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Utah advances with 78-69 win
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- About midnight Monday, ecstatic Utah players stood at the center of the Huntsman Center court and chanted something no women Utes have ever shouted before. "Sweet sixteen. Sweet sixteen," the fifth-seeded Utes screamed as they danced about the center jump circle. Lindsay Herbert scored 15 points and the nation's best defense held Iowa to 30-percent shooting as Utah defeated the Hawkeyes 78-69 and advanced to the NCAA tournament's round of 16 for the first time ever. "I can't think of a better group of kids to experience this. It's been a wonderful year," Utah coach Elaine Elliott said. Lauren Beckman scored 14 and Amy Ewert added 13 for the fifth-seeded Utes (28-3), who have won 17 of their last 18 games. "It is so thrilling. This is such a big step for this program," Ewert said. Randi Peterson paced Iowa with 17 points. Hawkeye scoring leader Lindsey Meder and backcourt mate Cara Consuegra managed just 4-of-27 shooting against the Utes, whose opponents averaged less than 50 points a game. "Utah plays such great defense that when you do get open looks you start worrying about getting a shove instead on concentrating on the shot. It plays mind games with you and makes it hard to get any rhythm," Iowa coach Lisa Bluder said. The hard-fought, ragged game featured 34 turnovers and 68 free throws. Peterson was limited to 21 minutes because of foul trouble.
"It was unfortunate. It would have been a different game if we had Peterson for 32 minutes," Bluder said. Iowa (21-10) trimmed the lead to 47-39 on Consuegra's layup and could have cut deeper but Meder missed a layup on the following possession. Lori Red-Castagnetto scored six as Utah reeled off 10 straight points while holding the Hawkeyes scoreless for more than six minutes. Red-Castegnetto's free throws with 7:50 to play lifted Utah to a 57-39 lead. Peterson's layup brought Iowa within 67-61 with 1:04 to play but the Utes made 9-of-10 free throws in the final minute to overcome Mary Berdo's two late 3-pointers and seal the win. Ewert scored all 13 of her points in the first half. The senior guard's backdoor layin with 7:26 left in the half capped a 14-3 run and gave the Utes a 26-14 lead. Utah now has the daunting task of facing No. 1 Notre Dame in the round of 16 on March 26 in Denver. "We've been playing all season for this (round of 16 appearance). We can't wait to play Notre Dame," Herbert said. As the fourth seed, Iowa should have hosted the first and second rounds but the NCAA Wrestling Championships were held in Carver-Hawkeye Arena and gave Utah the opportunity for two more home games. The Utes beat Iowa 66-42 in Iowa City on Nov. 19, holding the Hawkeyes to 23 percent shooting.
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