No. 12 Iowa bombards Penn State (again), 108-67

IOWA CITY — This matinee was no thriller. Just a laugher.

No. 12 Iowa was surgical in a historic first quarter Saturday afternoon, and put it to Penn State (again), 108-67, in a Big Ten women’s basketball game before a crowd of 12,436 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

“The first quarter, we took control immediately. We set the tone both offensively and defensively,” Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder said. “Our crowd gave us energy, and our bench gave us energy.”

The Hawkeyes (14-4 overall, 6-1 Big Ten) were dynamite for the third consecutive game. That 11:30 a.m. tip time? It didn’t hamper them a bit.

“11:30 isn’t my first choice, but if we play like that, I’ll take 11:30 every time,” Caitlin Clark said.

The Hawkeyes rolled out of bed, ate breakfast, and smashed the Lady Lions (11-7, 2-5) from the opening tip.

When Monika Czinano converted a feed from Clark about 9 minutes into the game, Iowa enjoyed a 34-10 lead. At that point, the Hawkeyes were 15 of 17 from the field.

Their 13 assists in the first period was their most ever in a quarter.

Beaucoup offense has been the trend lately for the Hawkeyes against Penn State. In the last four meetings vs. the Lady Lions, Iowa has averaged 102.8 points.

“It’s hard to play zone against us,” Clark said. “We do a really good job finding people open in a zone. It allows us good looks from deep.

“They have to make a choice ... do they want to guard Monika or our shooters?”

The Lady Lions didn’t really guard anybody.

Five Hawkeyes hit double digits, led by Clark (27 points, 10 assists) and Czinano (20 points).

McKenna Warnock added 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Sydney Affolter (12 points) and Hannah Stuelke (11) led a 42-point bench effort.

“We just focus on being a spark off the bench,” Affolter said. “We need to play hard when we come in.”

The Hawkeyes finished at 54.5 percent from the field and distributed 26 assists.

“It’s just good to see everything come together,” Warnock said. “We had a good four quarters (Wednesday), and we had another good four quarters today.”

It was 57-29 at halftime, and by the second half, one media member had his laptop open, watching a women’s boxing match.

Meanwhile, another pummeling continued to unfold live on the Carver floor.

Gabbie Marshall scored only three points for the Hawkeyes, but hounded Penn State’s leading scorer Makenna Marisa, holding her to a season-low five points on 2-of-13 shooting.

“Her defense was absolutely incredible,” Clark said. “That really got us started. And when we get stops, our transition really gets going.”

Iowa’s next two games are on the road — at Michigan State on Wednesday, then at No. 3 Ohio State next Monday.

The Hawkeyes return home Jan. 28, against Nebraska.

Iowa 108, Penn State 67

At Iowa City

PENN STATE (67): Chanaya Pinto 0-2 0-0 0, Alexa Williamson 2-2 0-0 4, Shay Ciezki 7-17 4-4 20, Leilani Kapinus 4-10 8-12 16, Makenna Marisa 2-13 1-2 5, Anna Camden 0-2 2-2 2, Johnasia Cash 1-2 2-2 4, Taniyah Thompson 5-9 3-3 13, Ali Brigham 0-0 0-0 0, Aicha Dia 1-1 0-0 3, Kayla Thomas 0-1 0-0 0, Ivane Tensaie 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 22-60 20-25 67.

IOWA (108): McKenna Warnock 5-8 4-6 16, Monika Czinano 7-11 6-6 20, Kate Martin 0-1 0-0 0, Caitlin Clark 9-15 6-6 27, Gabbie Marshall 1-4 0-0 3, Molly Davis 0-1 5-6 5, Hannah Stuelke 4-5 3-6 11, Sydney Affolter 5-6 0-0 12, Taylor McCabe 2-6 0-0 5, A.J. Ediger 1-2 0-0 2, Addison O’Grady 0-0 2-2 2, Shateah Wetering 1-2 0-2 3, Sharon Goodman 1-3 0-0 2, Jada Gyamfi 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 36-66 26-34 108.

Penn State 15 14 16 22 -- 67

Iowa 34 23 26 25 -- 108

3-point goals: Penn State 3-21 (Pinto 0-1, Ciezki 2-8, Kapinus 0-3, Marisa 0-4, Camden 0-2, Thompson 0-1, Dia 1-1, Tensaie 0-1), Iowa 10-26 (Warnock 2-3, Martin 0-1, Clark 3-7, Marshall 1-3, Davis 0-1, Affolter 2-2, McCabe 1-5, Wetering 1-2, Gyamfi 0-2). Team fouls: Penn State 30, Iowa 18. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: Penn State 31 (Ciezki 7), Iowa 44 (Warnock 10). Assists: Penn State 8 (Ciezki 3), Iowa 26 (Clark 10). Steals: Penn State 10 (Kapinus 4), Iowa 10 (Marshall 3). Turnovers: Penn State 20, Iowa 11.

Attendance: 12,436.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com