Iowa led Maryland for 37 minutes and was ahead by 17 with three minutes left in the 4th quarter. At that point it looked like the Hawkeye’s would have a decisive road win against a Top 20 team. Then Terrapins went on a massive run creating multiple Hawkeye turnovers and missed shots to force overtime after outscoring Iowa 23-6. In overtime though Chit Chat Wright and the Hawkeyes found their offensive touch again and held Maryland to just five points to stay undefeated in Big Ten play.
Five different Hawkeyes registered double figures. Sophomore Ava Heiden led the Hawkeyes with 20 points, her sixth 20-point game of the season. Sophomore Chit-Chat Wright was close behind with 18 points of her own going 3-for-6 on three-pointers and 7-for-8 from the charity stripe.
Senior Taylor McCabe got the scoring started for the Hawkeyes with a shot beyond the arc off of a Maryland turnover. Iowa was able to hold the Terrapins to just 36.2 percent shooting from the floor in the first quarter. Wright drained a three-pointer at the four-minute mark to propel a 9-0 run, leaving Maryland scoreless for two minutes. Five total Hawkeyes contributed to the 16-12 lead headed into the second quarter.
Iowa’s offense continued to make plays in the second quarter. Heiden and McCabe both tallied six a piece. The Hawkeyes forced seven Maryland turnovers in the quarter and collected nine of the 17 quarter points from deep. Iowa went into half with a 33-27 lead over the Terps.
The Hawkeyes score five points out of the break. Maryland was able to capitalize on a few Iowa miscues, leaving the Hawkeyes scoreless for two minutes. Heiden and Stuelke were able to break this drought getting back in the paint. Stuelke finished the quarter with six points and four rebounds. Iowa held the Terrapins without a field goal for the last 5:58 of the quarter, to claim a 48-39 lead after three.
Six different Hawkeyes scored to help finish the game strong. The bench contributed 11 points, and Iowa was able to bank themselves nine second-chance points in the quarter. Freshman Journey Houston went 3-for-4 with six points and four rebounds.
With 22 seconds left, the Terrapins downed a pair of free throws to cut the lead to one. The Hawkeyes were able to build it to a three-point lead, but Maryland junior Oluchi Okananwa drained a three-pointer to send the game into overtime.
In overtime, the Terps got an early bucket, but Iowa was able to respond. Wright and Heiden handled the scoring for the Hawkeyes. Wright notched eight points including six clutch free throws, and Heiden had four points. Iowa was able to shut down the Terps for the last three and a half minutes of the game to secure their eighth Big Ten victory. Up next is no. 12 Ohio State Sunday at 1pm at Carver Hawkeye Arena. Coverage of Iowa women’s basketball is brought to you by Meineke Muffler, Ed Morse Buick, Chevy and GMC, Muscatine Power and Water and Community Health Care Dental Clinic.
