Even short-handed, Iowa women’s basketball still owns Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. — Seven was plenty.

Even in a vastly short-handed state, 21st-ranked Iowa remained far superior to Wisconsin. The Hawkeyes’ seven-player rotation jolted the Badgers, 84-50, in a Big Ten women’s basketball game in front of a crowd of 3,923 Thursday night at the Kohl Center.

“Coach (Lisa Bluder) said beforehand, ‘We have enough,’” said Caitlin Clark, who posted her fifth triple-double of the season — 27 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists.

More than enough.

Starters McKenna Warnock and Gabbie Marshall were in street clothes: Warnock with a cast on her left hand, Marshall with a sling supporting her right arm.

Starting in their place were Tomi Taiwo and Kylie Feuerbach, joining Clark, Monika Czinano and Kate Martin.

Sydney Affolter and Addison O’Grady came off the bench and produced, and seven most definitely was plenty.

“We came here and took care of business,” Bluder said after the Hawkeyes (15-5 overall, 9-2 Big Ten) left behind a stinging home loss to Ohio State three days earlier. “I’m proud of the girls that stepped up for us.”

That would be all of them.

Czinano added 17 points in just 19 minutes. O’Grady posted a career-high 16 and blocked three shots. Martin tallied 10. Taiwo was good for eight points, five rebounds and four assists.

Feuerbach scored four points, and Affolter snagged a career-best eight rebounds.

“Even with just seven of us, we kept pushing,” Taiwo said. “We still had the skill set and the energy to keep going.

“We were able to pull together with one another, for one another and for those that couldn’t play.”

Iowa handled the Badgers for the 25th straight time; the streak began in 2007.

Warnock and Marshall, who combine for about 19 points per game, joined Sharon Goodman and Shateah Wetering (preseason torn ACLs) and A.J. Ediger (high ankle sprain) on the inactive list.

Logan Cook dressed, but did not play.

Taiwo made her second start of her career. Feuerbach was in the opening lineup for the first time as a Hawkeye.

Iowa was choppy early, missing its first six shots in the opening 4:42. Wisconsin (5-16, 2-9) couldn’t capitalize much, leading just 4-0.

Once Iowa got going, it really got going. The Hawkeyes led 15-8 by the end of the first quarter, and a 10-0 run to close the half made it 38-20 at intermission.

Despite the cold start, the Hawkeyes finished at 59 percent from the floor (36 of 61).

“It was all about stepping up,” Clark said. “Everybody was ready to play, no matter what. Our best offense was me getting the rebound and pushing in transition.”

Yes, the Hawkeyes were short-handed. But with Clark and Czinano, it didn’t seem like it.

“We only had seven, but it sure helps when you have two All-Americans,” Bluder said.

Clark’s sixth career triple-double matched a Big Ten record with Samantha Logic, a former Hawkeye who also wore No. 22.

Julie Pospisilova and Krystyna Ellew led Wisconsin with 13 points apiece.

The Hawkeyes play at No. 6 Michigan at 5:30 p.m. Sunday.

Iowa 84, Wisconsin 50

At Madison, Wis.

IOWA (84): Monika Czinano 8-13 1-1 17, Tomi Taiwo 3-4 0-0 8, Kylie Feuerbach 1-3 2-2 4, Kate Martin 4-7 0-0 10, Caitlin Clark 12-18 2-2 27, Sydney Affolter 1-7 0-0 2, Addison O’Grady 7-9 2-2 16. Totals 36-61 7-7 84.

WISCONSIN (50): Katie Nelson 2-7 2-3 6, Brooke Schramek 4-13 0-0 10, Julie Pospisilova 6-15 0-0 13, Halle Douglass 3-8 0-0 8, Krystyna Ellew 5-14 1-1 13, Sara Stapleton 0-4 0-0 0, Tara Stauffacher 0-0 0-0 0, Natalie Leuzinger 0-1 0-0 0, Lexi Duckett 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-62 3-4 50.

Iowa 15 23 27 19 — 84

Wisconsin 8 12 12 18 — 50

3-point goals: Iowa 5-12 (Taiwo 2-3, Feuerbach 0-2, Martin 2-2, Clark 1-4, Affolter 0-1), Wisconsin 7-21 (Nelson 0-1, Schramek 2-4, Pospisilova 1-6, Douglass 2-3, Ellew 2-6, Leuzinger 0-1). Team fouls: Iowa 8, Wisconsin 10. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: Iowa 41 (Clark 11), Wisconsin 26 (Schramek 7). Assists: Iowa 21 (Clark 11), Wisconsin 13 (Nelson 5). Steals: Iowa 6 (Martin 3), Wisconsin 8 (Nelson, Douglass 2). Turnovers: Iowa 12, Wisconsin 14.

Attendance: 3,923.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com