IOWA CITY, Iowa- Top-seeded Iowa women’s basketball defeated eighth-seed West Virginia, 64-54, on Monday night inside a sold-out Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes advance to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the fourth time since 2019.
All-American Caitlin Clark led Iowa with 32 points and eight rebounds. Sydney Affolter added 13 points and seven rebounds, coming up clutch down the stretch. Hannah Stuelke recorded a double-double on 12 points, 11 rebounds and a career-high four blocks.
West Virginia made the first two buckets of the game to take an early 5-0 lead. The Mountaineers maintained the lead through the first seven minutes of the game. Clark downed a 3-pointer with three minutes to play in the first quarter to give the Hawkeyes their first lead.
The second quarter was a defensive battle, with the Mountaineers outscoring the Hawkeyes 9-6 in the 10 minutes of play. Iowa retained a 26-24 lead heading into the break.
The Hawkeyes broke off a 12-2 run coming out of halftime, recording their first double-digit lead of the game. Clark led the quarter with 13 points to give the Hawkeyes a 48-38 advantage with 10 remaining.
West Virginia opened the final period with a 10-0 run to tie the game with five minutes to play. Head Coach Lisa Bluder called timeout, and Affolter drilled two free throws on the ensuing possession to regain the lead. West Virginia was able to tie three more times in the final minutes but never retook the lead. Iowa broke the final tie with 2:03 remaining on a driving, and-one layup from Affolter. The play spurred a 12-0 run to send Iowa to the Sweet Sixteen.
POSTGAME NOTES
– 1-Seed Iowa (31-4) dropped 8-Seed West Virginia (25-8), 64-54, inside a sold-out Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Monday night to advance to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament.
– Iowa tied its program record for most wins in school history. (2022-23)
– National Player of the Year candidate, Caitlin Clark broke the NCAA’s single season scoring record surpassing Washington’s, Kelsey Plum.
– Lisa Bluder is 1-of-27 Division I women’s basketball coaches to win 20+ games in the NCAA Tournament at one institution.
– This marks Iowa’s 10th trip to the Sweet 16 in program history and fifth under Bluder.
– The Hawkeyes have been to the Sweet 16 four times since 2019.
– Iowa has made 54 three-point baskets in postseason play.
– Since 2019, the Hawkeyes are 13-4 in the NCAA Tournament.
– Over the last two seasons, Iowa is 17-2 in a tournament setting.
– Bluder has the 10th most wins in Division-I women’s basketball history and is third among active DI head coaches.
– Bluder is 20-17 all-time in NCAA Tournaments at Iowa.
– Iowa is 4-2 all-time in the NCAA Tournament as a No. 1 Seed.
– Iowa is 10-13 all-time in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament.
– The Hawkeyes have won 15+ games inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena in four out of the last six seasons, which is the best six-year stretch in program history.
– Over the last two seasons, Iowa has won 62 games which is the best two-year stretch in program history.
– The Hawkeyes have made 388 treys this season which is a Big Ten single season record.
– Sydney Affolter is 18-18 from the free throw line in the last six games.
– Hannah Stuelke registered her second double-double of the season and third of her career.
– Stuelke became the fifth Hawkeye since 2009 to have 650+ points and 350+ rebounds by the end of their sophomore seasons. (Ally Disterhoff, Caitlin Clark, Megan Gustafson, and Jamie Printy)
– Stuelke notched a career-high four blocks.
– Gabbie Marshall tied Monika Czinano’s games played record at the University of Iowa. (162)
– Among active players who didn’t transfer, Marshall (126) and Martin (123) are third and fourth nationally for most active wins in a career.
– Clark leads the country in 20+ point games this season with 35.
– Clark is the only player in the country with 1,100+ points, 300+ assists, and 240+ rebounds this season.
– Fifth highest first round attendance in NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship history. Iowa owns three of the top five first round attendance numbers in NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship history. (16,151 – The Pit, New Mexico, 2003, 16,029 – The Pit, New Mexico, 2004, 14,382 – Carver, Iowa, 2022 and 2023, 14,324 – Carver, Iowa, 2024)
– Clark has scored 20+ points in 120-of-135 career games which is the most in program history.
– Clark kept her streak alive of 92 consecutive games making a 3-point basket. (NCAA best)
– Clark is the first Division-I men’s or women’s player to record 3,800+ points, 1,100+ assists, and 950+ rebounds in a career.
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UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes will face fifth-seeded Colorado in the Sweet 16 on Saturday, March 30, in Albany at MVP Arena. The contest will tipoff at 2:30 p.m. (CT) and will be broadcast on ABC.