Hawkeyes hold off Badgers’ rally

Making the most of their only meeting this season, the Iowa women's basketball team picked up a much-needed 57-54 victory over Wisconsin in thrilling fashion Wednesday night at the Kohl Center.

Coming off back-to-back losses, the Hawkeyes (13-4, 3-2 Big Ten) outscored the Badgers (6-9, 2-3) off the bench, 12-2, and held off a late rally for the win.

Iowa led 51-35 after three quarters but could muster only six points in the final frame.

After a 19-5 run in the fourth, Wisconsin closed to within 56-54 with 52 seconds remaining, but the Badgers' Avyanna Young missed what would have been the tying layup with 19 seconds left in the game.

Chase Coley knocked down a free throw to give Iowa a three-point edge, which was enough as Nicole Bauman and Dakota Whyte each missed tying 3-point attempts as time expired.

'Obviously, we got a little tight in the fourth quarter,” Iowa's Ally Disterhoft said, 'but I think it shows a lot about our team. How we were able to just come together and finish out the game.”

Disterhoft led Iowa with 18 points on 8-for-9 shooting. She connected on her only 3-point attempt.

Whitney Jennings knocked down two 3-pointers as part of an 11-point effort, while Coley added seven. Kali Peschel chipped in six with a pair of 3-pointers and Megan Gustafson scored five.

Christina Buttenham was a spark plug off the bench, scoring five points and leading the team in rebounds with six. Disterhoft and Peschel each grabbed five.

'Any time you can get a road win in the Big Ten, it's huge,” Disterhoft said.

The Hawkeyes return to the road Saturday to visit No. 18 Michigan State (12-4, 3-2) at 3:30 p.m.