SAN ANTONIO — Head coach Lisa Bluder made a declaration Saturday after leading the University of Iowa women’s basketball team to a fifth straight 20-win season, third straight trip to the NCAA Tournament and second straight appearance in the Sweet 16.
“We’re a young team and we’ll be back here,” Bluder said after her Hawkeyes were eliminated by top ranked Connecticut (27-1), 92-72, in the Alamodome. “Do not hang your heads. We are extremely young and we will be back.”
There was a lot for Bluder to like about her team’s performance against the Huskies: Four Hawkeyes scored in double figures, led by freshman Caitlin Clark with 21 and sophomore McKenna Warnock with 20.
Warnock and sophomore Gabbie Clark showed off their accuracy from outside, combining to make 7 of 9 3-point field goals. Clark was 4 of 5 and Warnock was 3 of 4.
Iowa assisted on 18 of 26 field goals, the trademark ball-sharing that defines the Hawkeyes.
From the line, Iowa made 8 of 9 free throws. Those are all things that will make Bluder smile when she looks back on the game film.
Connecticut won the rebounding battle by 17 (42 to 25) with 15 offensive boards. It’s hard to beat anyone, let alone the top-rated team in the land, when you surrender 14 second-chance points and 46 points in the paint.
The Hawkeyes outscored Connecticut 26-23 in the third quarter and it was a seven-point game with seven minutes remaining.
Clark and Warnock were joined in double figures by Monika Czinano (14 points on 7 of 11 shooting) and Marshall (12 points, all from distance). Martin shared team-high honors with five rebounds and five assists.
Iowa finished the season with a record of 20-10, winning eight of its final 11 games. All five Hawkeye starters will return.
Clark finished her fantastic freshman season averaging 26.6 points and 7.1 assist per game. She made 116 3-point field goals and shot 86 percent from the free throw line.
