DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Monika Czinano scored 36 points and Caitlin Clark added 28 to help No. 4 Iowa beat Drake 92-86 in overtime on Sunday.
Czinano and Clark scored all but two of the Hawkeyes’ points in overtime as Iowa defeated the Bulldogs 10-4.
The Hawkeyes have won 10 of the last 11 games in this in-state rivalry, but this one has been a challenge.
“I think we found ways to win,” Clark said. “I don’t think we played our best — I can say that. But that’s something we’ve talked about all year — finding ways to win when our offense isn’t going the way we want it to.”
“I think this will be good for us, good for the home stretch,” said Czinano.
Iowa only had a 41.8% shooting percentage throughout the game, but was able to make crucial shots in the fourth quarter and overtime.
“Great teams make detail plays in the final period,” said Drake coach Allison Pohlman. “If we make a few more shots, get a few more rebounds or steals, maybe it’s a different game.”
“To come here and win away, I’m extremely happy about that,” said Iowa coach Lisa Bluder.
The Hawkeyes (3-0) won their first two games of the season by a combined 96 points, but the Bulldogs (1-1) never let them get into an offensive rhythm. The final lead was Iowa’s largest of the game.
“We have so much to take away that could have made this win even more comfortable,” Clark said. “I think it shows how many veterans we have on this team. We showed that we can be super consistent when things don’t go the way we want them to.”
The Bulldogs never let the Hawkeyes get away. A layup by Drake’s Katie Dinnebier with 23 seconds left in the fourth quarter tied the game at 82-82. The Hawkeyes had a chance to win the game, but Gabbie Marshall’s shot missed with one second left.
Iowa immediately took the lead in overtime. Clark scored a layup 12 seconds into the overtime period to give the Hawkeyes an 84-82 lead, then Marshall stole the throw-in. Czinano scored a layup 20 seconds later.
“The biggest play was Gabbie’s steal,” Clark said. “We scored four points in the first three possessions and then we were able to focus on our defense. We really dug in and forced them to make difficult shots.”
Czinano, who led the nation in field goal percentage the past two seasons, made 14 of 21 shots and grabbed 11 rebounds. She drew 11 fouls.
“My teammates attacked me in the best spots,” Czinano said. “They were running right at me every time they had the ball.”
Clark, who was unanimously selected as an Associated Press All-American in the preseason, struggled with her shooting style, hitting 9 of 28 shots.
Drake led by nine points in the first half, the first time this season the Hawkeyes had trailed. Clark and Czinano combined for 27 straight points in the first half, but the Bulldogs led 45-41 at halftime.
All five of Drake’s starters scored in double figures. Dinnebier led Drake with 24 points. Grace Berg had 18 points. Maggie Bair had 13 points. Sarah Beth Gueldner had 12. Megan Meyer had 11.
McKenna Warnock added 11 for Iowa.
BRINKS BANK
Both coaching staffs wore T-shirts that read “Brink’s Bench” in honor of former Drake player Lisa Brinkmeyer, who was battling cancer.
Brinkmeyer played for current Iowa coach Lisa Bluder from 1993 to 1997 when Bluder coached the Bulldogs. Brinkmeyer led Drake to two Missouri Valley Conference titles and two NCAA Tournament appearances.
Brinkmeyer attended the game on Sunday and was honored between the first and second quarters.
“She is a trailblazer for Drake University and the Drake women’s basketball team,” Pohlman said.
THE RESULT
Clark said after Thursday’s win over Evansville that she was looking forward to the more difficult games that remained on the schedule. The Bulldogs, the in-state rivals, were a real challenge and exploited the gaps in Iowa’s defense.
Next
Iowa: At Kansas State on Thursday.
Drake: On Saturday at No. 22 Nebraska.
___
AP Women’s College Basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
