Hawkeyes meet Florida Gulf Coast in the semifinals Saturday, and a win would be Lisa Bluder’s 500th at Iowa

Note: This story was generated in Cedar Rapids.

Caitlin Clark posted 29 points and eight assists, and fifth-ranked Iowa handled Purdue Fort Wayne, 98-59, in a first-round game of the Gulf Coast Classic women’s basketball tournament Friday night at Estero, Fla.

The Hawkeyes (5-1) shot 55.6 percent from the field, and advanced to face Florida Gulf Coast in the semifinals at 6:30 Saturday night.

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FGCU (4-1) was an 83-68 victor over Delaware.

A win would give Coach Lisa Bluder her 500th win at Iowa. She has coached the Hawkeyes 24 years.

No. 16 Kansas State and No. 18 North Carolina will meet in the first semifinal, at 4 p.m.

The championship game is 6:30 p.m. Sunday.

Sharon Goodman added 16 points for the Hawkeyes, converting 6 of 7 shots; Hannah Stuelke scored 13.

Purdue Fort Wayne (2-2) hung with the Hawkeyes early, forging a 13-13 deadlock through four minutes.

But Iowa scored the next 11 points and was in control the rest of the way.

It was 30-20 after a quarter, marking the second straight game the Hawkeyes scored 30-plus in the first 10 minutes.

The margin grew to 19 points on back-to-back Clark 3-pointers, but the Mastadons stabilized somewhat; it was 52-36 at halftime.

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