By SHANE STURTZ
hawkeyesports.com
IOWA CITY, Iowa – Behind timely defensive stops and freshman Caitlin Clark’s 14 fourth-quarter points, the University of Iowa women’s basketball team erased an 18-point deficit to stun Iowa State, 82-80, on Wednesday in the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Game on Mediacom Court inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
The comeback victory is Iowa’s fifth-straight win in the rivalry and extends its home-winning streak to 39 — the second longest streak in the country. The win also captures a de facto state championship for Iowa since the Hawkeyes previously defeated Northern Iowa and Drake.
“The fourth quarter and dramatic finish was amazing,” Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder said. “We only led for one minute, but at least we picked the right minute.”
Clark, who scored a career-high 34 points, put her mark on the rivalry, draining a game-winning, step-back, fallaway 3-pointer with 22 seconds remaining to complete Iowa’s unthinkable comeback.
“If you’re going to take (that shot), you better be confident,” Clark said. “I didn’t think twice. I just pulled it and it went in.”
Clark struggled in the first half but stepped up in crunch time. She was 4-of-5 from behind the arc in the fourth quarter and shouldered the offensive attack when the Hawkeyes needed it most.
“I don’t think we’re ever out of the game with the ball in her hands,” Bluder said. “Those are NBA 3s. She believes in herself, and that is a good thing. You want that confidence and swagger out there on the floor.”