IOWA CITY, Iowa - Western Illinois (3-6) women's basketball made the trip across the state line for a Friday night contest with the Iowa Hawkeyes (6-4). A first half in which the Hawkeyes made 49 percent of their shots, including six three-pointers, was too much to overcome for the Fighting Leathernecks and Iowa collected the 98-45 victory.
The Hawkeyes jumped out to an early 6-0 lead after Morgan Johnson collected all six points for Iowa with just one minute off the clock. Iowa continued to control the opening minutes and held a 15-5 advantage at the first media timeout with 14:44 on the clock.
Western struggled to convert short-range opportunities and free throws and fell behind 30-16 with 8:38 before the break. The Hawkeyes' blitz continued as the contest neared halftime and Iowa stretched its lead to 44-20 at the 3:34 mark. Iowa used Leatherneck turnovers and quality shot selection to seize control of the game.
At the break, Western trailed 53-23 with Iowa shooting 49 percent (19-for-39) from the field including six three-pointers. Jamie Printy paced the Hawkeyes with 14 points. Jackie Rieger led the Purple & Gold with six points as the Leathernecks shot just 21 percent (7-for-33) and were 7-of-12 from the free-throw line. Fourteen Western turnovers led to 17 points off turnovers for the Hawkeyes.
Iowa opened the second half on an 11-2 run and forced a timeout from head coach JD Gravina after the Hawkeyes had extended their lead to 64-25 at the 16:57 mark. The Purple & Gold did hold the Hawkeyes scoreless over the next four minutes. Iowa's advantage was 66-30 at the 12:45 mark.
Iowa regained its momentum as Printy drilled consecutive three-pointers to give Iowa a 74-32 lead at the 10:35 mark. Saule Kontautaite continues to be a bright spot for the Leathernecks and knocked down two second-half three-pointers, her second making it 84-42 at the 5:32 mark.
Rieger finished with a team-high 10 points and Salvatori pulled down six boards on the night. Western shot 20 percent (13-for-66) for the night while Iowa shot 50 percent (38-for-77) from the field. Printy collected 25 points to lead Iowa as three other Hawkeyes scored in double-figures.
The first game of the semester break will feature soon-to-be Summit League member Nebraska-Omaha on Tuesday, Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. in Macomb.
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