Iowa grinds out a 69-61 win over Central Florida

IOWA CITY -- It was a grind, just like they knew it would be.

No. 14 Iowa put together a strong third quarter, overcame 23 turnovers and fought past Central Florida, 69-61, in a women’s basketball game before an announced crowd of 6,230 Saturday night at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

“We settled down and figured out their defense a little more (later in the game),” Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder said.

“We had 23 turnovers, and that’s too many. It’s hard to emulate their defense with our practice squad. They play the passing lanes. They’re big, tall, lanky and athletic.”

But the Hawkeyes (6-2) persevered and prevailed.

Tied at 31 at intermission, Iowa rode Monika Czinano’s big third quarter, in which she scored eight of her 19 points. That, and the fact that Iowa turned it over just twice in the quarter, enabled the Hawkeyes to take a 56-43 advantage into the final period.

It was a really good stretch against a UCF squad that entered the game with a 45.9-point defensive average, third best in the nation.

“We were finding the high post, and we were able to do some high-lows,” Czinano said. “The world kind of opened up.”

UCF (8-2) opened the fourth quarter with a 10-2 and closed within 58-53, but McKenna Warnock drained a 3-pointer to replenish the lead to eight with 6:50 left.

“It was just an open shot. It was there, and I let it fly,” Warnock said.

All-American sophomore guard Caitlin Clark had a quality line -- 21 points, 11 rebounds, six assists -- but continued to struggle with her long-range game.

Clark made her first two 3-point attempts, but finished 3 of 12. She is shooting 25.9 percent from deep this season.

Czinano (19 points) and Warnock (13) gave the Hawkeyes three double-digit scorers.

Warnock also contributed seven rebounds and seven assists.

Both teams’ assist-to-turnover ratio took a beating in the first half. The Hawkeyes kicked it away 14 times, UCF 12.

Iowa was sitting good at 26-15 midway through the second quarter, but Ahna Burney hit three consecutive 3-pointers in the middle of a 16-2 run that put the Knights up 31-28.

Tay Sanders led the Knights with 20 points.

UCF is coached by Katie Abrahamson-Henderson, a Cedar Rapids native and a 1990 Iowa alum.

“We love our Hawkeyes, we love our alums, but we also want to send them home with an ‘L,” Bluder said.

The Hawkeyes conclude their non-conference slate with a home contest at 2 p.m. Tuesday against IUPUI (4-4).

Two of IUPUI’s four losses were Horizon League forfeits due to a COVID-19 shutdown.

Iowa 69, Central Florida 61

At Iowa City

CENTRAL FLORIDA (61): Masseny Kaba 3-8 0-3 6, Destiny Thomas 1-3 0-0 2, Tay Sanders 8-20 4-5 20, Diamond Battles 3-11 5-8 12, Alisa Lewis 4-9 0-0 10, Neila Luna 1-2 0-0 2, Ahna Burney 3-9 0-0 9. Totals 23-62 9-16 61.

IOWA (69): McKenna Warnock 5-11 1-2 13, Monika Czinano 8-11 5-6 19, Kate Martin 1-3 0-0 3, Caitlin Clark 5-18 8-11 21, Gabbie Marshall 1-3 2-2 5, Kylie Feuerbach 1-2 1-2 4, Addison O’Grady 1-1 0-0 2, Tomi Taiwo 0-2 2-2 2, Logan Cook 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-51 17-24 69.

Central Florida 13 18 12 18 -- 61

Iowa 17 14 25 13 -- 69

3-point goals: UCF 6-19 (Sanders 0-2, Battles 1-4, Lewis 2-7, Burney 3-6), Iowa 8-23 (Warnock 2-4, Martin 1-1, Clark 3-12, Marshall 1-2, Feuerbach 1-2, Taiwo 0-2). Team fouls: UCF 18, Iowa 13. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: UCF 36 (Kaba, Thomas 8), Iowa 42 (Clark 11). Assists: UCF 12 (Thomas, Battles 3), Iowa 19 (Warnock 7). Steals: UCF 16 (three with 4), Iowa 10 (Martin, Marshall 4). Turnovers: UCF 20, Iowa 23.

Attendance: 6,230.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com