By Susan Harman

MINNEAPOLIS – The Iowa women’s basketball team was not about to disappoint the thousands of Hawkeye fans in attendance at the Big Ten Tournament semifinal Saturday. But more importantly the players were not about to disappoint themselves.

After Michigan got off to a torrid start behind the arc in the first quarter, Iowa came out and buried the Wolverines thereafter for a 95-68 victory. There might be a reason that Iowa is the last top seed standing.

“I can’t speak for (Ohio State or Indiana), but for us we came out and we won. We stuck to our game plan. We fought really hard in these games, and we’re really excited just to get to (Sunday). We’re going to watch film; we’re going to study whatever we need to and our scout and give us the best chance to win.”

Iowa has played with its collective pants on fire and it’s giving players a warm feeling.

“It’s amazing, having everybody being able to shoot it and be confident is really cool. It’s a lot of fun,” Hannah Stuelke said.

The statistical difference was pronounced. Iowa shot 61 percent for the game, 42 percent from three and made all eight of its free throws. That is reflected in an enormous 54-16 difference in points in the paint. Iowa outrebounded the taller Wolverines by 10.

“I feel like the biggest thing was that we were worried about the shooters,” Michigan guard Laila Phelia said. “We just needed to do a better job of being able to gap in and get out to the shooters.”

“I feel like we weren’t really helping each other as much as we game planned and weren’t really loading on to their big men,” Michigan’s 6-foot-3 Jordan Hobbs. “Even when (Caitlin) Clark was driving downhill we didn’t really load.”

This was fast-paced action like Iowa prefers, and even though the Hawkeyes shot 26 threes, the action was down the lane where Michigan had trouble stopping it.

“I think people are concentrating on Caitlin so much that it leaves other people open,” Iowa coach Lisa Bluder said. “We have good other players; they just don’t get the spotlight. My top two centers (Hannah Stuelke and Addison O’Grady) went 11-for-11 tonight from the field. That’s pretty good.

 “We have 54 paint points to their 16. I just think it’s because all the emphasis defensively is on Caitlin; it allows other people to really step up.”

Again Sydney Affolter stood out with 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting, seven rebounds and eight assists.

“I thought Syd was just outstanding,” Bluder said. “She has the highest plus/minus of anybody. She’s doing a great job for us, playing so strong, so physically.”

Clark said Affolter is playing the best basketball of her career.

“She’s one of those kids that works really hard and has always been in the gym,” Clark said. “This has been her year to have her moment and step up, especially with Molly going down. Obviously she has 12-8-7, but she does so many things on top of that that aren’t even in the box score.”

“She’s been showing this forever,” Martin said. “We go head-to-head in practice every day, so that kid’s a stud. I’m glad the numbers are showing it, but even if she’s not scoring points she’s always doing something amazing. Rebounds, assists, she’s always diving on the floor. She’s always winning hustle plays.”

Stuelke made all seven shots she took and both free throws. Stuelke is 8-for-8 in the tournament at the foul line. She came in averaging 59 percent.

“I think sometimes I hyper focus on things, and then I’m stressed out and I’m worried,” Stuelke said. “I think just stepping up to the line knowing I’ve done all these reps and just shooting it. They’ve been going in, so that’s good.”

Martin scored 13 and had six rebounds. O’Grady had eight points, A.J. Ediger six and Kylie Feuerbach and Taylor McCabe three apiece.

Michigan led 25-22 after one quarter courtesy of its 6-for-6 3-point shooting. But Iowa made its move in the second quarter. At one point late in the first and early in the second quarter Iowa scored on 11 consecutive possessions to take a 42-30 lead. Six different players scored in that run. But the Hawkeyes seemed more proud of their defensive adjustments.

“I think we were really lacking on defense,” Martin said. “We mixed up our defense a little bit. We played three different defenses, and that’s really hard for another team to figure out what we’re in and what they need to do.”

“They were shooting the three ball well in the first quarter,” Affolter said. “Going into the second half, that was our main focus to defend the three. When we put all of our energy into that it all really came together well.”

The championship game against Nebraska is at 11 a.m. Central Daylight time. Iowa may have a bone to pick with Nebraska after the Huskers rallied to upset the Hawkeyes the last time they met. The Huskers have been very good this week and guard Jaz Shelley has been terrific.

Clark records keep coming:  Iowa set a Big Ten Tournament record for assists with 30 (on 38 made baskets). Clark is the first player in NCAA history to score 1,000 or more points in consecutive seasons. She has the Iowa single-season record at 282 and counting. She has made more free throws in her career (778) than any other Big Ten player. She is also the all-time Big Ten Tournament scorer with 293 and counting. She has reached the championship game in all four of her seasons.