Hawkeyes smother Iowa State, 62-40

The series produced another lemon.

For the Iowa Hawkeyes, it couldn't have been sweeter.

Jaime Printy and Morgan Johnson put on a pick-and-roll exhibition, Kelly Krei nailed five 3-pointers and the 19th-ranked Hawkeyes clamped down defensively in a 62-40 blistering of No. 16 Iowa State before an announced crowd of 6,364 Thursday night at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

“It's just another game. But at the end of the day, it's Iowa-Iowa State and there's a little more emotion,” said Krei, who matched a career high with her five treys - in eight attempts.

These teams have produced a lengthy list of one-sided games in recent years. This one went Iowa's way.

“We're not the last team that is going to get their butt kicked in this building,” said ISU Coach Bill Fennelly. “The better team won tonight. The better-coached team won tonight.”

Johnson dominated the post, registering 16 points and 10 rebounds, as Iowa (9-1) posted a 34-8 points-in-the-paint advantage.

She scored three straight baskets - two on pick-and-roll dishes from Printy - in a 16-2 second-half run that broke the game open.

“I can't say enough good things about Jaime's passing,” Johnson said. “She put the ball right where it needed to be.”

Printy collected a career-high nine assists.

Krei added 15 points and Alexander scored 13 for the winners.

Alexander, who did not play in last year's 85-66 ISU win at Ames, also played sticky defense, holding Kelsey Bolte to eight points.

“I just wasn't going to let her have any light at all,” Alexander said. “Her shot is so quick. You can't give her any space.”

The Cyclones (6-2) made only four field goals in 18 attempts after intermission.

“Iowa was very intense, and we didn't handle it very well,” said Lauren Mansfield, the Cyclones' lone double-figure scorer with 16 points.

Two runs defined the first half. Iowa went on a 17-2 surge to take a 22-8 lead, then ISU countered with a 13-2 spree to creep within 24-21.

It was 26-21 at intermission, then 29-25 before the Hawkeyes blew it open.

Krei hit a 3-pointer to start it, Alexander got a couple steals that led to layups, then Printy and Johnson started playing pick-and-roll.

Kelsey Cermak's basket capped the run, which ended with Iowa leading 45-27. The Cyclones got within 13, but no closer.

The Cyclones' night started with Johnson blocking a shot by 6-foot-7 Anna Prins.

“Sometimes a block is bigger than the stat,” said Johnson, who had four of them. “It can motivate a team. It can show the other team that they're not coming in here.”

The Cyclones' night ended with Fennelly tripping over a chair after meeting the media.

“That kind of night,” he said.

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