It seemed as if only a TV timeout could save Iowa from Kansas’ demoralizing five-headed attack.

No. 19 Kansas earned its first road victory and moved to 2-0 on the season, beating Iowa 66-55 at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena. It was a key victory that was only easy at the beginning and the end.

With every one of Kansas’ starters doing her part early, the team jumped out to a quick 11-0 lead just four minutes into the game. Kansas dictated the pace early, as it ran a quick transition offense and spread the ball around to all of their weapons.

Then came an impenetrable brick wall.

Following a timeout, Iowa coach Lisa Bluder changed her defense to a 2-3 zone. The switch was vital for a Hawkeye turnaround, as the defense slowed Kansas’ assault. Senior guard Danielle McCray struggled to find the rhythm that she so easily discovers at Allen Fieldhouse, missing nine shots in a row before ending the streak with a lay-up to finish the half. Freshman guard Angel Goodrich’s usual ambition was put at bay, leading her to play a safer and more fundamental style.

“It’ll be really good for us to try to be more aggressive in transition against the zone,” coach Bonnie Henrickson said.

It took six minutes for the home team to score its first points, after starting 0-9 from the field. But the game abruptly transformed into junior guard Kachine Alexander’s show, as she finished with 23 points and 17 rebounds.

“She’s a machine,” Henrickson said.

Kachine the machine and the Hawkeyes fought back with a 13-2 run of their own, setting the stage for a nail-biting battle of toughness and poise.

“It’s hard when the momentum changes,” senior guard Kelly Kohn said of playing on the road. “It’s harder to pull it back.”

Despite Goodrich, McCray and junior center Krysten Boogaard shooting a collective 5-27 in the first half, Kansas clung to a 27-26 lead at halftime.

Then McCray started improving after completing a lay-up, two consecutive three-pointers, and a picturesque midrange jump-shot off the glass. The 4-4 start was just what she needed after a 2-11 first half. McCray’s lethal second half helped her finish with 20 points and 7 rebounds. The superstar’s resurrection helped get the rest of her team going.

Goodrich arrived in the second half as she swerved and spun through defenders, using the glass to sink highlight worthy lay-ups, runners and tear-drops. She also rediscovered the daring edginess that she is known for, finding her post players for high percentage shots with no-look passes. The young point guard finished with 10 points (all in the second half), 7 assists and 6 rebounds.

“She didn’t just try to differ and start throwing around the zone,” Henrickson said.

Sophomore forward Aishah Sutherland displayed her athleticism and talent on her way to a double-double, owning the paint with lay-ups and flexing her most underrated feature, a steady jump-shot. Once again Sutherland was a force, finishing with 12 points, 11 rebounds and 4 steals.

With 1:10 to go, senior guard Sade Morris showed her experienced, knocking down a three pointer in the corner that spaced the lead to 10 points. It was an enormous shot that sealed the deal for a Kansas win that had all five starters finish in double digits for points.

“Those kinds of teams are the most successful I’ve had,” Henrickson said.

Kansas couldn’t quite pull away until the end. But the win shows that this team has the grit to hold on and claim a tight one on the road.

“I thought our kids really competed and battled in a night that didn’t feel very good offensively.”

— Edited by Jonathan Hermes