Marshall’s block, Affolter’s three-point play put Iowa in front for good, igniting the Hawkeyes to a 64-54 win over West Virginia.
Call it a season-saving sequence.
Iowa had squandered a 10-point lead, and West Virginia’s J.J. Quinerly was lining up a 3-point shot from the right wing for the lead.
Instead, Gabbie Marshall made the defensive play of the game. Maybe the defensive play of the year.
“I had to do something for my team,” she said.
Marshall blocked Quinerly’s shot, and Sydney Affolter converted a three-point play moments later.
That six-point swing ignited the second-ranked Hawkeyes to a 12-2 run in the final 2:03, and ultimately a 64-54 NCAA second-round win Monday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
“Gabbie made an amazing defensive play,” Affolter said. “Then I saw a lane and I took it.”
It was Marshall’s third block of the season, the 13th of her career. And it was reminiscent of a key swat she had in overtime against Nebraska in the Big Ten tournament final.
“To have that moment, it was amazing,” Marshall said.
One of five Hawkeyes making her final Carver appearance, Marshall didn’t score a point Monday. But her block — and Affolter’s conversion — was as big of a play as any that Iowa (31-4) mustered all night.
Watch the video here:
“Gabbie didn’t score, but she never stops working her butt off on defense,” said Kate Martin, another senior.
“That play motivated us. You see that play, and you see that kind of passion in Gabbie, and it’s infectious. Then Syd, she had an opportunity and made a play at the rim.”
Iowa could have been down 55-52 had Quinerly nailed that 3-pointer with 2:12 left. Instead, Marshall made the swat, Affolter made the play on the other end of the court, and the Hawkeyes were up 55-52 at the 2:03 mark.
The remainder of the game was a free-throw fiesta. Iowa made 14 of 15 in the final 4:46, and the back end of Affolter’s three-point play started a 10-of-11 spree from the line in the final 2:03.
That included a late 3-of-4 from Hannah Stuelke, who had missed a pair earlier in the fourth quarter.
Stuelke was a 46-percent free-throw shooter as a freshman. This year, she’s up to 62 percent.
“Going into these big games, I’m going to need to knock down free throws, and I think this is a stepping stone to that for sure,” Stuelke said.
There’s at least one more big game to play, and perhaps as many as four.
Iowa will face No. 17 Colorado (24-9) in a Sweet 16 contest at 2:30 (CT) Saturday at MVP Arena in Albany, N.Y.
No. 6 UCLA (27-6) meets No. 8 LSU (30-5) in the other regional semifinal, at noon.
The regional final is 6 p.m. Monday.
News
VIDEO: Caitlin Clark making a fanstatic assist while Dallas Wings defender commit 4 fouls! This is UNREAL
This assist is UNREAL! Brilliant Caitlin Clarke is absolutely brilliant! CC is a player it was great seeing women’s basketball, I only hope that next year the players play with respect and honesty towards the rookies. The fans deserve better…
Hurricane Milton live updates: More than 2 million without power as Hurricane Milton slams Florida, causes deaths and flooding
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Hurricane Milton plowed into Florida as a Category 3 storm Wednesday, bringing misery to a coast still ravaged by Helene, pounding cities with winds of over 100 mph (160 kph) after producing a barrage of tornadoes, but sparing…
Dijonai Carrington WRECKED online for sideline Blowup before getting BOOTED from the WNBA Playoffs
Dijonai Carrington WRECKED online for sideline Blowup before getting BOOTED from the WNBA Playoffs! . . Alyssa Thomas and DiJonai Carrington appeared frustrated with each other during a Connecticut Sun timeout huddle during their WNBA Semifinals loss. Oct 8, 2024;…
Caitlin Clark JEALOUSY is INSANE! Brittney Griner SCREAMS RACISM! WNBA ready to ARREST “RACIST” FANS
Caitlin Clark JEALOUSY is INSANE! Brittney Griner SCREAMS RACISM! WNBA ready to ARREST “RACIST” FANS WNBA players say league needs to do more to address abuse by ‘new fans’. NEW YORK, Sept 27 (Reuters) – WNBA players say the…
WHY CAITLIN CLARK WASN’T UNANIMOUS ROOKIE OF THE YEAR!!! 🤬
WHY CAITLIN CLARK WASN’T UNANIMOUS ROOKIE OF THE YEAR!!! 🤬 In this episode, I discuss why jealousy played a major role in Caitlin Clark not being named a unanimous MVP. Is it about her game, or is there more at…
“Kelsey Mitchell, Erica Wheeler Are Out Of Indiana”: Fever GM Amber Cox Needs To Bring In These Three Free Agents To Build Championship Around Caitlin Clark
“Kelsey Mitchell, Erica Wheeler Are Out Of Indiana”: Fever GM Amber Cox Needs To Bring In These Three Free Agents To Build Championship Around Caitlin Clark Now that the hype and the social media storm has subdued until 2025, the…
End of content
No more pages to load