WBB Notebook: at Nebraska

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa women’s basketball team returns to action on Thursday as they travel to Lincoln, Nebraska, to take on the Cornhuskers inside Pinnacle Bank Arena. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. (CT) on Big Ten Network.

WATCH/FOLLOW ALONG

• Thursday’s contest will air live on Big Ten Network. Kevin Kugler 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 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. 9 Maryland, T-No. 12 Michigan, T-No. 12 Ohio State, No. 15 Indiana, and No. 21 Northwestern.
• The conference is represented by five schools on the USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll, including No. 10 Maryland, No. 12 Michigan, No. 11 Ohio State, No. 14 Indiana, and No. 20 Northwestern. Iowa is receiving one vote.

SCOUTING NEBRASKA

• Nebraska is 9-7 on the season and 7-6 in conference play, winning games over Northwestern (65-63), Rutgers (53-50), and Ohio State (63-55).
• Across the nation, the Cornhuskers rank ninth in blocked shots (9), 10th in blocked shots per game (6.2) and 14th in defensive rebounds per game (30.5).
• Two Huskers average double figures, including Sam Haiby (17.4), and Isabelle Bourne (12.8).
• Bella Cravens leads Nebraska in rebounds, averaging 7.9 per game. Haiby follows with 7.4 rebounds and Bourne with 7.3 per game.
• Kate Cain ranks fourth in the NCAA in blocked shots per game (3.31) and fifth in total blocked shots (53)
• Haiby has made it to the free throw line 107 times this season, ranking 15th nationally, and has made 85 free throws, ranking 17th across the country.

THE SERIES

• The all-time series is tied, 15-15. Iowa has won seven of the last 10 matchups over the Huskers, including once last season inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena..
• The Hawkeyes fell to the Huskers, 69-78, in Pinnacle Bank Arena last season, and won 76-60 at home.
• At Pinnacle Bank Arena, Iowa junior Monika Czinano recorded a career-high 17 rebounds and added 16 points for a double-double. Sophomore McKenna Warnock was 3-for-3 from 3-point range, tallying 14 points, and she pulled down six rebounds.
• Inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Czinano scored a game-high 23 points and pulled down eight rebounds. Senior Alexis Sevillian added 11 points.

HAWKEYES ON THE SEASON

• Iowa is 10-6 on the season and 6-6 in conference play, falling in its most recent contests to No. 11/13 Ohio State, 87-92, and No. 17 Indiana, 72-85.
• Freshman Caitlin Clark leads the Hawkeyes, averaging 25.9 points. Junior Monika Czinano and sophomore McKenna Warnock follow, averaging 19.4 and 12.3 points per game, respectively.
• Warnock leads the Hawkeyes, averaging 9.6 rebounds per game, while Clark and Czinano follow with 6.1 per game, each.
• Sophomore Gabbie Marshall is leading Iowa with 38 steals. Clark’s 22 steals and Martin ‘s 19 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 ties the second-most in the NCAA.

NATIONALLY SPEAKING

• As a team, Iowa is ranked in the top-7, nationally, in four statistical categories, including second in field goal percentage (50.6), third in scoring offense (87.4), sixth in assists per game (20.2), and seventh in total assists (323).
• The Hawkeyes rank in the top-30 in five additional categories, including 15th in free-throw percentage (78.5), 17th in assist/turnover ratio (1.3), 19th in 3-point percentage (37.1), 26th in 3-pointers made (137), and 29th in 3-pointers per game (8.6).
• Junior Monika Czinano, freshman Caitlin Clark, and sophomore McKenna Warnock rank among the top 20 nationally in 14 statistical categories, including Czinano’s leading field-goal percentage (67.8), 135-of-199 from the field.
• Clark ranks second in triple-doubles (1), third in 3-pointers attempted (144), fourth in final points (414) and points per game (25.9), fifth in total assists (103),  sixth in field goals made (139), ninth in 3-pointers made (51) and 3-pointers per game (3.19), 10th in assists per game (6.4) and field goal attempts (305),  and 15th in free-throws made (85).
• Warnock ranks 18th in defensive rebounds per game (8), and Czinano ranks ninth in field goals made (135).

B1G STANDINGS

• As a team, the Hawkeyes are leading the Big Ten Conference in field-goal percentage (50.6), assists per game (20.2), assists (323), 3-pointers made (137) and 3-pointers attempted (345).
• Iowa ranks second in scoring offense (87.4), 3-point percentage (37.1), 3-pointers per game (8.6), and free throws made (237).
• The Hawkeyes rank third in free-throw percentage (78.5).

RANKING B1G INDIVIDUALS

• Hawkeye individuals rank in the Big Ten top-five in 22 statistical categories.
• Freshman Caitlin Clark leads the Big Ten in seven statistical categories, including 3-pointers attempted (144), assists (103), total points (414), field goals made (139), assists per game (6.4), free throws made (85), and field goal attempts (305).
• Clark is ranked second in five additional statistical categories, including triple doubles (1), points per game (25.9), 3-pointers per game (3.19), and 3-pointers made (51), and ranks fourth in free-throw percentage (81.7).
• Junior Monika Czinano leads the conference in field-goal percentage (67.8), ranks second in field goals made (135) and total points (310), and fourth in points per game (19.4).
• Sophomore McKenna Warnock is leading the conference in defensive rebounds per game (8), ranks second in total rebounds (144), and third in rebounds per game (9.6).
• Sophomore Gabbie Marshall ranks third in the conference in steals (38) and ranks fifth in steals per game (2.38).

DOUBLE-DOUBLES

• Freshman Caitlin Clark has recorded five double-doubles on the season, including Western Illinois (Dec. 22), accomplishing her first career double-double against in-state opponent, Drake (Dec. 2), with 30 points and 13 assists. The freshman’s third double-double was achieved against Minnesota (Jan. 6) included a career-high 37 points and 11 rebounds, and her fourth against Ohio State (Jan. 13) included 27 points and 10 rebounds. Clark’s most recent double-double was accomplished with 22 points and 11 assists against Minnesota (Jan. 31).
• Sophomore Warnock has five career double-doubles, adding three this season. She recorded her third career double-double, tallying 14 points and 13 rebounds in Iowa’s win over Northern Iowa (Nov. 25), her fourth against Ohio State with 14 points and 12 rebounds, and her fifth at Minnesota with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
• Junior Monika Czinano recorded double-doubles in both matchups against Northwestern this season. In the first meeting (Jan. 9), Czinano posted 28 points and 12 rebounds. On the Hawkeyes home court (Jan. 28), Czinano recorded a career-high 34 points and added 11 rebounds.

B1G RECORD-BREAKING HAWK

• Junior Monika Czinano posted a double-double, scoring 28 points and pulling down 12 rebounds at No. 22/23 Northwestern (Jan. 9). Czinano shot 13 of 14 from the field. Czinano’s field goal percentage (.929) 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.
• Against No. 23 Northwestern (Jan. 28), Czinano made 15-consecutive buckets — a Big Ten single-game record. With Czinano making her final three shots in Iowa’s previous game against Purdue (Jan. 18), her streak ran 18-consecutive makes — another Big Ten record. The previous co-record holder, Iowa’s Megan Gustafson and Indiana’s Mackenzie Holmes, each made 17 in a row. Gustafson made 17 in a row over a three-game stretch from Nov. 9-17, 2018 (1 vs. Oral Roberts, 13 at WKU, 3 vs. NC Central) — the only other time it’s happened within the same season. Holmes made 17 in a row in consecutive games, crossing over seasons making her last four shots in the Big Ten semifinals  (Mar. 7) against Maryland and added 13 against Eastern Kentucky (Nov. 25).

NATIONAL RECOGNITION

• Freshman Caitlin Clark was named to the Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Midseason Team on Feb. 9. She is one of 30 athletes considered for the Player of the Year award.
• Clark was named to the Dawn Staley Late Season Watch List on Feb. 5. The list included 16 of the nation’s top guards in women’s basketball.
• Junior Monika Czinano was named to the NCAA Starting Five on Wednesday, Feb. 3 — the first of her career.
• Clark was the first Big Ten freshman to be named the ESPN National Player of the Week on Dec. 14.
• The NCAA 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.

YOU SERIOUS, CLARK?

• In the nation, Clark ranks second in triple-doubles (1), third in 3-pointers attempted (144), fourth in final points (414) and points per game (25.9), fifth in total assists (103),  sixth in field goals made (139), ninth in 3-pointers made (51) and 3-pointers per game (3.19), 10th in assists per game (6.4) and field goal attempts (305),  and 15th in free-throws made (85).
• Clark leads the Big Ten in seven statistical categories, including 3-pointers attempted (144), assists (103), total points (414), field goals made (139), assists per game (6.4), free throws made (85), and field goal attempts (305).
• Clark is ranked second in the conference in five additional statistical categories, including triple doubles (1), points per game (25.9), 3-pointers per game (3.19), and 3-pointers made (51), and ranks fourth in free-throw percentage (81.7).
• In Iowa’s matchup with Minnesota (Jan. 31), Clark broke onto the Iowa freshmen all-time scoring list 1:20 into the first quarter and now ranks fourth, tallying 414 points on the season.
• Clark broke onto the Iowa freshman all-time assist list after tallying eight assists against Northwestern (Jan. 28) and now ranks sixth with 93 assists on the season. She now sits in fourth with 103 assists on the season.
• Clark is one of 10 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. 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 five 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 tallied 14 Big Ten Weekly honors on the year, including nine freshman honors, three Big Ten Player of the Week honors, and two Player of the Week Honor Roll nods.
• Junior Monika Czinano earned her first Big Ten Player of the Week nod on Feb. 1.
• 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.

RECORD WATCH

• Head coach Lisa Bluder is 15 wins away from the 800-career win mark.
• Caitlin Clark is currently tied with former Hawkeye Megan Skouby for fourth on Iowa’s all-time freshman scoring list with 414 points on the season. The record holder is Jaime Printy with 501 freshman points during the 2009-10 season.
• Clark ranks fourth on Iowa’s all-time freshman assist list with 103 on the season. Kathleen Doyle holds the record with 148 her freshman season (2016-17).

UP NEXT

The Hawkeyes return to action on Thursday, Feb. 18, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena as they host Penn State in Iowa City, Iowa. Tip-off time and TV designation has not been set.