Iowa Hawkeyes Dominate Lady Lions in Big Ten Quarterfinal Rout
The Iowa Hawkeyes, ranked third, delivered a commanding performance against the Penn State Lady Lions with a final score of 95-62. The Hawkeyes' season record now stands at an impressive 3-0, while the Lady Lions fall to 0-3. The quarterfinal clash saw the Hawkeyes outshine their opponents in every quarter, setting the tone early with a robust lead and never looking back.
From the opening tip-off at Minneapolis' Target Center, the Iowa team established dominance on both ends of the court. They opened up with an explosive first quarter scoring 31 points to Penn State's 13 and maintained their momentum throughout the game. Their offensive execution was nearly flawless; they boasted a field goal percentage of 40 and were particularly lethal from beyond the arc, sinking 15 three-pointers at a rate of 34 percent.
The Hawkeyes also excelled at drawing fouls and capitalizing on them, hitting an outstanding 26 free throws out of 30 attempts for an impressive accuracy rate of 87 percent. This free throw proficiency contributed significantly to their substantial point total.
Defensively, Iowa was just as formidable. They amassed seven steals and four blocks while limiting Penn State's scoring opportunities by holding them to a field goal percentage of just 35 percent. The defensive pressure caused by Iowa led to numerous turnovers by Penn State who ended up giving away possession on fifteen occasions which translated into thirty points off turnovers for Iowa.
On top of that, rebounding was another area where Iowa shone brightly; they pulled down forty-nine rebounds compared to thirty-seven from Penn State. This included thirteen offensive boards which allowed for fourteen second-chance points – another testament to their tenacity.
Penn State did have moments where they showed resilience especially in the third quarter where they scored twenty-two points but it wasn't enough against such high-scoring opposition. Their best effort came from behind-the-line shooting seven three-pointers but only managed twenty-one percent success rate from long range.
As fans look ahead after this decisive victory, they can mark their calendars for when Iowa takes on Michigan Wolverines next at Target Center in Minneapolis on March ninth at four-thirty PM Central Time (5:30 PM Eastern). The game will be broadcasted live on BTN network ensuring fans won’t miss any action as these two teams face off once again.