Hawks outscore Central Michigan, moves to 5-0

Central Michigan ran. And the Iowa Hawkeyes were more than happy to run along.

No. 22 Iowa posted its highest scoring output in a regulation game in more than 3 1/2 years, defeating the Chippewas, 90-79, to capture the KCRG-TV9 Hawkeye Challenge championship Sunday afternoon at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Kachine Alexander collected 20 points and 18 rebounds to earn tournament MVP honors as the Hawkeyes improved to 5-0 for the third time of the Lisa Bluder era.

“This was fun,” Alexander said. “Tiring but fun. They wanted to push the ball, and we always want to push, too.”

Central Michigan (3-1) entered the game averaging 99.7 points per game.

“This is a game that, at the end of the year, is going to look like a good win for us,” Bluder said. “That's a very good team that is going to win a lot of games.”

The Chippewas never led, but weren't out of striking range until the last 4 minutes.

It was 79-72 when Taylor Johnson scored with about 4:40 to go, but the Hawkeyes used a 9-2 run - triggered by a 3-pointer by Alexander - to take their largest lead at 88-74.

Iowa hadn't scored this many points since a 97-89 triple-overtime win over Penn State on Feb. 1, 2009. The last time the Hawkeyes scored more in a 40-minute game was Feb. 25, 2007 (a 103-93 win over Wisconsin).

For a while, it looked like the Hawkeyes would score a bundle.

The pace was frenzied early; Iowa had 10 points within 90 seconds of the opening tip and led 31-23 midway through the first half.

A runner by Shonda Long got the Chippewas even at 44-44 with 2:45 left in the half. Iowa led, 50-47, at intermission.

Morgan Johnson joined Alexander on the all-tournament team. The 6-foot-5 sophomore had 21 points and eight rebounds. That came a day after a career-high 22-point outing against Northeastern.

Johnson struggled somewhat offensively through the first three games. No longer.

“My teammates sat me down and talked to me about it,” Johnson said. “I think the difference is just an ability to stay in the game (and stay out of foul trouble).

“(Bluder) told me I needed to be more aggressive on the boards. I like to compete with Kash on the boards.”

Bluder said, “I love that. Anybody that wants to compete with Kash is pretty brave.”

Jaime Printy added 18 points - 13 in the first half - and Kamille Wahlin scored 14.

Shonda Long paced Central Michigan with 22 points. She was selected to the all-tournament unit, along with CMU's Brandie Baker, who scored 13 points.

Mia Mayberry of Northeastern and D'shara Strange of Northern Colorado rounded out the all-tourney squad. Northeastern defeated Northern Colorado, 61-53, in the consolation game. Rachael Pecota scored 17 points for the winners.

With all those directional schools behind, the Hawkeyes hop on a plane at 6 a.m. Monday for Cancun, Mexico, where they will play in the Caribbean Challenge. They play James Madison at 6:30 p.m. Thursday and Virginia Tech at 4 p.m. Friday.

“There are two very good basketball teams down there, and that's why we're going,” Bluder said.

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