Hawkeyes dampen Stringer’s return

IOWA CITY — The Iowa Hawkeyes were bloodied a little, bumped a lot.

And here's what else. They're tied for first place in the Big Ten.

No. 25 Iowa built a 15-2 advantage from the free-throw line and dampened C. Vivian Stringer's return to Carver-Hawkeye Arena, edging Rutgers, 69-65, in front of 4,959 Monday night.

'They were very physical, especially on the boards,' Iowa guard Alexa Kastanek said. 'That's what you're going to see in the Big Ten.'

Instead of matching the Scarlet Knights' physicality, the Hawkeyes (12-2 overall, 2-0 Big Ten) took advantage of it, going to the line 23 times, compared to four for the visitors.

Rutgers (10-4, 1-1) was whistled for 20 fouls, Iowa just five.

'Iowa did a good job (getting to the line),' Stringer said. 'It wasn't their fault; it was ours. We didn't attack the way we should.'

It was Stringer's second appearance against the Hawkeyes at Carver since leaving Iowa (she coached here from 1983 through 1995, and took the Hawkeyes to the Final Four in 1993), and her first here in 10 years.

The Hawkeyes kept it from being a happy homecoming, winning their 25th straight home game.

Kastanek led Iowa with 20 points, hitting five 3-pointers. The fifth put the Hawkeyes ahead to stay at 64-61 with 5:05 left.

A backup her first two years, Kastanek is averaging 13.1 points per game, second-most on the team.

'She's just a lot more confident out there this year,' said Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder.

Iowa was guilty of 16 turnovers in the first half, five in the second half — including none in the third quarter.

'We coughed it up a lot in the first half. Their style of defense gets you revved up, it gets you a little hyper,' Bluder said.

The improved ball security enabled Iowa to surge to the lead, 54-47, on the strength of a 14-2 run that included five free throws as the fouls mounted on the Scarlet Knights.

Rutgers reclaimed the lead at 57-56, and again at 61-60, but the Hawkeyes had the final say.

Kastanek's final trey highlighted a six-point run for a 66-61 advantage. Rutgers got within 68-65 on Kahleah Copper's basket with 1:20 left and stole the inbounds pass, but the Scarlet Knights missed three shots on that possession, then Ally Disterhoft's free throw with 0:36 left made it a four-point margin.

It's really, really early, but the Hawkeyes sit atop the league alongside Ohio State and Purdue. They play at Michigan on Thursday.

Stringer did not enter the court from the tunnel until pregame introductions were under way. When her name was announced, she received a warm welcome.

'She means so much to this program,' Bluder said. 'She put it on the map. I wanted to make her proud of this program. I know she still loves this place.'

'No matter what,' Stringer said, 'I love the Hawkeyes. I just do.'

Disterhoft absorbed a shot to the eye, but still added 15 points. Chase Coley and Whitney Jennings tallied 10 apiece. Megan Gustafson registered six points, six rebounds and one bloody nose.

Jennings and Tania Davis share point-guard duties. They combined to score all 16 of their points in the second half.

Copper led Rutgers with 20 points. Tyler Scaife added 18.

IOWA 69, RUTGERS 65

At Iowa City

RUTGERS (65): Kahleah Copper 9-18 0-0 20, Rachel Hollivay 6-10 0-2 12, Tyler Scaife 8-15 0-0 18, Briyona Canty 2-10 2-2 6, Shrita Jeune 1-1 0-0 3, Khadaizha Sanders 0-2 0-0 0, Cynthia Hernandez 0-0 0-0 0, Victoria Harris 3-6 0-0 6, Ariel Butts 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 29-68 2-4 65.

IOWA (69): Ally Disterhoft 7-11 1-3 15, Kali Peschel 0-0 2-2 2, Chase Coley 5-8 0-0 10, Alexa Kastanek 5-11 5-8 20, Whitney Jennings 4-7 1-2 10, Megan Gustafson 3-6 0-2 6, Tania Davis 0-1 6-6 6, Christina Buttenham 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-44 15-23 69.

Halftime: Rutgers 37, Iowa 33. 3-point goals: Rutgers 5-15 (Copper 2-4, Scaife 2-6, Parker 0-4, Jeune 1-1), Iowa 6-14 (Disterhoft 0-2, Kastanek 5-10, Jennings 1-2). Team fouls: Rutgers 20, Iowa 5. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: Rutgers 31 (Copper 7), Iowa 34 (Gustafson 6). Assists: Rutgers 16 (Canty, Sanders 5), Iowa 15 (Disterhoft, Jennings 4). Steals: Rutgers 12 (Scaife 3), Iowa 5 (Kastanek 3). Turnovers: Rutgers 13, Iowa 21.

Attendance: 4,959.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com