The Iowa Hawkeyes forced multiple Cyclone turnovers in a defensive frenzy in the 4th quarter to beat Iowa State 75-69 in front of a sold out crowd at Carver Hawkeye Arena.
Iowa State took an early lead with Crooks hitting a fadeaway jumper. Olsen was able to answer but the Hawkeyes struggled to put the ball in the net during a very physical start to the Cy-Hawk matchup. Iowa’s Olsen fought to get the Hawkeyes their first 8 points but Cyclone’s Crooks and Brown led Iowa State to a 20-17 lead after the first quarter with Crooks dominating down low. Hawkeye’s Stuelke came alive towards the end of the first putting up 6 points of her own.
The Hawkeyes and Cyclones fought neck and neck for most of the second quarter. Olsen hit a jumper tying the game at 22 with 6:29 left in the half. Affolter (Hawkeyes) came alive this quarter hitting 2 threes. At 5 minutes both teams were trading threes igniting cheers and jeers from the crowd. Guyton (Hawkeyes) nailed a 3 with 1:40 left in the half putting the Hawks briefly in the lead 34-36 until Cyclone’s Crooks answered with two of her own. The half ended with Cyclones leading 39-36 despite a massive 12 Cyclone turnovers in the first 20 minutes of play.
The Cyclones maintained their 3-point lead in the third quarter. Crooks continued to dominate scoring putting another 11 points on the board for Iowa State this quarter. The Hawkeye home crowd made themselves known to the officials early in the third and rose to their feet later with Feuerbach and Affolter draining impressive threes on back-to-back possessions. Olsen continued to be a presence with her midrange jump shot but the Hawkeyes were unable to maintain any progress in the third ending down 3 just like they started.
The Hawkeyes showed they came to play in the fourth quarter with an amazing action packed 10 minutes for fans. And the fans were indeed a factor with coach Jensen leading the fan cheering as much as the team. Crooks seemed to get flustered after a tangle up with O’Grady, later ruled an intentional foul. Stremlow stripped the ball twice from Crooks and the fans were on their feet most of the quarter. Affolter and Stuelke both pushed in points from under the basket and heavy defensive cover. With 3:34 left the Hawkeyes started their largest lead of the game 61-65. Turnovers, fouls, and missed allowed the Hawkeyes to pull away to a ten-point lead. Iowa State was forced to foul late in the fourth to no avail. The Hawkeyes won this Cy-Hawk matchup 69-75.
Crook led all scorers with 31 points and ten rebounds while Olsen led Iowa with 25 points, five assists and two steals. Hannah Stuelke forced four turnovers including two in the 4th quarter, and added 13 points while Sydney Affolter added 16 points behind three for six shooting from beyond the three point line.