The Hawkeye women were in a dog fight in more ways the one.
The Georgia Bulldogs came to Carver last Sunday and they weren’t taking any prisoners.
It starts with four players in double figures.
Caitlin Clark led the way with 22 points, 12 assists, five rebounds. Caitlin drew one of the flagrant fouls but was responsible for 33 of Iowa’s last 35 points by scoring or assists. She had 14 points and eight assists in the second half shooting 2-4 from three and 6-6 from the free throw line.
Gabbie Marshall continues to burn up the nets scoring 15 including 5-8 from three. In the Big Ten and NCAA tournament, Gabbie is 19-33 (57%) from 3-point land.
Monica Czinano had 20 on 9-16 shooting from the floor. This is the last game Monica will play at Carver and she got a little emotional after the game.
“If I give back a quarter of what this place has given me, I’ve done my job,” said Monica.
Monica has gotten more out of her ability than any player I have ever seen. For her career, Monica has shot 67% from the floor and was named first team all-Big Ten four years in a row. The 6-3 senior is the fifth Hawkeye to score over 2,000 points. She too also played her last game at Carver and had 18 points and eight rebounds. McKenna has started 91 games, averaged 10.5 points, shot 51% from the floor and 79% from the free throw line.
They both will be missed for their leadership on and off the court
Iowa had no bench points and all five starters played over 37 minutes with Caitlin playing 40.
If the Hawks can get some production off the bench, they will be a tough matchup.
Iowa 95 SE Louisiana 43
The second seeded Iowa Hawkeyes cruised over the SE Louisiana Lions 95-43 in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
The Hawkeyes dominated the stats with a 54-18 advantage on points in the paint, 16-6 on fast breaks and 33-9 on bench points. When Gabbie Marshall hit a 3-pointer with 20 seconds gone in the game, I had good feeling about a victory.
It was Lisa Bluder’s 10th first round win in the NCAA tournament which is the most by any head coach in Iowa’s women’s basketball history.
Caitlin Clark was 9-14 from the floor, 5-5 from the free throw line with 12 assists and nine rebounds.
“We’ve faced some great talent but no one like Caitlin Clark,” said Lion coach Ayla Guzzardo.
Monica Czinano finished 10-12 from the floor, 2-2 from the free throw line and had eight rebounds.
For the season Monica is shooting 68% from floor.
The Tigers were giving up 54 points per game.
Iowa had 54 points at halftime.
Hannah Stuelke, who is becoming a crowd favorite, was 5-5 from the floor, scoring 13 with five boards.
That was the second most points Iowa has scored in NCAA tournament history.
How about the Hawks only giving up 11 points in the second half.
The packed arena was a big time boost for the Hawkeyes.
“The crowd was amazing,” said coach Bluder. “It’s a Friday afternoon, it’s a workday, and we have 14,000 plus in the stands. Our bench came in and did well for us. We were able to rest our starters.”
Every Hawkeye played and that is so good for team chemistry.
Addison O’Grady played six minutes, was 3-3 from the floor and had five boards.
Taylor McCabe hit a 3-pointer and the bench went crazy.
Coach Bluder said Taylor works so hard at practice that her teammates love to see her succeed.
Hawkeye Wresting
To see Spencer Lee get beat was devastating.
The three time National Champ not only got beat, he got pinned in the final seconds of the match.
Then he opted out of the tournament on a medical forfeit.
Would you say Spencer getting beat was as bad as Purdue, a No. 1 seed losing to 16th seeded Fairleigh Dickinson 63-58 in the opening round of the NCAA tournament?
That is only the second time ever a 16 seed beat a 1 seed.
I still believe that Dan Gable losing in his final collegiate match was the biggest upset.
Gable was undefeated for three straight years (freshman weren’t eligible then) and then lost his final match.
Spencer fell behind 4-1, then had a near fall and led 7-4.
Matt Ramos, who Spencer had pinned earlier, took Lee to his back and got the fall with one second left.
Iowa had six all-Americans and finished second behind Purdue.
Tony Cassioppi (4th), Nelson Brands and Jacob Warner (5th), Spencer Lee and Max Murin (6th)
Real Woods, the Hawkeyes only finalist, lost a hard fought battle 6-4.
“You have to give celebration status to guys that earned it,” said coach Tom Brands. “We had six All-Americans, so it’s not sucking your thumb walking out of here.”
Hawkeye Men’s Season Over
It was kind of sad to see the men’s basketball season over with an 83-75 loss to Auburn in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
The Tigers made one more basket, one more 3-pointer, and five more free throws.
The Hawkeyes out rebounded Auburn 44-38 but the Tigers had a 26-8 advantage on fast break points.
Iowa was 0-9 from three in the first half.
That’s the first time all season the Hawks didn’t make a 3-pointer in the first half.
Iowa finished 7-27 (25.9%) from deep.
Auburn was 7-22 (36.7%) from three.
The Tigers had six in double figures, the Hawks three with Payton Sandfort coming off the bench with 21.
Bottom line, Auburn was more athletic having six steals to Iowa’s four.
Auburn had a 26-8 advantage on fast break points.
The Tigers led by 17 points in the second half.
The Hawks cut it to four with five minutes left but couldn’t close the deal.
Conner, Kris and Filip played their last game as Hawkeyes as Kris is expected to go pro.
All three had good seasons and each brought leadership and talent.

Gallery • 2 Photos

Brian Ray/hawkeyesports.com • Contributed Photo

McKenna Warnock (14) walks off the court as she celebrates the Iowa Hawkeyes’ 74-66 win against the Georgia Bulldogs in the second round of the 2023 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Sunday, March 19 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.