Iowa puts a chill on Washington State in a 72-43 women’s basketball romp

IOWA CITY — At some point, Iowa’s 3-point shooting is going to turn.

It’s got to, right?

“Since I know the team, I’m not concerned,” Coach Jan Jensen said. “I’m disappointed for them, but I’m not concerned.

“It’s cool that we’ve found a different way to win. I’m pretty sure I’ll have to kick them out of the gym tonight.”

And when that 3-point light eventually and inevitably comes on ...

“We’ll see,” Lucy Olsen said, beaming. “I see a lot of potential to keep getting better.”

Defense carried the day (again), and Iowa routed Washington State, 72-43, in a non-conference women’s basketball game before a paid crowd of 14,998 Sunday afternoon at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

The Hawkeyes take a 6-0 mark into a Thanksgiving trip to Cancun; they’ll face Rhode Island on Thursday, Brigham Young on Friday.

“The flight will be much more enjoyable (Tuesday),” Jensen said.

Trailing 19-18 after a quarter, it was as if Iowa rubbed the Cougars’ noses in an ice box. The visitors managed just four points in the second quarter, five in the third.

“We’ve got people that are buying into the (defensive) emphasis,” Jensen said. “It allows us to put the best people in positions that I like.”

Iowa is allowing 59.3 points per game. That has more than made up for some uncommonly chilly outside shooting. The Hawkeyes were 2 of 17 from the arc Sunday (and one of the makes was a banked trey by Jada Gyamfi), and are at 28.6 percent through six games.

Olsen, who had the other successful 3-pointer — no bank necessary — led the Hawkeyes with 17 points. Addison O’Grady added 14, Hannah Stuelke 11.

The Hawkeyes flipped the game early in the second quarter, scoring the first 10 points. Olsen had a couple of baskets, and Stremlow added back-to-back assists — one to Stuelke, one to Ava Heiden.

Stremlow is on the path to becoming a Carver fan favorite.

“I’m just coming in to do whatever I can,” she said after a steady five-point, six-rebound performance. “I’m put in the game for a reason, to bring energy, play defense and try to make some good plays.”

Sydney Affolter had her most productive game of the season — eight points, eight rebounds.

The biggest moment came in the closing minutes, when Jensen summoned Aaliyah Guyton for her first action of the season.

A freshman guard from Peoria, Ill., Guyton tore her ACL about a year ago.

“I know that’s a tough road,” Jensen said. “When Aaliyah came (toward the scorer’s table), she had a quiver lip and said, ‘Coach, I’m so nervous.’

“This was one of the cooler moments I’ve had as head coach. This kid is special. She didn’t know if Caitlin (Clark) was going to be here for another season, but she wanted to be part of this. If she was going to sit, she was going to learn from one of the best ever.”

Tara Wallack and Jenna Villa scored 11 points apiece for Washington State (2-3).

The Cougars shot 27.4 percent from the field (including 4 of 34 in the middle two quarters), committed 20 turnovers (compared to nine assists) and didn’t shoot a free throw until 2:32 remained.

Iowa 72, Washington State 43

At Iowa City

WASHINGTON STATE (43): Alex Covill 0-3 0-0 0, Tara Wallack 4-14 0-0 11, Eleonora Villa 2-9 0-0 5, Astera Tuhina 3-8 2-2 8, Jenna Villa 4-11 0-1 11, Dayana Mendes 2-7 0-0 4, Charlotte Abraham 0-5 0-0 0, Candace Kpetikou 1-2 0-0 2, Marta Alsina 0-0 0-0 0, Kyra Gardner 0-2 0-0 0, Alice Dart 0-0 0-0 0, Jean Chiu 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 17-62 2-3 43.

IOWA (72): Hannah Stuelke 5-14 1-4 11, Addison O’Grady 7-13 0-2 14, Sydney Affolter 4-6 0-0 8, Kylie Feuerbach 0-4 0-0 0, Lucy Olsen 7-15 2-4 17, Taylor Stremlow 2-3 1-2 5, Taylor McCabe 0-3 0-0 0, Teagan Mallegni 0-5 6-6 6, Ava Heiden 2-3 0-0 4, Callie Levin 0-1 0-0 0, Jada Gyamfi 1-1 0-0 3, A.J. Ediger 1-1 0-1 2, Aaliyah Guyton 0-0 2-2 2. Totals 29-69 12-21 72.

Washington State 19 4 5 15 — 43

Iowa 18 20 17 17 — 72

3-point goals: WSU 7-30 (Wallack 3-8, E. Villa 1-3, Tuhina 0-3, J. Villa 3-9, Mendes 0-2, Abraham 0-3, Gardner 0-2), Iowa 2-17 (Stuelke 0-1, Affolter 0-2, Feuerbach 0-3, Olsen 1-4, McCabe 0-3, Mallegni 0-3, Gyamfi 1-1). Team fouls: WSU 26, Iowa 11. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: WSU 37 (Wallack, E. Villa 7), Iowa 53 (Affolter, Olsen 8). Assists: WSU 9 (Tuhina 3), Iowa 17 (Olsen 5). Steals: WSU 9 (Tuhina, Gardner 2), Iowa 7 (Affolter 2). Turnovers: WSU 20, Iowa 14.

Attendance: 14,998.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com