Iowa dominates UMass, 71-30, in Hawkeye Challenge semifinals

IOWA CITY, Ia. — The Iowa Hawkeyes beat Massachusetts 71-30 Saturday morning in the semifinals of the Hawkeye Challenge. They led wire to wire in a game that was really never close.

How the game was won: Iowa held UMass scoreless for a 10:02 stretch from early in the second quarter until 9:03 remained in the third. Meanwhile, the Hawkeyes scored 11 to push a 28-10 lead to 39-10.

They easily handled the Minutewomen's zone defense with crisp perimeter passing, opportunistic shooting and great inside work from Megan Gustafson and Hannah Stewart. Long range? Check — Iowa shot 31 percent from there (9 for 29). Points in the paint? Check — the Hawkeyes had 32 of those.

Alexa Kastanek led all scorers with 17 points, which included a 5-of-10 performance beyond the arc.

UMass shot 19 percent overall; Iowa shot 47 percent. That about sums up this game.

Key stat: Those 10 points allowed by Iowa in the first half are the fewest in program history. The Hawkeyes' previous low was 11 points allowed against West Virginia back in 1992.

Up next: Iowa will play the winner of South Dakota State vs. Montana Sunday at 2 p.m. in the championship game of the Hawkeye Challenge.