest part is to sit on the visitors' bench,' Stringer said. 'I just remember sitting on the Hawkeyes' bench, remembering my husband and my kids ... you know, once a Hawkeye, always a Hawkeye.'

Jeune paced Rutgers with 17 points. Kandiss Barber added 14.

The Hawkeyes play at Michigan (18-5, 7-2) at 1 p.m. (Iowa time) Sunday.

IOWA 71, RUTGERS 57

At Iowa City

RUTGERS (57): Kandiss Barber 6-13 2-4 14, Desiree Keeling 0-1 0-0 0, Shrita Parker 3-11 0-0 6, Aliyah Jeune 8-15 0-0 17, Khadiazha Sanders 1-8 0-0 2, Jazlynd Rollins 3-7 0-0 8, Kate Hill 0-0 0-0 0, DaChe Williams 0-2 0-0 0, Victoria Harris 2-2 0-0 4, Jordan Wallace 3-5 0-0 6. Totals 26-64 2-4 57.

IOWA (71): Megan Gustafson 10-13 5-6 15, Ally Disterhoft 7-11 3-6 20, Makenzie Meyer 0-4 3-4 3, Tania Davis 2-6 6-6 11, Kathleen Doyle 3-10 1-2 8, Alexa Kastanek 0-0 0-0 0, Chase Coley 1-2 0-0 2, Hannah Stewart 0-2 2-2 2, Christina Buttenham 0-1 0-0 0, Bre Cera 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-49 20-26 71.

Halftime: Iowa 36, Rutgers 27. 3-point goals: Rutgers 3-12 (Parker 0-1, Jeune 1-7, Rollins 2-4), Iowa 5-19 (Disterhoft 3-6, Meyer 0-4, Davis 1-2, Doyle 1-6, Coley 0-1). Team fouls: Rutgers 21, Iowa 6. Fouled out: Harris. Rebounds: Rutgers 30 (Parker 6), Iowa 37 (Gustafson 12). Assists: Rutgers 7 (Parker 4), Iowa 17 (Meyer, Davis, Doyle 5). Steals: Rutgers 7 (Parker 2), Iowa 2 (Doyle 2). Turnovers: Rutgers 9, Iowa 14.

Attendance: 3,884.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com