No. 6 Iowa women cough up late lead in loss at Kansas State

A chaotic final sequence stung the No. 6 Iowa women’s basketball team with a sour loss Thursday night at Kansas State.

The Hawkeyes coughed up a five-point lead in the final four minutes, allowing the Wildcats to sink a game-winning free throw in the final seconds in an 84-83 loss at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kansas.

Four seesaw arcs gave way to an ending full of drama. With the score tied, Kansas State’s Gabby Gregory drove to the basket and drew a foul with 4.7 seconds left. Iowa’s Kate Martin was caught stepping backward in the paint to produce a whistle. Gregory sank the first and missed the second, allowing Iowa to come back and call a timeout with three seconds left.

Iowa star Caitlin Clark tripped and rolled her ankle on the inside, but she was able to get the ball to McKenna Warnock as the seconds ticked away. Warnock found Monika Czinano, who was hacked under the hoop, but not before the horn sounded.

A review followed. Clark had to be helped to the bench. The Kansas State cheer took it from there.

Iowa had a 78-73 advantage with 3½ minutes left. Even after Kansas State erased that lead in less than 30 seconds, Clark drained a deep trey that seemingly restored Iowa’s order. However, the Hawkeyes only had two more points from there.

Clark finished with 27 points on 6-for-17 shooting, bolstered by a 13-for-16 showing at the line. Czinano added 18, but had just four over the final seven minutes.