No. 5 Maryland Pulls Away From Iowa 75-55 In Big Ten Tourney

By MICHAEL MAROT

AP Sports Writer

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Shatori Walker-Kimbrough and Brionna Jones each scored 23 points Friday to help No. 5 Maryland pull away from Iowa 75-55 in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals.

The Terrapins (28-3), this year's regular-season conference champs, have won seven straight and 16 of 17 to reach Saturday's semifinal.

Iowa (19-13) was led by Ally Disterhoft with 16 points and Indiana native Whitney Jennings with 11.

It looked like the Hawkeyes might pull an upset when they took a 28-18 lead after the first quarter. But Walker-Kimbrough scored nine points in a 17-2 run to start the second quarter, allowing Maryland to take a 39-32 lead at halftime.

After Iowa closed to 41-37 early in the third quarter, Maryland answered with five straight points and sealed the win with an 11-0 run late in the quarter.

Iowa couldn't closer than six the rest of the game.

Maryland ran away despite making only two 3-pointers.

And the Terrapins did it with defense, holding the high-scoring Hawkeyes almost 19 points below their season average. They allowed only one basket in the second quarter and only eight baskets over the final 20 minutes.

But Iowa caused its own problems, too. The Hawkeyes finished with 21 turnovers, including five during the decisive second-quarter stretch.

INSIDE TRACK

The biggest discrepancy Friday showed up in the middle. Maryland took advantage of its two first-team all-conference players with Walker-Kimbrough driving to the basket and Jones posting up for easy buckets. Together, they helped give the Terrapins a 50-18 scoring advantage in the paint.

TIP-INS

Iowa: The Hawkeyes will wait to see if the Big Ten's longest streak of consecutive NCAA tourney appearances will end at eight. ... One day after tying Big Ten tourney records with 37 field goals, 28 assists and 12 blocks, the Hawkeyes finished with 21 baskets, 12 assists and five blocks. ... Kali Peschel was the only other player to reach double figures. She had 19.

Maryland: Has lost only two games to conference teams since joining the Big Ten last season. ... The Terrapins are hoping this is the first of two trips to Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Final Four will be played in the same building next month. ... Maryland, which leads the nation with a plus-15.8 rebounding margin, added to that stat with a 37-19 advantage.

UP NEXT

Iowa: Awaits its postseason fate.

Maryland: Plays either Northwestern or Indiana in Saturday's tournament semifinals.

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