IOWA CITY — For anybody who thought Iowa girls’s basketball positioned atop its NCAA Event bracket would absolve the Hawkeyes from points in their very own constructing, March Insanity pressure barged in Monday with plans of disrupting a grand finale.
Iowa has touted its veteran maturity all 12 months throughout this magical season within the highlight, snug with any sport state of affairs irrespective of the adversity piling up. Most figured it might present up because the stakes elevated later within the NCAA Event. The Hawkeyes wanted it proper now in Monday’s second-round sport.
One grueling possession at a time, Iowa pushed by way of ample frustration to maintain its season on observe.
Regardless of West Virginia’s suffocating assault that turned the competition into an disagreeable rock combat, Iowa answered with its personal defensive clinic till the Hawkeyes discovered sufficient clutch manufacturing late. A tough-earned 64-54 win propels Iowa again to the Candy 16, the place it’s going to face No. 5 seed Colorado on Saturday in Albany, N.Y.
Extra:Caitlin Clark breaks Kelsey Plum’s single-season scoring report in March Insanity sport vs WVU
Locked in a tied sport with 5 minutes remaining and a large upset brewing, Iowa wanted to ship on the mantra it commonly touts. Strain is a privilege, the Hawkeyes say — and so they wanted to again up their phrases.
Sydney Affolter’s driving layup and free throw had been the primary indicators of stability after West Virginia pulled even with 2:55 left. The Hawkeyes grabbed a 55-52 lead on that bucket with the end line inching nearer.
The stage appeared set for a riveting shut, maybe a clinching brand trey from Caitlin Clark to shut out her closing sport in Carver-Hawkeye Area. This night time, although, by no means received that glamorous. Iowa completed it off with free throws and defensive stops. Three charity-stripe connections from Hannah Stuelke accentuated her development. Six extra from Clark within the closing minute, capping a 32-point night time, allowed everybody to exhale.
These in the home had been wanting to take action a lot earlier. Two separate instances within the third quarter, Iowa regarded able to surge forward for good. A ten-0 run early within the interval pushed Iowa up 12. An 8-0 dash to finish the quarter answered West Virginia’s rally in between. With the noise pumping from each nook on the quarter change, the Hawkeyes regarded able to seize management late as they sometimes do inside this basketball madhouse.
Extra:Iowa girls’s basketball vs West Virginia recap: Caitlin Clark breaks season scoring report
West Virginia wasn’t wilting away that cooperatively. The Mountaineers’ personal 10-0 run to start the fourth pulled issues even, 48-48, with 5 minutes left. Those that helped stripe Carver-Hawkeye Area black and gold on Monday fidgeted of their seats, processing that Iowa was in yet one more second-round slog.
West Virginia delivered a primary half totally on the Mountaineers’ grueling tempo and magnificence. A relentless defensive effort set a direct tone that Iowa wasn’t getting a W with out a combat.
The Hawkeyes’ six-point second quarter appeared like a misprint, their 26-point halftime complete misplaced as properly. Clark completed the primary half with 11 factors on 11 photographs as she, too, tried to settle right into a productive lane whereas West Virginia piled on the strain. Frustration lingered all all through Iowa’s unbelievable 4:49 scoring drought it took into the locker room.
Iowa has turned loads of tight video games into second-half laughers. These piled into Carver-Hawkeye Area yearned for a similar. When it did not occur, Iowa wanted to reply just like the skilled squad it’s.
Dargan Southard is a sports activities trending reporter and covers Iowa athletics for the Des Moines Register and HawkCentral.com. E mail him at msouthard@gannett.com or comply with him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.