IOWA CITY — Midway through the second week of the women’s basketball season, another giant has fallen.
This time, it’s the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Written by Jeff Linder | The Gazette
Kansas State scored the final 12 points and stunned No. 2 Iowa, 65-58, before a sellout crowd of 14,998 Thursday night at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
“We just weren’t Iowa basketball,” said Caitlin Clark, who endured a 9-of-32 shooting performance, 1-of-10 in the fourth quarter. “As the point guard, I have to take responsibility for that.”
Of the top 10 teams in the preseason Associated Press poll, Iowa was the eighth to fall. And it’s only mid-November.
“I thought last year was an exciting year,” K-State Coach Jeff Mittie said after the Wildcats knocked off a top-five Iowa team for the second straight year (it was 84-83 last season in Manhattan). “You’re seeing so many great players in the game right now.”
And the Wildcats (3-0) have one of them back in Ayoka Lee. The 6-foot-6 senior post, an ACL casualty last year, registered 22 points and 12 rebounds.
Kansas State center Ayoka Lee (50) reacts after a foul is called against the Hawkeyes. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Kansas State center Ayoka Lee (50) reacts after a foul is called against the Hawkeyes. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
K-State came into Thursday’s game as the third-best defensive team in the nation, at 37.0 points per game. They held the Hawkeyes (3-1) 34 points below their average of 92.0 per contest.
“It was a rough night for the Hawks,” Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder said. “There was no flow to the game, and we couldn’t get our transition game going.”
Still, the Hawkeyes led 58-53 when Sydney Affolter hit one of two free throws with 2:40 left.
They didn’t score again, and they didn’t register a field goal for the final 4:20.
“Every game, we want to take pride in our defense,” Lee said. “Our goal is to get three stops in a row, seven times in a game.”
Lee’s two free throws with 1:12 left gave K-State a 59-58 edge, and Iowa’s last four possessions consisted of three missed 3-pointers by Clark, and a turnover.
“My shot wasn’t falling, and I didn’t do myself any favors by getting to the basket,” said Clark, who still led all scorers with 24 points.
Molly Davis added 10 points for the Hawkeyes; Hannah Stuelke posted nine points and 11 rebounds.
Trailing 42-35 midway through the third quarter, Iowa put together its best stretch of the game, holding the Wildcats scoreless for 7 minutes, 46 seconds and assembling a 13-0 run for a 48-42 lead.
Back-to-back buckets by Davis made it 52-46.
“Our outside shots weren’t falling,” Davis said. “I wanted to make an emphasis in getting to the rim.”
The Hawkeyes were 2 of 21 from 3-point range. Clark was 2 of 16.
“Sometimes the shots don’t fall and you have to find other ways to win,” Clark said. “They played great defense, but it wasn’t anything we hadn’t seen before. Our transition in general wasn’t very good.”
Iowa’s post trio of Stuelke, Sharon Goodman and Addison O’Grady were a combined 7 of 12 from the floor. The rest of the squad was 15 of 49.
“The posts have to have more looks. We have to have faith in them, and I don’t know if we do,” Bluder said.
Other than that surge that sandwiched the third-quarter break, the Hawkeyes never got out of second gear offensively.
“We were able to keep them from getting easy run-outs,” Mittie said. “Stuelke didn’t get any layups in transition. (Gabbie) Marshall didn’t have any 3s in transition. We wanted to make that hard.”
The Hawkeyes will host Drake at 6 p.m. Sunday.
“This loss isn’t going to break our season,” Clark said. “The exciting part is that we get to come back to work tomorrow.”
https://www.thegazette.com/iowa-basketball/kansas-state-stuns-iowa-for-the-second-straight-season-65-58/
38 Comments
9-33 … 2-16 from 3 lol😂… next closest teammate 6 shots
Caitlyn Clark had that defense on her last night. Tough to score when someone is constantly in your face.
I just don’t understand why Iowa?…. Virginia tech can beat this team bro.
Not going to be handed to ya Cate… she should’ve got back on defense..oh well😮
Yall better give CC the same energy you gave Reese after lsu lost, oh forgot she's your savior who doesn't deserve criticism
The beauty of this KS win is that Iowa was beaten by predominantly non-black players; if Iowa had lost to predominantly black players, the coach and its fans would have played the race card – claiming they were "bullied" "constantly fouled" or the refs cheated them. Like Donald Trump, it was "stolen" from them. This is the Trump-mentality of their fans…they can't be beaten fair and square, they have to be "cheated." lol
And they did it at sold out away arena. Nice job, K State.
(Bet some bettors were very pleased.)
where are Marshall and Martin…not even a shot,,,,ok they shoot when they have a 25 point difference ….if Clark goes home the team will become very ordinary…..
2 three point chances to tie the game and one air balled, caitlin doesn’t seem to be very clutch.
Right
Ain't no way in hell this team should be ranked number 2 they would get frickin trounced!! By a real good team
LSU beat KS hands down while Iowa were struggling
South Carolina gamecocks is next pride comes before a fall
What the hell Iowa 58 points???? 🖤💛 Wow just wow!!! Go hawks!!!
What the hell Iowa 58 points???? 🖤💛 Wow just wow!!! Go hawks!!!
😂😂😂
Just a bad day we’ll it’s better early season learn onto the next one .time for Kate to challenge her team mates
Lee! Wow…ball control above her shoulders. So often bigs bring the ball to low. She really extends her size be able to handle from up there. No need for dribbling when footwork is that good in the post.😊
Disappointed in the attitude Clark gives her teammates throughout the entire game…
AYOKA LEE!!!!!!!!! And the teams defense Heck Yeah!
K State is for real, well coached team. This was a terribly officiated game ta boot. And when the official’s head to the monitors, might as well walk your dog, make dinner, take a shower cause when you return, they will still be staring at the monitor. Just horrible and sadly common.
Lee is a monster😮
On their own floor, the Hawkeyes were the ones to lose their cool. K-State was the composed team in crunch time. Hat's off to the Ayoka Lee and the Wildcats!
So after missing that 3 just gon walk off uh?Not even try uh? Not gon play defense uh? Alright then.
Ayoka Lee is outstanding
Clark just want to shoot she really can't handle real ppl on her ass that why they lost.
Sold out game but can't give the fans a nice outcome, unranked team def IOWA. wake up hawkeyes!
clark is good player but she flops to much which is never called, pushes off with left arm and barks at the ref
9/32??? Reese >>>>
They're not even ranked & beat them. I love it! All you got yo do is play defense.
Caitlin or bust evidently
South Carolina can't wait to play Iowa. They have a chip on their shoulder and will blow Iowa out, regardless of the refs.
In addition to Lee, the key player for KS in this game was the freshman transfer from Louisville, Zyanna Walker…she kept Caitlan Clark in check most of the game and scored 12 points on 50% shooting, 2nd only to Lee. Walker, a native of Kansas, is going to be an excellent pick up for KS.
Anyone can have a bad day, but CC's bad attitude after shooting errors is unspeakable. Not a fun match, though
It’s normal to loose sometimes, then get up after, but what a loose to IWOA without Nano
This was a sloppy game for both teams. Iowa last 3 games haven't lived up to expections. This game however, it was players didn't even show up to play. Catlin was so ofc her game. Coach Bulder needs to regroup her team. Gabby needs to step up and do more to help the team out. One bright spot was Molly Davis, she was hot.
Kansas St will be there for at the seasons end. Iowa will be contending for the championship. We will see who develops more.
This style of women's basketball won't last much longer… no athleticism on either team… no handles on either team… them coaches better get with the times and recruit better