WBB Notebook: vs. Northwestern

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa women’s basketball team hosts No. 23/23 Northwestern inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa on Thursday, Jan. 28. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. (CT) on Big Ten Network.

WATCH/FOLLOW ALONG

• Saturday’s contest will air live on BTN. Lisa Byington and Karen Stack Umlauf 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 and Jamie Cavey Lang 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.
• Lang is in her fifth year as Iowa’s color commentator. She lettered at Iowa from 2002-05. Lang finished her Hawkeye career with 1,265 points and 506 rebounds. She was a two-time All-Big Ten selection.

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.

B1G IN THE RANKS

• Five Big Ten teams are ranked on the AP Poll, including No. 7 Maryland, No. 12 Michigan, No. 14 Ohio State, No. 16 Indiana, and No. 23 Northwestern.
• The conference is represented by five schools on the USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll, including No. 10 Maryland, No. 11 Ohio State, No. 13 Michigan, No. 15 Indiana, and No. 23 Northwestern. Iowa is receiving 11 votes and Michigan State is receiving 9 votes.

SCOUTING NO. 23 NORTHWESTERN

• Northwestern is 8-3 on the season and 6-3 in conference play, losing its most recent matchup to No. 16 Indiana, 61-74.
• The Wildcats are ranked second in the NCAA in turnover margin (11.0), rank fourth in steals per game (13.5),  rank eighth in turnovers per game (11.5), and rank ninth in assist turnover ratio (1.47) and turnovers forced (22.55).
• Junior Veronica Burton ranks second in the nation and leads the Big Ten in steals (51) and steals per game (4.64). Junior Sydney Wood and senior Jordan Hamilton add 2.64 and 2.18 steals per game, respectively.
• Burton is leading the Wildcats with 17.4 points per game, while junior Lindsey Pulliam and Wood follow with 15.3 and 14.0 points per game, respectively.
• Courtney Shaw pulls down 7.1 rebounds per game and Wood averages 5.7 rebounds.
• Burton averages 5.5 assists per game and Jordan Hamilton averages 3.5 assists.

THE SERIES

• Iowa leads the all-time series, 57-16, winning eight of the last 10 contests over the Wildcats.
• The Hawkeyes lost to Northwestern on Jan. 9, 67-77.
• Junior Monika Czinano posted a double-double, scoring 28 points and pulling down 12 rebounds. Czinano shot 13 of 14 from the field. Czinano’s field goal percentage (.929) at No. 22/23 Northwestern (Jan. 9) 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.
• Sophomore McKenna Warnock recorded 17 rebounds, five assists, two blocks, and a steal, while sophomore Gabbie Marshall added 11 points and three steals.

HAWKS ON THE SEASON

• Iowa is 9-3 on the season and 5-3 in conference play, winning its most recent contest over Purdue, 87-81.
• Freshman Caitlin Clark leads the Hawkeyes, averaging 25.8 points. Junior Monika Czinano and sophomore McKenna Warnock follow, averaging 18.6 and 13.6 points per game, respectively.
• Warnock leads the Hawkeyes in rebounds, averaging 9.1 per game, while Clark and Czinano follow with 7.1 and 6.0 per game, respectively.
• Sophomore Gabbie Marshall is leading Iowa with 28 steals, Clark’s 21 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 has recorded four double-doubles on the season, including Western Illinois (Dec. 22), accomplishing 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, and her most recent against Ohio State included 27 points and 10 rebounds.
• Warnock has four career double-doubles, adding two this season. She recorded her third career double-double, tallying 14 points and 13 rebounds in Iowa’s win over Northern Iowa and her fourth against Ohio State with 14 points and 12 rebounds.

NATIONALLY SPEAKING

• As a team, Iowa is ranked in top-20 nationally in six statistical categories, including ranking third in field goal percentage (.505) and scoring offense (88.8), seventh in assists per game (19.8), 12th in total assists (237), 14th in 3-point percentage (.385), and 17th in assist-turnover ratio (1.29).
• Freshman Caitlin Clark is one of six women’s basketball players to record a triple-double this season, posting 13 points, 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.
• Junior Monika Czinano, Clark, and sophomore McKenna Warnock rank among the top 15 nationally in nine statistical categories, including Czinano’s leading field-goal percentage (66.7). Clark ranks second in triple-doubles (1), fifth in points per game (25.8), sixth in total points (309), 10th in total assists (74), 11th in assists per game (6.2), and 15th in field goals made (102) and 3-pointers attempted (101). Warnock ranks fifth in 3-point percentage (51.2).

RANKING B1G INDIVIDUALS

• Freshman Caitlin Clark leads the Big Ten in five statistical categories, including total points (309), total assists (74), assists per game (6.2), field goals attempted (225), and 3-pointers attempted (101).
• Clark is ranked second in six additional statistical categories, including triple doubles (1), points per game (25.8), field goals made (102), free throws made (69), 3-pointers per game (3), and 3-pointers made (36). She also ranks third in free-throw attempts (85).
• Junior Monika Czinano leads the conference in field-goal percentage (.667) and ranks third in field goals made (94).
• Sophomore McKenna Warnock is leading the conference in defensive rebounds per game (7.6), ranks second in 3-point percentage (51.2) and rebounds per game (9.1), and ranks fifth in total rebounds (100).
• Sophomore Gabbie Marshall ranks third in the conference in steals (28) and ranks fifth in steals per game (2.33).

B1G STANDINGS

• As a team, the Hawkeyes are leading the Big Ten Conference in field-goal percentage (.505).
• Iowa ranks second in scoring offense (88.8), assists per game (19.8), total assists (237), 3-point percentage (38.5), 3-pointers made (105), 3-pointers per game (8.8), free throws made (196), and free throw attempts (252).
• The Hawkeyes rank third in free-throw percentage (.778), rebound margin (4.6), and 3-pointers attempted (273).

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 ranks second in triple-doubles (1), fifth in points per game (25.8), sixth in total points (309), 10th in total assists (74), 11th in assists per game (6.2), and 15th in field goals made (102) and 3-pointers attempted (101).
• In the conference, Clark leads the Big Ten in five statistical categories, including total points (309), total assists (74), assists per game (6.2), field goals attempted (225), and 3-pointers attempted (101).
• Clark is ranked second in six additional statistical categories, including triple doubles (1), points per game (25.8), field goals made (102), free throws made (69), 3-pointers per game (3), and 3-pointers made (36). She also ranks third in free-throw attempts (85).
• Clark has recorded four double-doubles, including 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 seven times this season. Clark has tallied 12 Big Ten Weekly honors on the year, including the seven freshman honors, three Big Ten Player of the Week honors, and two Player of the Week Honor Roll nods.
• Clark’s most recent honors were awarded on Jan. 18 after recording her fourth career double-double and ninth 20-point game in the Hawkeyes’, 82-84, overtime loss against No. 15 Ohio State. Clark netted 27 points and pulled down 10 rebounds to accomplish the feat and added five assists, two blocks, and a steal against the Buckeyes to fill her stat line.
• 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.
• 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

• Head coach Lisa Bluder is 16 wins away from the 800-career win mark.
• With several games left in the regular season, Caitlin Clark’s 309 points is 24 points away from breaking onto the freshman all-time scoring list. Former Hawkeye Jennie Lillis is currently ranked 10th with 333 points as a freshman (2001-02).
• Clark is four assists away from breaking onto the freshman all-time assists list. Necole Tunsil (1990-91) currently holds the ninth spot with 78 assists as a freshman.

UP NEXT

The Hawkeyes head to Minnesota to play inside Williams Arena on Sun., Jan. 31. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. (CT) and will be live streamed on BTN Plus.