Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark (22) reacts after the Hawkeyes score in the first quarter against West Virginia during the NCAA tournament second round game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa on Monday, March 25, 2024. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)
IOWA CITY — Turns out, the Iowa Hawkeyes can win a grinder, too.
Defense — and free throws — saved the day, and No. 2 Iowa fought past West Virginia, 64-54, in an NCAA women’s basketball second-round game before a sellout crowd of 14,324 Monday night at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Held well below their nation-leading 92.6 points per game, the Hawkeyes (31-4) were able to grunt and groan their way back to the Sweet 16.
They’ll face No. 17 Colorado (24-9) in a regional semifinal at MVP Arena in Albany, NY, on Saturday (team TBA).
West Virginia (25-8) scored the first 10 points of the fourth quarter to forge a 48-48 tie, and the Mountaineers got even at 50-50, then 52-52 with 2:57 to go.
JJ Quinerly lined up a 3-point attempt from the right wing for the lead, which Gabbie Marshall blocked.
Sydney Affolter converted a three-point play on the other end for a 55-52 Iowa lead with 2:03 remaining, igniting a 12-2 run to close the game. Affolter’s bucket was Iowa’s lone make in 10 fourth-quarter tries. No matter. The Hawkeyes were 14 of 17 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter, 9 of 10 in the final 1:07.
—Jeff Linder
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