Ryan Miller/The Daily Iowan Iowa freshman Morgan Johnson makes a pass under the defensive reach of Rutgers forward Chelsey Lee on Saturday, March 20, 2010 in Maples Pavillion on the campus of Stanford University. Iowa led 28-21 at the half.

PALO ALTO, Calif — The No. 8 Iowa women’s basketball team leads No. 9 Rutgers, 28-21, at halftime at the Maples Pavillion in Stanford for the first-round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament.

Freshman Morgan Johnson paced the Hawkeyes with eight points, five rebounds, and one block. Freshman Jaime Printy also had eight points and four rebounds, while junior Kachine Alexander added seven points and four rebounds.

Rutgers is lead by senior Brittany Ray who had seven points and three rebounds in the first half.

This is the third-straight year Iowa has made the NCAA Tournament. However, it hasn’t won a first-round game since 2002.

– By Evelyn Lau