WBB Notebook: vs. No. 15/15 Ohio State

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa women’s basketball team hosts No. 15 Ohio State inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Wednesday, Jan. 13 in Iowa City, Iowa. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. (CT) on Big Ten Network.

WATCH/FOLLOW ALONG

• Saturday’s contest will air live on BTN. Lisa Byington and Meghan McKeown are on the call.
• The game can also be streamed on the Fox Sports Go app. A subscription is required.
• Live stats are available on the women’s basketball schedule page on hawkeyesports.com.

AUDIO COVERAGE

• Rob Brooks will call the action on the Hawkeye Radio Network. A link to the broadcast is available on the women’s basketball schedule page on hawkeyesports.com.
• Brooks is in his fifth year as the play-by-play announcer for the Iowa women’s basketball team. He has been Iowa football’s sideline reporter since 2004. He has called seven different Iowa sports on radio or television.

FAN INFORMATION

• Due to COVID-19 safety protocols, there will be no men’s and women’s basketball general admission single game or season ticket sales to home games at this time.
• Visit hawkeyesports.com/fancutouts to purchase fan cutout(s) for all winter sports in Carver-Hawkeye Arena; 20 percent of the revenue will benefit UI Dance Marathon, with the remainder of the profits supporting the UI student-athletes’ scholarship fund.
• Programs, posters, and magnets will not be printed this season.

HOME IS WHERE THE TIGERHAWK IS

• Iowa has won 42-consecutive games on Mediacom Court in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, including a 15-0 mark last season.
• The last loss for the Hawkeyes at home was a 92-74 defeat against Nebraska on Jan. 28, 2018.
• The Hawkeyes went undefeated on their home court in the regular season for the first time since 2014-15 (18-0) during the 2018-19 season and continued the feat in 2019-20.
• Baylor is leading the country with 61-consecutive wins on their home court.

B1G IN THE RANKS

• Five Big Ten teams are ranked on the AP Poll, including No. 9 Maryland, No. 13 Michigan, No. 15 Ohio State, No. 18 Indiana, and No. 22 Northwestern. Michigan State is receiving 15 votes and Iowa is receiving five votes.
• The conference is represented by five schools on the USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll, including No. 9 Maryland, No. 12 Michigan, No. 15 Ohio State, No. 18 Indiana, and No. 23 Northwestern. Iowa is receiving 25 votes and Michigan State is receiving 14 votes.

SCOUTING OHIO STATE

• Ohio State is 6-0 on the season and 2-0 in conference play, winning its two conference games over Penn State, 82-69, and Wisconsin, 78-55.
• Across the nation, the Buckeyes rank second in field-goal percentage (.519), third in scoring margin (33.2), and fourth in scoring offense (90.8).
• Five Buckeyes are averaging double figures, including Jacy Sheldon (18.3), Dorka Juhasz (17.8), Madison Greene (13.3), Aaliyah Patty (11.7), and Braxtin Miller (10.6).
• Juhasz is leading Ohio State with 10.5 reounds per game, followed by Patty (6.7) and Tanaya Beacham (6.0). Juhasz has not played since Dec. 10 against Miami (Ohio).

THE SERIES

• Ohio State leads the all-time series, 36-34, splitting the last 10 matchups, 5-5.
• Last season, the two teams met twice, once on the Hawkeyes home court and at the Big Ten Tournament, splitting the two games.
• During the regular season matchup at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa won 77-68. Junior Monika Czinano recorded 12 points and four rebounds, while sophomore McKenna Warnock added four points and seven rebounds.
• The Hawkeyes fell to the Buckeyes in the Big Ten Tournament, 87-66. Czinano recorded 11 points and four boards, and Warnock tallied four points and four boards. Redshirt-sophomore Kate Martin knocked down the only 3-pointer that she took.

HAWKS ON THE SEASON

• Iowa is 8-2 on the season and 4-2 in conference play, losing its most recent contest to No. 22/23 Northwestern, 67-77.
• Freshman Caitlin Clark leads the Hawkeyes, averaging 25.6 points. Junior Monika Czinano and sophomore McKenna Warnock follow, averaging 20.2 and 13.0 points per game, respectively.
• Warnock leads the Hawkeyes in rebounds, averaging 8.9 per game, while Clark, Czinano, and redshirt sophomore Kate Martin follow with 6.6, 5.9, and 4.0 per game, respectively.
• Sophomore Gabbie Marshall is leading Iowa with 23 steals, Clark’s 17 steals and Martin ‘s 15 follow on the season. Against Western Illinois (Dec. 22), Marshall recorded six steals — the most from a Hawkeye this season.
• Clark recorded her first collegiate triple-double against Western Illinois, tallying 13 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists. Clark is the first Hawkeye to reach the accomplishment since Sam Logic against Baylor (March 27, 2015) and marks the 10th triple-double in program history, which tied the second-most in the NCAA.
• Clark accomplished her first career double-double against in-state opponent, Drake, with 30 points and 13 assists. The freshman’s third double-double was achieved against Minnesota (Jan. 6, 2021) included a career-high 37 points and 11 rebounds.
• Warnock recorded her third career double-double, tallying 14 points and 13 rebounds in Iowa’s win over Northern Iowa.
• Czinano’s field goal percentage (.929) at No. 22/23 Northwestern is a Big Ten Record with a minimum of 12 attempts in a Big Ten contest, shooting 13-of-14 against the Wildcats. On three occasions, a Big Ten women’s basketball player has made 12-of 13 (.917)– the last being Indiana’s Quacy Barnes on Feb. 22, 1998 against Michigan State.

NATIONALLY SPEAKING

• As a team, Iowa is ranked in top-20 nationally in 10 statistical categories, including being ranked the fourth-best in assists per game (20.33) and in field-goal percentage (51.1) and ranks fifth in scoring offense (89.6).
• The Hawkeyes rank sixth in the NCAA in total assists (203), 12th in fre-throw percentage (79.2), 15th in assist turnover ratio (1.35), 17th in 3-pointers made (90), 18th in 3-point percentage (.386), and 19th in free throws made (156) and 3-pointers per game (9).
• Freshman Caitlin Clark is one of six women’s basketball players to record a triple-double this season, posting 13points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists against Western Illinois (Dec. 22, 2020). Indiana’s Grace Berger is the only women’s basketball player to record two this season.
• Clark and junior Monika Czinano rank among the top 10 nationally in 10 statistical categories, including Clark ranking second in double-doubles (1), fourth in total assists (65), final points (256), and points per game (25.6), sixth in field goals made (85), and ninth in assists per game (6.5) and field goal attempts (185), and Czinano ranking fourth in field-goal percentage (.697) and sixth in field goals made (85).

RANKING B1G INDIVIDUALS

• Freshman Caitlin Clark is leading the Big Ten conference in six statistical categories, including final points (256), assists per game (6.5), field goal attemps (185), 3-pointers attempted (83), and free throws made (55). Clark ranks second in triple-doubles (1), point per game (25.6), field goals made (85), 3-pointers made (31), free throw attempts (65), and 3-pointers per game (3.1), and ranks fifth in free-throw percentage (.846).
• Junior Monika Czinano leads the conference in field-goal percentage (.697), ranks second in field goals made (85), third in total points (202), and fourth in points per game (20.2).
• Sophomore McKenna Warnock leads the Big Ten in defensive rebounds per game (7.4), and ranks  second in 3-point percentage (.474), rebounds per game (8.9) and total rebounds (80).
• Sophomore Gabbie Marshall ranks third in the conference in steals (23) and fifth in steals per game (2.3).

B1G STANDINGS

• As a team, the Hawkeyes are leading the Big Ten Conference in three statistical categories, including 3-pointers made (90), 3-pointers per game (9), and 3-pointers attempted (233).
• Iowa ranks second in assists per game (20.3), field-goal percentage (.511), total assists (203), free-throw percentage (.792), 3-point percentage (.386), and free throws made (156).
• The Hawkeyes rank third in scoring offense (89.6) and free throw attempts (197).

YOU SERIOUS, CLARK?

• Caitlin Clark recorded her first collegiate triple-double against Western Illinois (Dec. 22), tallying 13 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists. Clark is the first Hawkeye to reach the accomplishment since Sam Logic against Baylor (March 27, 2015) and marks the 10th triple-double in program history, which tied the second-most in the NCAA.
• Clark was the first Big Ten freshman to be named the ESPN National Player of the Week on Dec. 14.
• The NCAA has named Clark to the NCAA Starting five — a list of the top five women’s basketball players for the week — on Dec. 9 and Dec. 30.
• Clark is ranked fourth in total assists (65), final points (256), and points per game (25.6), sixth in field goals made (85), and ninth in assists per game (6.5) and field goal attempts (185).
• In the conference, Clark is leading the Big Ten conference in six statistical categories, including final points (256), assists per game (6.5), field goal attempts (185), 3-pointers attempted (83), and free throws made (55). Clark ranks second in triple-doubles (1), point per game (25.6), field goals made (85), 3-pointers made (31), free throw attempts (65), and 3-pointers per game (3.1), and ranks fifth in free-throw percentage (.846).
• Clark has recorded three double-doubles and a triple-double this season and recorded four 30-point games, including a collegiate-best 37 points in Iowa’s win over Minnesota (Jan. 6).
• Clark is the only freshman since 2015-16 to put up 30 points and have at least 10 assists in a single game. At Drake, Clark tallied 30 points and 13 assists.
• Clark’s 13 assists against Drake (Dec. 2) are the most from a Big Ten Freshman since Maryland’s Destiny Slocum had 13 against Illinois on February 9, 2017.

THEY’RE KIND OF A B1G DEAL

• Freshman Caitlin Clark is the second Big Ten freshman to win both awards — Big Ten Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week — three times, in a season. The first to accomplish the milestone was Minnesota’s Amanda Zahui during the 2013-14 season.
• Clark has accumulated nine weekly honors this season — three Player of the week honors and six Freshman of the Week honors..
• Sophomore McKenna Warnock earned her second Big Ten honor of her career, the conference announced on Jan. 4. Her first was a Freshman of the Week honor, on Jan. 27, 2020.
• Clark averaged 24.5 points, five rebounds, five assists, and 1.5 steals in a pair of Big Ten matchups against Rutgers and Illinois. In Iowa’s win over Rutgers, 90-84, Clark scored 12 of the Hawkeyes’ final 21 points. She followed up her Rutgers performance by scoring 21 points in 26 minutes of play at Illinois.
• Warnock played solid games against Rutgers and Illinois, averaging 18 points, eight rebounds, and two assists. From the field, she shot 72.2 percent and from 3-point range, she shot 69.2. The Marshall, Wisconsin, native recorded a career-high five 3-pointers against the Scarlet Knights, knocking down four in the first quarter.
• Clark swept the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Player and Freshman of the Week awards for the third time onDec. 28.

THE CAITLIN CLARK AWARD

• Freshman Caitlin Clark has been named Freshman of the Week six times this season — the most recent was announced on Jan. 11. Clark has been awarded the Freshman honor every week that the Hawkeyes have had a contest.
• The West Des Moines, Iowa, native averaged 22.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 6.5 assists in a pair of Big Ten matchups against Minnesota and Northwestern. In Iowa’s win over Minnesota, Clark recorded her third-career double-double, scoring a career-high 37 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. Against Northwestern, she added eight assists and eight rebounds.
• Clark averaged 24.5 points, five rebounds, five assists, and 1.5 steals in a pair of Big Ten matchups against Rutgers and Illinois. In Iowa’s win over Rutgers, 90-84, Clark scored 12 of the Hawkeyes’ final 21 points. She followed up her Rutgers performance by scoring 21 points in 26 minutes of play at Illinois.
• Clark registered her first career triple-double against Western Illinois on Dec. 22, tallying 13 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists. She filled her stat line, adding three steals and a block in the matchup with the Leathernecks. Clark’s triple-double was the first from a Hawkeye since Sam Logic against Baylor (March 27, 2015) and the 10th in program history.
• Clark averaged 34.5 points, seven rebounds, five assists, 1.5 steals, and a block against No. RV/24 Iowa State and Michigan State. In Iowa’s comeback win over Iowa State, Clark made the game-winning shot with 22 seconds remaining on a deep, step-back 3-pointer, giving the Hawkeyes their fifth-consecutive win over the Cyclones. She scored 34 points, pulled in seven rebounds, dished out six assists, and registered two steals against the in-state rivals. Against Michigan State, Clark posted a career-high 35 points and two blocks, and added seven rebounds, four assists, and a steal to fill her stat line.
• Clark averaged 26.5 points, nine assists, four rebounds, and 2.5 steals in the Hawkeyes wins over Drake and Wisconsin. In Iowa’s in-state bout versus Drake, Clark tallied 30 points, 13 assists, four steals, three rebounds, and a block. Against Wisconsin, she posted 23 points, five assists, five rebounds, and a steal.
• Clark scored 27 points, pulled down eight rebounds, dished out four assists, registered three steals, and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line – believed to be the best debut for a Hawkeye freshman. Clark’s 27 points are the most in a Big Ten debut since Maryland junior Eleanna Christinaki had 32 points in a win over Coppin State (Dec. 20, 2017). Her 27 points are believed to be the most in a Big Ten freshmen debut since Illinois’ Robin Preacely had 27 points against Illinois State (Dec. 1, 1992).

RECORD WATCH

• The Hawkeyes (42) are four home wins away from Iowa’s home win streak record (46).
• Head coach Lisa Bluder is 17 wins away from the 800-career win mark.

UP NEXT

Iowa hosts Purdue inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Monday, Jan. 18. Tip-off is set for 3:30 p.m. (CT) on Big Ten Network.