April 19, 2024

Creighton halts Iowa’s NCAA tournament run

Iowa guard Makenzie Meyer, right, goes up for a basket over Creighton forward Ali Greene during the first half of Saturday’s first-round game in the NCAA women’s college basketball tournament in Los Angeles. Creighton, seeded No. 11, upended No. 6 seeded Iowa, 76-70. (AP Photo)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jaylyn Agnew scored 24 points and Sydney Lamberty added 20 to lead No. 11 Creighton to a 76-70 win over No. 6 seeded Iowa in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday.

The Bluejays (19-12) advances to the second round and plays UCLA on Monday.

Agnew and Lamberty combined to make 16-of-26 shots. Lamberty also had six assists and five rebounds and Audrey Faber added 12 points for Creighton.

Megan Gustafson scored 29 points and had 17 rebounds for the Hawkeyes (24-8).

The Bluejays never trailed in the second half, but had to hold off stubborn Iowa.

The Hawkeyes cut the lead to 59-55 with 6:35 to play but Lamberty scored four straight baskets for Creighton to foil Iowa’s comeback bid.

Lamberty’s layup with 1:37 to play gave Creighton a 68-61 lead. The Bluejays then made 8-of-10 free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

Agnew made three 3-pointers and scored 11 points in the first half to give the Bluejays a 34-31 lead at the break.

Gustafson scored 16 points and had 11 rebounds for the Hawkeyes in the opening half. Iowa shot 52 percent in the first half and outrebounded Creighton 20-12 but committed nine turnovers and trailed by three at halftime.

Agnew scored 11 points and the Hawkeyes shooting cooled off as Creighton maintained a slim 56-50 lead after three quarters.

The Bluejays snapped a four-game losing streak to Iowa.

Gustafson is the only player in the country averaging 25 or more points and 12 or more rebounds per game and is one of two NCAA women basketball players to do so in the last 10 years. She was named Big Ten Player of the Year, has registered 28 double-doubles this season and has recorded double-doubles in 33 of her last 40 games.

Creighton faces UCLA on Monday. The Bruins beat American to advance.