Kylie Feuerbach returns, and her lockdown ability triggers an Iowa rally

Note: This story was written in Iowa.

Kylie Feuerbach returned to action, and her defensive presence was palpable in the second half.

Feuerbach locked down on Indiana’s Shay Ciezki, and 14th-ranked Iowa overcame a 16-point halftime deficit to defeat Indiana 56-53 in a Big Ten women’s basketball game Sunday afternoon at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall at Bloomington, Ind.

“Halftime was a come-to-reality check,” Iowa assistant Sean Sullivan said in a postgame interview with the Iowa Radio Network. “And Kylie did an excellent job.”

Iowa (14-2 overall, 5-0 Big Ten) remained in a tie with UCLA atop the league standings. The Hawkeyes host Oregon at 8 p.m. Thursday.

Facing a 35-19 halftime deficit, the Hawkeyes got back in it with a 19-4 advantage in the third quarter.

After Indiana’s Lenee Beaumont gave Indiana (11-7, 0-6) a 50-48 edge with a three-point play with 2:53 left, the Hawkeyes scored the next eight points to take control for good.

Chit-Chat Wright’s 3-pointer gave Iowa a 51-50 advantage, then Ava Heiden located Hannah Stuelke under the basket for a bucket to make it 53-50 with 1:03 left.

Taylor Stremlow made a free throw, then Wright hit two more.

Heiden and Wright scored 13 points apiece for the Hawkeyes. Stuelke posted 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Feuerbach had missed the previous three games with an ankle injury. She didn’t start Sunday’s game, but she was a pivotal stopper.

She scored a modest five points (including a 3-pointer in the heart of the third-quarter push), but her defense on Ciezki was immeasurable.

“Coach (Jan Jensen) was harping on competitive stamina (at halftime),” Feuerbach said. “We knew we’re a great team. We had to continue to grind and get back in it.”

Ciezki scored 19 first-half points as the Hoosiers built a 35-19 bulge, but managed just two the rest of the way.

“(Feuerbach) is the defensive specialist, she’s a fixer and she’s a glue kid,” Jensen said. “When we don’t have her, it makes a difference.

“We wanted to trap (Ciezki) on every ball screen.”

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com