Marquette Women's Basketball Suffers 76-73 Setback to Iowa

Rachel Klug

Behind a record-setting performance by reserve
sophomore center Jamie Cavey, the Iowa women’s basketball team downed
Marquette on Sunday afternoon, 76-73, in a WNIT second round game. Cavey
set a school and Carver-Hawkeye Arena record by converting all nine of
her field goal attempts on her way to a game-high 21 points.


IOWA CITY, Iowa – Behind a record-setting performance by reserve
sophomore center Jamie Cavey, the Iowa women’s basketball team downed
Marquette on Sunday afternoon, 76-73, in a WNIT second round game. Cavey
set a school and Carver-Hawkeye Arena record by converting all nine of
her field goal attempts on her way to a game-high 21 points.

Cavey scored 17 of her total in the final 12:28 of the contest, helping
Iowa (18-14) overcome a barrage of Marquette (16-14) three-pointers – 10
in all – and take the victory.

“Jamie Cavey was a star,” said Iowa coach Lisa Bluder. “You love to see
a sophomore coming off your bench and wanting the ball.”

“I just got ready to help our team win,” Cavey said.

Cavey saved her biggest shot for last. With 16.9 seconds left and Iowa
trailing, 73-72, Cavey dribbled to the baseline and threw up an awkward
looking shot off the glass to give the Hawkeyes the win.

On Marquette’s next possession, Iowa’s April Calhoun forced a jump ball
with 3.4 ticks left and the possession arrow pointing toward the Hawkeye
bench.

“I’ve never really hit a shot that big,” said Cavey, who also added a
career-high six rebounds. “I was looking to kick it out, but I decided
to take it to the hoop.”

Tiffany Reedy hit two free throws with 0.4 seconds left for the final
margin.

Using a dominating presence on the offensive glass and timely
three-pointers, Marquette streaked to a 12-2 lead in the game’s first
four minutes. Iowa trimmed the margin to four on several occasions, but
the Golden Eagles posted a 38-32 lead at the half, bolstered by 10
opening-frame points by Katie Alsdurf.

On the strength of 13 offensive rebounds, the Golden Eagles controlled
the glass in the first 20 minutes, holding a 26-15 overall advantage.

Still trailing by four, 46-42, at the 14:58 mark of the second half, the
Hawkeyes rattled off a 7-0 run to take their first lead of the game at
49-46. A Calhoun three-pointer was the key basket during the run.

The Golden Eagles took a brief, one-point lead with 9:19 left in the
game on a Kelly Schwerman triple, 58-57, but Cavey answered with a
three-point play on the next possession. Lillis ballooned the lead to
64-60, but a 6-2 mini-run by Marquette tied the game at 66 with 5:40
remaining.

After trading the lead twice down the stretch, the two squads were still
knotted at 72. Schwerman hit a free throw to give the visitors a
one-point edge, setting up Cavey’s clinching shot.

“We took our chances and made Jamie Cavey prove it, and she did,” said
Marquette coach Terri Mitchell.

Joining Cavey in double digits for Iowa was Faulkner with 19 while
Lillis posted a double-double with 14 points and a game-high 10 boards.

The Hawkeyes were bolstered by 49 percent (27-of-55) shooting from the
floor and an 88 percent (15-of-17) performance from the free throw line.

Schwerman buried five three-balls on the day to pace the Golden Eagles
with 19 points while Carolyn Kieger added 14 points, four assists and
four rebounds. Alsdurf chipped in with 12 points.

Marquette managed just three offensive rebounds in the second half and
the two teams finished with 35 boards apiece.

With the victory, Iowa will host Creighton on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. in
Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for students and
can be purchased at the UI ticket office in CHA.

NOTES: Iowa rallied from a halftime deficit to win for only the second
time this year (2-13)…Jamie Cavey set a career high with 21 points and
also set a school and Carver-Hawkeye Arena record in field goal
percentage (1.000, 9-9)…Iowa's 17 free throw attempts raises its season
total to 669, which breaks the previous season record for free throws
attempted of 663 set by the 1978-79 squad…Iowa improves to 3-1 against
Marquette, including winning the last three cont
ests. Iowa also
improves to 12-1 against current members of Conference USA…Iowa has won
four of its last five games…The Hawkeyes will look to avenge an 89-82
loss at Creighton on Dec. 8…Lillis recorded 14 points and 10 rebounds,
collecting her 15th career double-double and ninth this year. She has
posted double-doubles in four of the last five games…Lillis collected a
career-high four blocks, increasing her career blocks total to 86, which
ties for third on Iowa's career blocking chart…Kristi Faulkner attempted
and made all seven free throw attempts. She raises her season free
throw attempted total to 163, which is a new school single season
record.