Dec 12, 2003

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By CHUCK SCHOFFNER
AP Sports Writer

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) - Kendra Wecker scored 21 points, Laurie Koehn added 20 and No. 11 Kansas State took an 18-2 lead en route to an 82-60 victory Friday night over Iowa.

The fast start, which included three 3-pointers by Koehn, enabled Kansas State (6-2) to survive repeated comeback attempts by Iowa (5-3). The Hawkeyes got within four points in the first half and stayed within striking distance much of the second half, but couldn't put together a run to overtake the Wildcats.

Nicole Ohlde and Claire Coggins added 10 points apiece for Kansas State, while Megan Mahoney contributed 12 rebounds, nine points, eight assists and two blocks. The Wildcats outrebounded Iowa 35-21.

Jamie Cavey led Iowa with 20 points and Jennie Lillis scored 16.

Iowa played without leading rebounder Johanna Solverson, sidelined with an ankle injury. Her replacement, Tiffany Reedy, had four points and no rebounds.

With Koehn hitting a pair of 3-pointers, Kansas State led 12-0 less than 2½ minutes into the game. Consecutive 3s by Coggins and Koehn made it 18-2 with 16:17 left.

Kansas State made eight of its first nine shots and shot 58.8 percent for the game. Koehn finished 7-for-11, including 6-of-10 from 3-point range. She made 10 3s in a 103-60 victory over Iowa last season.

Cavey kept Iowa in it with her inside scoring in the second half and the Hawkeyes trailed 63-55 after her follow shot with 6:32 remaining. But Ohlde returned from a stretch on the bench to hit a turnaround shot and Kansas State finished the game with a 19-5 run to win going away.

Iowa countered Kansas State's early burst with some 3-point shooting of its own. Lillis hit a 3 with the shot clock about to expire and Kristi Faulkner followed with two more, finishing an 11-0 run that cut the lead to 20-16.

The Hawkeyes got no closer, but stayed with the Wildcats the rest of the half, in part because Faulkner held Koehn to one basket over the final 16 minutes. Cavey's two free throws with 8.1 seconds remaining left Iowa trailing 43-35 at halftime.