Iowa Women’s Basketball Wins in Ames, 61-55

For the first time since Dec. 17, 1989 the Iowa women’s basketball team beat Iowa State in Hilton Coliseum, 61-55.

It was, as they say, pretty damn cool.

A tough game throughout, the Hawkeyes and Cyclones battled in the fourth quarter. Iowa State threatened to take the lead numerous times in the final frame, but each and every time the Cyclones got close, Iowa responded.

With 27 seconds left, Megan Gustafson hit two free throws to put the Hawkeyes up 58-55. ISU called a timeout and then promptly missed three triples.

Gustafson got the rebound, was fouled, hit both her shots. Iowa got a steal on the ensuing inbounds play and Alexis Sevillian hit one of two to take the game to the final.

"It's hard to put into words what this win means to us as a program," Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder said to Hawkeye Sports. "It has been a monkey on our back. It's been a psychological thing, and I'm just really happy for all Hawk fans. I hope they understand that we want to share this with every single Hawkeye fan out there. It's so hard to come over here and win, and I'm so proud of my team."

Makenzie Meyer was brilliant for Iowa, scoring 18 points and shot 4-of-6 from downtown. Gustafson registered the 36th double-double of her career, scoring 16 points and pulling down 14 boards.

Iowa State head coach Bill Fennelly called Gustafson an All-American and treated her as such. She was triple teamed numerous times in the game, but had an answer for everything the Cyclones were able to throw at her.

"Megan was triple teamed," Bluder said to Hawkeye Sports. "What a performance by her. She was triple teamed, and she still comes out of here with a double-double, and that shows how hard she works."

Gustafson, of course, was humble as always.

"My goal was to keep working as hard as I possibly could, no matter who was on me," Gustafson said to Hawkeye Sports. "They were collapsing inside quite a bit, so I was able to get some open looks for my teammates, especially at the end of the game. I was able to depend on my teammates to help out, and I'm so happy for this win."

The Hawkeyes are now 9-1 on the year and face Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday before getting Northern Iowa and Drake next week.