Minnesota sends 10th-ranked Iowa to its third consecutive defeat, 91-85

IOWA CITY — This was a “get-right game” gone wrong.

Minnesota sizzled to 10-of-14 3-point shooting and sent 10th-ranked Iowa to its third consecutive loss, 91-85, before an announced crowd of 14,998 Thursday night at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

“We were very uninspired on the defensive end,” Iowa Coach Jan Jensen said after the Hawkeyes (18-5 overall, 9-3 Big Ten) lost to Minnesota for the first time since the 2018 Big Ten tournament, and for the first time at Carver since Jan. 25, 2007.

Taylor McCabe suffered a season-ending knee injury 11 days ago, and the Hawkeyes haven’t yet recovered.

They dropped consecutive games at USC and UCLA last week, then came home where the good times figured to return.

Instead, they fell to 11-1 this season at Carver.

“We will not win just because we’re at Carver,” Jensen said. “This was a very poor performance on the defensive end. We were really lackluster and missed a lot of assignments.”

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As for the Hawkeyes’ collective psyche:

“I wouldn’t say it’s a concern. I’d say it’s urgency,” Ava Heiden said after scoring 24 points (she fouled out with 2:00 left). “We need to re-center and re-calibrate as a team.”

There will be plenty of time for that. Iowa’s next game is Wednesday, at home against Washington.

Five days off. Good thing?

“I hate it right now,” Jensen said. “After UCLA, I’d have played the next morning if they would let us. I’m just wired that way.

“I hate the bye after we lose ... capital ‘H’ to the ‘A’ to the ‘T’ to the ‘E.’”

Thursday’s game started well enough for the Hawkeyes, who made their first six shots on their way to a 14-6 lead.

But Minnesota got hot from the perimeter, the Hawkeyes cooled and the game quickly flipped the visitors’ way.

Down 27-24 early in the second quarter, the Gophers embarked upon a 25-9 run for a 13-point lead.

It was 49-39 at halftime, and the margin didn’t wander into single digits until the final minute.

Minnesota took a 72-55 advantage into the final 10 minutes, and Tori McKinney’s steal and layup gave the Gophers their largest lead, 77-57, with 7:50 left in the game.

Iowa got within 88-80 on Chit-Chat Wright’s 3-pointer with 50 seconds left, then Journey Houston connected from deep to make it 90-85 with 13 ticks remaining.

Wright added 20 points and 12 assists (against one turnover): “That was worthy of a win,” Jensen said.

Houston scored 15 points, Hannah Stuelke 14.

Grace Grocholski scored 21 points to pace Minnesota, which won its fifth straight game. Mara Braun added 16 points on 4-of-4 shooting from long range.

Minnesota 91, Iowa 85

At Iowa City

MINNESOTA (91): Grace Grocholski 7-14 4-5 21, Sophie Hart 4-10 0-0 8, Amaya Battle 4-10 4-4 12, Mara Braun 5-9 2-2 16, Tori McKinney 5-9 3-6 15, Brylee Glenn 3-3 2-4 9, Finau Tonga 4-7 2-3 10, Makena Christian 0-0 0-0 0, Niamya Holloway 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 32-62 17-24 91.

IOWA (85): Hannah Stuelke 4-8 6-7 14, Ava Heiden 9-13 6-8 24, Kylie Feuerbach 0-4 0-0 0, Addie Deal 2-6 1-2 6, Chit-Chat Wright 6-11 3-3 20, Layla Hays 1-1 0-0 2, Taylor Stremlow 2-9 0-0 4, Journey Houston 5-8 3-3 15, Callie Levin 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 29-60 19-23 85.

Minnesota 24 25 23 19 — 91

Iowa 25 14 16 30 — 85

3-point goals: Minnesota 10-14 (Grocholski 3-5, Braun 4-4, McKinney 2-4, Glenn 1-1), Iowa 8-22 (Feuerbach 0-2, Deal 1-4, Wright 5-8, Stremlow 0-6, Houston 2-2). Team fouls: Minnesota 20, Iowa 22. Fouled out: Battle, Heiden, Deal. Rebounds: Minnesota 41 (Battle 14), Iowa 28 (Stuelke 9). Assists: Minnesota 16 (Battle 6), Iowa 20 (Wright 12). Steals: Minnesota 3 (Glenn 2), Iowa 7 (Wright 4). Turnovers: Minnesota 11, Iowa 8.

Attendance: 14,998.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com