Sarah Strong scored a career-high 39 points, but the No. 10 Iowa women’s basketball team fell 91-79 to No. 2 UConn at Gampel Pavilion on Sunday, Black Heart Gold Pants reported.
Iowa (2-1) won the opening tip and jumped to an 8-3 lead within three minutes, but the Huskies (1-1) seized control and never relinquished it.
Strong picked up her first foul in the opening minute after getting into foul trouble against Michigan, but she still erupted for 26 points in the first half alone and finished with 10 rebounds.
The reigning National Player of the Year hit a buzzer-beating three at the end of the first half to give UConn a 52-37 lead.
The Hawkeyes shot 37% from deep compared to UConn’s 52% on 11 of 22 shooting, and the Huskies controlled the boards 37-22.
Dani Carnegie went 0-7 from three despite good looks, and Ava Heiden scored 15 points but battled foul trouble all game.
Sarah Strong’s 39 points lead No. 2 UConn past No. 10 Iowa, 91-79 | Read more at link in bio. pic.twitter.com/BoTDFLTMTn
Coach Jan Jensen went to a small lineup with four guards and Woliczko at center when Heiden’s third foul forced her to the bench early in the third quarter.
UConn answered every Iowa basket with one of its own, including a 10-0 run that stretched the lead to 62-39.
Chit-Chat Wright led Iowa with 23 points on 8-15 shooting, including 5-8 from deep, plus five assists.
Iowa ripped off a 14-2 run in the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to 10 points, but UConn held on for the win.
The Hawkeyes committed nine turnovers in the first half as UConn’s defense disrupted their ball movement.
Iowa returns home to face UNI in what should be a get-right game after the loss.
The team is still integrating three new starters, and the coaching staff used the game to test different rotations for the rest of the season.
What was the halftime score? UConn led 52-37 at the break after Sarah Strong’s buzzer-beating three.
How many turnovers did Iowa commit in the first half? The Hawkeyes had nine turnovers before halftime.
Who led Iowa in scoring? Chit-Chat Wright scored 23 points, and Ava Heiden added 15.
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