Wright State University
4-2
Iowa
5-0
Women Fall Just Short to #25/21 Iowa at Lone Star Showcase
11/26/2015 5:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The Wright State women's basketball team rallied from a 21-point deficit to within three in the final minute, but could get no closer as #25/21 Iowa held on for an 83-77 decision in the opening game of the Lone Star Showcase Thursday in Cedar Park, Texas.
Down 7-2 early, the Raiders responded with eight straight points to take their first lead of the day, four of those coming from Kim Demmings. The rest of the opening quarter was back and forth until a putback by Chase Coley gave the Hawkeyes a 17-14 lead heading into the second period.
Six consecutive points by WSU, four by Antania Hayes, put WSU back in front 24-19 at the eight-minute mark of the second quarter and the margin was 26-23 on a Demmings fast-break layup with 6:35 to play in the period, but it was all Iowa from there as the Hawkeyes closed the half with a 22-4 run to go up 45-30 at the break.
Iowa shot 53 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes compared to just 27 percent for Wright State.
The deficit grew to as much as 53-32 early in the third quarter before the Raiders began their comeback, closing to within eight at 60-52 on another fast-break score by Demmings before the Hawkeyes took a 64-54 advantage into the fourth period.
Iowa increased the margin to 15 with 7:30 remaining, only to see WSU trim it to 77-70 with a 12-4 three-minute run. After the Hawkeyes hit a three, Wright State tallied the next seven points, capped off by a Hayes free throw at the 59.7-second mark, to make it 80-77.
The Raiders, though, would get no closer as Iowa hit three of four foul shots down the stretch to round out the scoring.
Wright State shot 34 percent for the contest and hit 21 of 26 free throws, but could not overcome the Hawkeyes shooting 49 percent for the game overall and making eight of 19 three-point attempts.
Demmings led all scorers with 28 points, 12 coming in the fourth quarter, and collected eight rebounds while Emily Vogelpohl had 15 points. Two Raiders posted double-doubles as Hayes had 14 points and 10 rebounds while Richelle van der Keijl chipped in 11 points and 11 boards.
Coley paced Iowa (5-0) with 22 points while Alexa Kastanek had 18, Tania Davis 13 off the bench and Ally Disterhoft 10.
Wright State (4-2) continues play in the Lone Star Showcase on Friday, taking on Houston at noon Eastern.
