IOWA CITY - Cedar Rapids Washington Coach Frank Howell made a wardrobe change Tuesday night and said it was the reason his team won a hard-fought game at Iowa City Regina, 64-56.

Others may say it had more to do with good teamwork and excellent passing from a Warrior team that has been struggling in recent games.

"I decided to go with a less threatening color scheme to a more docile blue," Howell said when asked about shelving his traditional red sweater. "Actually, people seemed to play with some passion and we were pretty positive with each other. It was a good team we beat tonight."

Washington, still ranked seventh in 4A, improved to 11-6 overall, while unranked 2A Iowa City Regina dropped to 16-3.

The Warriors overcame a remarkable performance by 5-foot-10 senior Zoe Dutchik, who poured in 29 points on an array of baseline moves, bank shots and mid-range jumpers. She scored 14 of her team’s first 21 points and had 20 at halftime.

"Washington is very good and a very athletic team," Dutchik said. "We knew we were the underdog and had nothing to lose, so we just came out and threw it all on the floor."

Washington led, 33-30, at halftime and had a 48-43 lead after three quarters. The game was in doubt until the Warriors made six free throws in the final 45 seconds.

Washington also overcame a 20-rebound night by Olivia Stenger, who amazingly did not score before fouling out.

"I think it probably was our best game passing the ball," Howell said. "We are doing a good job running the floor and I like to see that because that puts pressure on the other team to get back. We are starting to find each other a bit more."

Jazz Royster, averaging nine points and four boards, played one of her best games of the season with a team-high 18 points on 7-of-15 shooting from the floor. She also hit 4 of 6 free throws. The 5-foot-10 senior forward had a number of layups and workmanlike buckets in the paint.

"We played well as a team tonight and got rid of a lot of negativity and I think that helped us a lot," Royster said. "I think it was a pretty good passing night for us, too."

Royster said there is a new attitude on the team.

"Everybody is tired of losing and we wanted to get on our winning streak," she said. "When we share the ball and play as a team and keep our composure, I think we can beat anybody."

The Warriors had a rocky four-game test last week in which they were 2-2 and out of sync. They came into the Regina game having lost three of their last five games, including a 56-54 decision at home to Waukee last Saturday night.

Tongue in cheek, Howell said his desire to live a more healthy lifestyle also affected his decision to discard the red sweater.

"I went to the dentist recently and they took my blood pressure and it was 149 over 92, so there are certain steps in my life that I am trying to take to get my blood pressure down," he said. "I am eating fruit in the morning instead of Pop Tarts. I am exercising and I am eating apples and bananas.

"I thought maybe changing my color scheme could potentially save my life too, going with the less threatening red color into more of a docile blue."

The Warriors had eight players in the scoring column, led by Royster’s 18 markers. Brooke Foreman made some big plays late and had 10 points.

Leading scorer Danielle Franklin had a tough shooting night (she missed all eight of her 3-point attempts and was just 4-for-13 overall), but still managed 10 points. Madison Kramer had nine points and six rebounds, and Tasha Roundtree spearheaded the passing-fest with nine assists and four steals.

Washington had 16 assists, but would have had a dozen more without missed layups. Regina out-rebounded Washington 26-21, but only four players scored. The Warriors hit on 42 percent from the floor, while Regina shot 37 percent.

Both teams had 23 field goals. Washington won the game by hitting 17 of 24 free throws.

WASHINGTON (64): Jazz Royster 7 4-6 18, Madison Kramer 2 5-6 9, Kelli Klaus 2 1-2 5, Abby Herb 2 1-2 5, Brooke Foreman 4 1-2 10, Aleena Hobbs 2 1-2 5, Danielle Franklin 4 2-3 10, Tasha Roundtree 0 2-2 2. Totals 23 17-24 56.

IOWA CITY REGINA (56): Zoe Dutchik 13 3-5 29, Olivia Stenger 0 0-0 0, Sydney Lehman 0 0-0 0, Jordyn Lehman 0 0-0 0, Megan Fackler 4 3-6 11, Jenna Lehman 5 2-2 14, Nikki Becker 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 8-13 56.

Halftime - Washington 33, Regina 30. 3-point goals - Washington 1 (Foreman 1), Regina 2 (J. Lehman 2).