It wasn’t the most complete performance for the Hawkeyes against Holy Cross on Saturday afternoon, but they did what they needed to do to advance to the Round of 32.
Gabbie Marshall got her team going with three first half three-pointers, while her defense in the last three quarters provided a boost as well.
After Holy Cross guard Bronagh Power-Cassidy knocked down four first quarter threes, Lisa Bluder opted to switch Gabbie Marshall onto her.
That decision worked out well, as Power-Cassidy did not make a three-pointer the rest of the game.
Gabbie spoke after the game about seeing a couple of threes fall early in the game, dealing with some rust after 13 days off and her play on the defensive end.
She also talked about the how being pushed by Holy Cross can be more helpful than a 40-point win.
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IOWA BEATS HOLY CROSS TO ADVANCE TO ROUND OF 32
The top-seeded Iowa women’s basketball team advanced to Round 32 of the NCAA Tournament after defeating 16-seeded Holy Cross, 91-65, on Saturday afternoon inside a sold-out Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Four Hawkeyes scored in double figures as Caitlin Clark led the way with 27 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds.
Kate Martin added 15 points with 14 rebounds. Addi O’Grady finished with 14 points and Gabbie Marshall downed three three-pointers to add 11.
Holy Cross stuck with the Hawkeyes through the first five minutes of the game with four lead changes and two ties.
Iowa pulled away going up by nine with 2:32 left to play in the first, until the Crusaders went on a 10-3 run to end the first bringing the score to 23-21 going into the second.
The Hawkeyes came out hot in the second going on a 10-0 run.
The Hawkeye defense held the Crusaders to only nine points in the second to go into halftime with a 48-30 lead. Clark led the half with 13 points and Martin added 11.
The game was played evenly in the second half.
The Hawkeyes scored over 20 points in every quarter, and every available Iowa player contributed minutes to secure its first round win to advance for the ninth time out the last 10 NCAA Tournaments.