“It’s very frustrating, but we can’t hang our heads,” Heyer said. “We’re going to keep working and we’re going to watch film and figure out what we did wrong.”

Down 11 at the half, the Gophers got within six entering the fourth quarter.

Then McKinney and Stewart each had five points in a 14-8 start to the fourth that tied the score.

But at the other end Stuelke was fouled. She made the first free throw, missed the second. But Affolter got the offensive board, got the ball to Feuerbach, who was fouled and made both free throws. After a Gophers miss, Stuelke scored again. Another miss and Affolter hit a three and the Hawkeyes were back in control for good.

“They out-toughed us in that game,” Plitzuweit said. “They started with an edge and took it right at us.”

That’s kind of the way the game ended, too.