By Susan Harman

IOWA CITY, Iowa – West Virginia’s smothering defense sapped the sound and the fury of Iowa’s offense Monday night. But the Hawkeyes were able to stoutly defend the Mountaineers and string enough free throws together in the final two minutes to survive the upset bid, 64-54.

Iowa (31-4) advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament and will play Colorado Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in Albany, N.Y. Iowa and Colorado played in last year’s Sweet 16 in Seattle, with Iowa winning 87-77.

 Free throws are clearly not the easiest way to pile up points, but that was all Iowa had left when every cut to the basket was blocked and every dribble stymied. Passes were at a premium because a defender seemed stuck to each Hawkeye. And open shots were nearly impossible to find.

“I think we were struggling a little bit on offense that we’re not normally used to,” Iowa junior Sydney Affolter said. “And we shot pretty low from the 3-point line, but they were really pressuring us. They were really touching, and they played up in your space on defense. I think that frustrated us a little bit, definitely in the first half.”

That was by design, of course.

 “I think our ball pressure and our full-court press dictates a lot of the things that happens on offense,” said West Virginia senior Jayla Hemingway.

 Iowa made 17-of-47 shots (.362) and 5-of-22 threes (.227). It had 16 turnovers although only six in the second half.

 The Hawkeyes knew what they were facing in this defense-oriented team, but the intensity and the constant contact took its toll. Iowa scored only six points in the second quarter, making 3-of-11 shots. The Hawkeyes had nine turnovers in the half that turned into 10 West Virginia points.

 “They just tried to make it chaotic, and they tried to turn you over,” Kate Martin said. “They’re up in your face, and they had some really good help side (defense). You would get into the paint and there were a few people there, and they were always in passing lanes trying to get deflections.”

 “They were really handy; they were always just right on your hip, especially for Caitlin (Clark),” Gabbie Marshall said. “She always had somebody right there. I think we had a lot of back-door opportunities, but they’re pressuring us so much that was hard to make those passes as well.”

Iowa led 26-24 at halftime. The third quarter was one of runs back and forth with Iowa finishing the quarter with a 48-38 lead. But the fourth quarter started ominously with seven empty possessions for Iowa and West Virginia completing a 10-0 run to tie the game with 5 minutes left. A timeout gave the team a breather.

“Our group wasn’t flustered by any means when they tied it up,” Clark said. “We had so many opportunities tonight where we got to a 10-point lead, a seven-point lead, and we couldn’t figure out a way to expand it. We didn’t shoot the ball very well; we didn’t make shots we normally make.”

The teams traded baskets and were tied at 52 when Marshall reenacted her critical block from the Big Ten championship game. J.J. Quinerly shot a 3-pointer from the right side, and Marshall flew out to block it.

“We were in a zone and I again was a little late to my rotation, kind of been a common theme lately,” Marshall said, smiling. “But I was able to just get out there. When you’re late for the rotation all I want to do is at least try to attempt it, and I was able to get a little finger on it.”

 A Quinerly make would have given West Virginia a three-point lead with just 2:12 left. Instead, Affolter grabbed the ball and took off.

“I could see it in her eyes as she was taking it all the way to the hole,” Marshall said. “She just does that all the time. She’s a strong, big guard. It’s hard to guard her when she’s going downhill like that.”

 “They’re really pressuring us so that’s the best time to drive,” Affolter said. “I saw the lane wide open and I took it.”

 Affolter made the shot, got fouled and cashed the free throw. There was a bit of a celebration in there too as the crowd went crazy.    “It was awesome. Gabbie is one of my best friends just to have that moment with her was super fun,” Affolter said. “I think showing emotion and getting excited for big things like that or little things is what’s really important. We want to celebrate every moment.”

Affolter had earlier stopped Iowa’s fourth-quarter dry spell with a couple free throws after a hard foul on a drive. She finished with 13 points and seven rebounds.

Hannah Stuelke made a free throw for a 56-52 lead. Clark made two foul shots and Stuelke added two more to lead 60-52. West Virginia mustered just one basket in response.

Iowa scored 16 fourth-quarter points, 14 of which came at the free-throw line.

Stuelke was tremendous down low. She was the key rim protector. She finished with 12 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks. She played nearly 37 minutes. She and Martin had the best plus/minus mark for the Hawkeyes.

“She rebounded the ball really well for us, and we needed that,” Bluder said. “We needed her speed on the defensive end. I think she could have been a little more on attack mode on offense tonight. And I want her to do that because she’s really explosive and really good.”

Associate head coach Jan Jensen lauded Stuelke’s rebounding and tenacity.

“Probably the best thing tonight was probably her mindset,” Jensen said. “I feel like there’s a mindset (with) inside players, and the best ones just have an innate confidence that that’s what they own.”

Jensen said Stuelke had a real presence and ownership of the block that showed in her rebounding and defense.

Iowa’s own defense was a key as well. West Virginia shot 34 percent from the field, well below its average of 45 percent.

Iowa tried to take away Quinerly and fellow guard Jordan Harrison. The two combined for 18 points, 15 points fewer than their combined average.

“We knew we were going to give up some shots to other people, but we really felt other people are going to have to beat us,” Bluder said. “We tried to mix up our defenses a little bit, but I felt our players were really locked in and knew the scouting report really well, knew their personnel very well. Gabbie Marshall doesn’t have a point tonight. She worked her tail off on defense, and that’s worth a lot.”

The Mountaineers were outscored at the foul line 25-3. They were whistled for 27 fouls to 11 for Iowa.

“We’re a good free-throw shooting team and, by far, getting to the free-throw line was the easiest way for us to score,” Bluder said. “With that kind of pressure defense, you’re going to foul a lot, and I’m glad we had a crew that called it tonight. I mean, there were 57 free throws shot in that (West Virginia-) Princeton game. So this is not unusual.”

Clark led all scorers with 32 points. Martin had seven points and 10 rebounds. The sellout crowd was into the game from the beginning and Martin said it made a difference, particularly in the closing minutes. West Virginia closed its season at 25-8.