Coverage of the game:

• Creighton breaks Iowa Hawkeyes’ hearts in NCAA women’s basketball stunner
• On the officials and on Lauren Jensen, Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder had plenty to say
• Photos: Iowa vs. Creighton in NCAA women’s basketball second round

Bluder: "I'm really proud of this team. And the exciting thing is we return everybody from our starting lineup."

Bluder: "For the most part, we got shots that we normally get within our offense, except for maybe some drives to the basket."

Bluder: "I do think we started adjusting our shots a little bit based on, we were getting bumped hard."

Czinano: "I'm so proud of what we're doing here and the story's not over for us."

Czinano: "What Iowa does and how they support women's basketball is unlike anything anywhere."

Clark: "In games we've lost, rebounding has been a pretty big issue and it was tonight."

Clark: "Obviously frustrated with the calls, but at the same time I missed some bunnies that I usually make and sometimes that's how basketball goes."

Clark: "Obviously we're frustrated, we're disappointed, we're sad, but we have our core coming back and that's something to look forward to as well."

Clark: "I thought we batttled and battled and battled, obviously didn't perform the way we needed to to win in the fasion that we wanted. I think we still had a lot of opportunities to win the game, but overall they executed down the stretch and we didn't."

Bluder on lack of fouls: "It's pretty frustrating when an NCAA (tournament) game is called completely different than the 30 games that prepared you to this point. That is very frustrating. But, I don't want that to take away anything from Creighton's excellent preparation and their excellent performance."

Bluder: "I do believe that that game was called differently than what we've seen all year and I really think that's unfortunate."

Bluder: "I apologize to our fans that they couldn't celebrate a win with us today. They have been amazing all year, but these last three games they have been incredible."

Bluder: Jensen is "obviously an incredible storyline."

"I want to congratulate her because she's a great kid. She's a really, really good kid. I'm happy for her. I wish it wasn't in this situation, but I'm happy for her that she's found a good home and is having a lot of success."

Lisa Bluder: "Obviously just want to congrauate Creighton. Very well-played game. Executed very well. Defended very well."

Flanery: "I decided about the 3- to 4-minute mark that I wanted to put the ball in Lauren's hands, get Czinano switched on to her and let her go make plays."

Flanery on Jensen: "When you walk in the gym at 6 a.m. and you see somebody who's got the shooting gun set up and putting up jumpers, that resonates. That's been in my head a lot this year."

 

"I'm super proud of her and super happy for her, because she's put in the work."

Flanery on the environment: "It's a little surreal. I'm getting close to old. I've been around long enough to have metal lockers, shared locker space, not have any of the bells and whistles we currently have. I told Lisa before the game, 'gosh, this is incredible. This is a great tribute to you and your staff and your program.'"

Flanery: "I don't think either team probably played as well offensively as their best. I think pressure has something to do with that too.

Flanery: "I think both teams missed opportunities. I think both teams defended well."

Flanery's game plan was to rotate different defenders on Clark. "Try to keep the ball out of her hands, especially late shot clock, make it difficult for her to catch. Then just be vertical at the rim, don't bail her out."

Flanery: "I think we have poised players. We haven't been in that environment before but we've played a really good schedule."

Flanery watched how the Illinois State staff communicated during Friday's game to get an idea of what this environment would be like.

Jensen: "It's honestly so surreal. I feel like it hasn't really set in yet that we're going to the Sweet 16, and just the fact that it was here. Still kind of processing that one a little bit."

Brotzki: "We knew we had to kind of win the rebounding battle" going against Czinano. That definitely happened.

Jensen: "Honestly I was just super excited" after seeing her go-ahed 3 fall.

Creighton's Payton Brotzki: "That was the most special environment that I've ever played in, by far."

Jensen thinks the familiarity of CHA helped, even if she was a little nervous wearing a different jersey this year.

Creighton's Lauren Jensen: "I'm just super proud of us for staying together and getting our offense going again" late.

Creighton Coach Jim Flanery: "I'm so proud of our group that we found a way."

Watch the postgame press conferences:

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Iowa's last possession:

The Final seconds of a SWEET UPSET!

DANCE CREIGHTON DANCE 💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃#MarchMadness x @CreightonWBB pic.twitter.com/5wOwas5VR0

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) March 20, 2022

Monika Czinano scored a game-high 27 points on 12-for-20 shooting for Iowa. Caitlin Clark had 15 points and 11 assists but was just 4 for 19 from the field. She had 2 points (free throws) in the second half. Iowa shot 35.7% as a team, including 22.7% from deep.

A look at Lauren Jensen's game-winning 3. She scored 9 straight Creighton points after Iowa took a 58-54 lead and finished with a team-high 19.

Lauren Jensen gives the Jays the lead! #MarchMadness x @CreightonWBB pic.twitter.com/cFfuJXftTX

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) March 20, 2022

Iowa's season ends at 24-8. 62 points were a season low.

Czinano shot at the lane hits the front of the rim. FINAL: Creighton 64, Iowa 62. A stunner.

Ronsiek 1-2 FT. Creighton leads 64-62. Iowa calls timeout to advance the ball to midcourt, 3.6 seconds left.

Clark misses a contested shot at the rim. 6.0 seconds left.

Jensen for 3. Creighton leads 63-62 with 12.6 seconds left. The Iowa transfer could have just knocked out the Hawkeyes.

Jays miss an absolute bunny with a minute to go that would've tied it. Wow.

Jensen drives and scores, keeping Creighton in it. 62-60.

Warnock with a huge putback. Iowa leads 62-58. Timeout Creighton, 1:32 left.

Jensen drills a pull-up jumper. 60-58, 2:40 left

Czinano finds an open Martin for a layup. Iowa leads 60-56. Timeout Creighton, 2:47 4th.

Iowa leads Creighton 58-56 with 3:10 left. Both teams missing bunnies, open 3s. It's gonna be a tense last few minutes.

Jensen drives and scores. 58-56.

Creighton made five 3s in the first quarter, has made just four since.

Czinano scores on the block and Creighton calls timeout. 58-54 Iowa, 5:29 4th.

Marshall for 3 again. Iowa up 56-54, its first lead since 15-14 midway through the 1st.

Clark kick to Marshall for 3 in transition. Her first points. 54-53 Creighton, 7:15 4th.

Creighton has an answer for every Iowa push. Hawkeyes have had opportunities, but haven't led since 15-14 in the 1st. Ronsiek 1-2 FT. 54-50 Creighton, 8:34 4th.

Another Creighton offensive rebound. 14 now, 17 second-chance points. 53-50 Jays.

Clark gets the ball to start the 4th and gets to the line. 2-2 FT. 51-50 Creighton.

End 3rd: Creighton 51, Iowa 48. Jays broke up the Hawkeyes' last play. It was all offense in the first quarter, but shooting has cooled down and both teams have looked tense at times. Czinano (25) and Clark (13) have combined for 38 points. Can they carry Iowa in the 4th, or can someone else step up and make the difference?

Timeout Iowa, 8.6 seconds left in the third. Creighton leads 51-48.

Mogensen driving layup. 51-48 Creighton

Czinano 2-2 FT. She has Iowa's last 6 and 25 total. 49-48 Jays.

And Czinano gets to the block quickly again and scores. 49-46.

Jensen FT line jumper. 49-44

Ronsiek backdoor cut, Czinano answers by beating everyone down the floor. Clark's 9th assist. 47-44 Creighton.

Clark draws a couple whistles and hits 2-2 FT. Creighton up 45-42, 3:45 3rd.

TV timeout, 4:06 3rd. Creighton 45, Iowa 40.

Mogensen answers witth a 3. 45-40 Jays, 5:00 3rd.

Another Creighton offensive rebound, but Taiwo gets a steal and layup. 42-40 Creighton.

Ronsiek scores in transition, 42-38 Creighton.

This time Czinano gets an offensive board. Kicks it out, gets it back and scores. Iowa within 40-38.

Warnock jumper. 40-36.

Brotzki putback makes it 40-34. Iowa still struggling on the glass.

Second half underway. Clark blocks a shot, then Czinano scores and Iowa is within 38-34.

First half highlights:

Creighton giving Iowa everything they've got 👀 pic.twitter.com/4tJNMmTm5k

— espnW (@espnW) March 20, 2022

Caitlin Clark wasted no time pulling up from DEEP 🎯 pic.twitter.com/VpPFEIkpHS

— espnW (@espnW) March 20, 2022

Half: Creighton 38, Iowa 32. Hawkeyes scored the last 6 of the half. Czinano has 15 points, Clark 11 points and 7 assists. Brotzki leads the Jays with 11. They're 8 of 23 from 3, Iowa 3 for 12.

Feuerbach drives baseline and scores. 38-32 Creighton, under a minute to go in the half.

First points from a Hawkeye not named Czinano or Clark. Martin does the honors, then a turnover and Warnock layup. 38-30.

Two more offensive rebounds and Maly 2-2 FT. Creighton 38, Iowa 26, 1:55 2nd.

Brotzki answers with her third triple. 36-26 Creighton.

Clark stepback 3 cuts the lead to 33-26. She has 11.

TV timeout, 4:58 2nd. Creighton 33, Iowa 23. Czinano (15) and Clark (8) still the only Hawkeyes to score.

Molly Mogensen turnaround gives Creighton a 33-23 lead after a 5-second call on Iowa.

And just like that, Creighton hits its seventh 3. Ronsiek makes it 31-23.

Clark gets some space and drills a catch-and-shoot 3. Crowd on its feet as Iowa cuts the lead to 28-23, 7:13 2nd.

Rare miss at the line for Czinano. 1-2 FT makes it 28-20.

Maly corner 3 extends Creighton's lead to 28-19.

Lots of cheers as Creighton is called for an off-the-ball foul trying to prevent Clark from getting the ball. Fans were irate in the first quarter at the lack of whistles on that end.

Jensen elbow jummper makes it 25-19 Creighton.

Czinano starts the scoring in the 2nd. She has 14. Creighton 23, Iowa 19.

End 1st: Creighton 23, Iowa 17. Bluejays have six offensive rebounds, shot 5 for 15 from 3-point range. Monika Czinano has 12 points, but the rest of the Hawkeyes were 2-for-12 from the field (and Caitlin Clark has the two makes).

Offensive rebound and kickout to Jensen for another 3. Creighton has its biggest lead, 23-17.

Iowa transfer Lauren Jensen buries a 3 to put Creighton up 20-17.

Czinano just missed her first shot of the tournament, a shot blocked by Emma Ronsiek. Had made her first 11.

A rare quiet minute offensively after the timeout but Clark finds Czinano to tie it at 17. Czinano is 6-for-6.

TV timeout, 4:01 1st. Creighton 17, Iowa 15. This is fun basketball. Creighton is 6-for-11 from the field, Iowa 7-for-12. Jays have three turnovers and still put up 17 points in 6 minutes.

Another 3. Morgan Maly hits Creighton's third and the Jays lead 17-15.

Clark jumper restores Iowa's lead, 15-14.

Brotzki 2-2 FT puts Creighton back up 14-13. She has 8.

Czinano is 5-for-5, has 10 points and Iowa leads 13-12.

Brotzki 3 puts Creighton back up 12-11

Czinano turnaround jumper, plus a foul off the ball on Creighton. She's 4-for-4. Iowa leads 11-9, 7:07 1st.

Czinano has 6 early points. 9-9, 7:40 1st.

Offensive rebound and a 3 for Brotzki. 9-7 Creighton.

Clark with a deeep 3 to answer Bachelor's layup. Iowa has its first lead, 7-6.

Ronsiek grabs an airball and throws it in at the shot clock buzzer to get the scoring started. Czinano, Ronsiek, Czinano again get quick baskets inside. 4-4.

Creighton starters: Tatum Rembao, Lauren Jensen, Payton Brotzki, Carly Bachelor, Emma Ronsiek

 

Iowa starters: Kate Martin, Caitlin Clark, Gabbie Marshall, McKenna Warnock, Monika Czinano

 

Tip in 5 minutes

Some preview content:

• Iowa, Creighton are preseason scrimmage buddies, and second-round NCAA combatants
• ‘No bad blood’ between Lauren Jensen and Iowa

Welcome to The Gazette's live coverage of the NCAA women's basketball tournament. It's Iowa vs. Creighton today in Carver-Hawkeye Arena's last game of the season. Should be a terrific atmosphere. Tipoff set for noon.