WBB Notebook: vs. No. 12 Michigan

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa women’s basketball team hosts No. 12 Michigan on Thursday, Feb. 25 inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m. (CT) on Big Ten Network.

WATCH/FOLLOW ALONG

  • Tuesday’s contest will air live on Big Ten Network. Lisa Byington and Christy Winters Scott 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. 8 Maryland, No. 11 Indiana, No. 12 Michigan, No. 15 Ohio State, and No. 25 Rutgers. Northwestern is receiving 11 votes.
  • The conference is represented by five schools on the USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll, including No. 8 Maryland, No. 11 Indiana, No. 12 Michigan, No. 14 Ohio State, and No. 25 Northwestern. Rutgers received 32 votes and Iowa received 10 votes.

SCOUTING MICHIGAN

  • Michigan is 13-2 on the season and 8-2 in conference play, falling in road contests to No. 11 Indiana, 65-70, and No. 15/14 Ohio State, 77-81.
  • As a team, the Wolverines are ranked fourth in rebound margin (13.5), 13th in rebounds per game (44.07), 14th in scoring margin (17.0), 16th in field goal percentage (46.8), 18th in win-lost percentage (86..7), and 20th in scoring offense (78.9).
  • Three Wolverines average double figures, including junior Naz Hillmon (25.9), junior Leigha Brown (18.9), and senior Akienreh Johnson (11.1).
  • Hillmon leads the Big Ten and ranks second in the NCAA in offensive rebounds per game (5.1), and ranks second in the conference and nationally in shooting percentage (65.1) behind Iowa’s Monika Czinano (68.6). She ranks third nationally in points per game (25.9) and leads the Big Ten in rebounds per game (11.5).
  • Hillmon’s 11..5 rebounds per game leads Michigan, followed by Johnson with 6.4 per game.
  • Junior Amy Dilk leads the Wolverines in assists, tallying 68 on the season and 4.5 per game.

THE SERIES

  • Iowa leads the all-time series, 50-19, including a 6-4 record in the last 10 meetings. The Hawkeyes are 27-5 inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa’s last loss to the Wolverines on their home court was during the 2012-13 season.
  • Last season, the two teams met once on Michigan’s home court, ending in a 63-78 loss for the Hawkeyes. Senior Alexis Sevillian posted a team game-high 15 points, and junior Monika Czinano tallied six points and three rebounds.

HAWKEYES ON THE SEASON

  • Iowa is 12-7 on the season and 8-7 in conference play, dropping its last contest to No. 8 Maryland, 93-111.
  • Freshman Caitlin Clark leads the Hawkeyes, averaging 27.3 points. Junior Monika Czinano and sophomore McKenna Warnock follow, averaging 19.0 and 13.8 points per game, respectively.
  • Warnock leads the Hawkeyes, averaging 8.8 rebounds per game, while Clark and Czinano follow with 6.2 and 6.1 per game, respectively.
  • Sophomore Gabbie Marshall is leading Iowa with 41 steals. Clark and Martin’s 25 steals, each, follow on the season. Against Western Illinois (Dec. 22), Marshall recorded six steals — the most from a Hawkeye this season.
  • Clark recorded nine 3-pointers are the most from a Hawkeye against a Big Ten opponent since Melissa Dixon recorded nine at Northwestern on Jan. 29, 2015.

NATIONALLY SPEAKING

  • As a team, Iowa is ranked in the top-10, nationally, in six statistical categories, including second in field goal percentage (51.3) and scoring offense (88.2), fifth in assists per game (20.4) and 3-point percentage (39.9), and seventh in total assists (388).
  • The Hawkeyes rank in the top-13 in three additional categories, including 10th in 3-pointers per game (9.5), 11th in 3-pointers made (181), and 13th in assist/turnover ratio (1.35) and free-throw percentage (78.6).
  • Junior Monika Czinano and freshman Caitlin Clark rank among the top 20, nationally, in 13 statistical categories, including Czinano’s leading field-goal percentage (68.6), shooting 157-of-229 from the field.
  • Clark ranks second in points per game (27.3), total points (519), and triple-doubles (1),  third in total assists (126) and 3-pointers attempted (181), fourth in 3-pointers per game (379) and field goals made (174), fifth in 3-pointers made (72), eighth in assists per game (6.6), ninth in field goal attempts, and 19th in free throws made (99).
  • Czinano also ranks 12th in field goals made (157).

B1G STANDINGS

  • As a team, the Hawkeyes are leading the Big Ten Conference in field-goal percentage (51.3), assists per game (20.4), total assists (388), 3-pointers per game (9.5), 3-pointers made (181), and 3-pointer attempts (454).
  • Iowa ranks second in scoring offense (88.2), 3-pointer percentage (39.9), and free throws made (264).
  • The Hawkeyes rank third in free-throw percentage (78.6).

RANKING B1G INDIVIDUALS

  • Hawkeye individuals rank in the Big Ten top-five in 22 statistical categories.
  • Freshman Caitlin Clark leads the Big Ten in eight statistical categories, including points per game (27.3), total assists (126), total points (519), 3-pointers attempted (181), field goals made (174), assists per game (6.6), field goal attempts (364), and free throws made (99).
  • Clark is ranked second in three additional statistical categories, including triple- doubles (1), 3-pointers per game (3.79), and 3-pointers made (72), ranks third in free-throw attempts (118) and 3-point percentage (39.8), and ranks fourth in free-throw percentage (83.9).
  • Junior Monika Czinano leads the conference in field-goal percentage (68.6), ranks second in field goals made (157), and fourth in total points (361).
  • Sophomore McKenna Warnock is leading the conference in defensive rebounds per game (7.4), ranks fourth in total rebounds (159), and fifth in rebounds per game (8.8).
  • Sophomore Gabbie Marshall ranks third in the conference in total steals (41) and ranks fifth in steals per game (2.16).

DOUBLE-DOUBLES

  • Four Hawkeyes have recorded double-doubles this season, including freshman Caitlin Clark (6), sophomore McKenna Warnock (4), junior Monika Czinano (1), and redshirt sophomore Kate Martin (1).
  • Clark has recorded six double-doubles on the season, including a triple-double against Western Illinois (Dec. 22). She recorded the others against Drake (Dec. 2), Minnesota (Jan. 6), at Ohio State (Jan. 13), and at Minnesota (Jan. 31). Clark’s most recent double-double was accomplished with 39 points and 10 rebounds at Nebraska (Feb. 11).
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Martin recorded her first-career double-double against Penn State, recording 19 points and 11 assists.

B1G RECORD-BREAKING HAWKS

  • Freshman Caitlin Clark has tallied 11 Big Ten Freshman of the Week Honors, breaking the the record previously set by Nebraska’s Jessica Shepard during the 2015-16 season.
  • 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.
  • Clark has been named the USBWA Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Week, three times — Jan. 5, Feb. 17, and Feb. 23.
  • 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, Dec. 30, and Feb. 17.

YOU SERIOUS, CLARK?

  • In the nation, Clark ranks ranks second in points per game (27.3), total points (519), and triple-doubles (1),  third in total assists (126) and 3-pointers attempted (181), fourth in 3-pointers per game (379) and field goals made (174), fifth in 3-pointers made (72), eighth in assists per game (6.6), ninth in field goal attempts, and 19th in free throws made (99).
  • Clark leads the Big Ten in eight statistical categories, including points per game (27.3), total assists (126), total points (519), 3-pointers attempted (181), field goals made (174), assists per game (6.6), field goal attempts (364), and free throws made (99).
  • Clark is ranked second in the conference in three additional statistical categories, including triple- doubles (1), 3-pointers per game (3.79), and 3-pointers made (72), ranks third in free-throw attempts (118) and 3-point percentage (39.8), and ranks fourth in free-throw percentage (83.9).
  • Clark posted 29 points in the first half of Iowa’s matchup at No. 8 Maryland (Feb. 23) to break the Iowa All-Time Freshman Scoring record with 504 points. Clark tallied 34 total points on the day, expanding the record to 519 points.
  • Clark broke onto the Iowa freshman all-time assist list after tallying eight assists against Northwestern (Jan. 28) and now ranks third with 126 assists on the season. Former Hawkeye Kathleen Doyle holds the record with 148 freshman assists.
  • Clark has recorded six double-doubles, including a triple-double this season and recorded seven 30-point games, including a collegiate-best 39 points in Iowa’s win over Nebraska (Feb. 11).
  • 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 is one of 11 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’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.
  • Clark tallied nine 3-pointers against No. 8 Maryland (Feb. 23) — the most from a Hawkeye against a Big Ten opponent since Melissa Dixon recorded nine at Northwestern on Jan. 29, 2015.

THEY’RE KIND OF A B1G DEAL

  • Freshman Caitlin Clark has tallied 18 Big Ten Weekly honors on the season, including a record-breaking 11 freshman honors, four Big Ten Player of the Week honors, and three Player of the Week Honor Roll nods. Clark’s 11 Freshman of the Week honors broke the Big Ten record set by Nebraska’s Jessica Shepard during the 2015-16 season. Minnesota’s Amanda Zahui B. is the only other freshman to earn four Player of the Week nods. Her four Big Ten Player of the Week honors as a freshman are believed to be the NCAA record.
  • 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 13 wins away from the 800-career win mark.
  • Clark ranks third on Iowa’s all-time freshman assist list with 126 on the season. Kathleen Doyle holds the record with 148 her freshman season (2016-17).
  • Clark ranks second on Iowa’s all-time freshman 3-point list with 72 made on the season. Jaime Printy holds the record with 82 her freshman season (2009-10).

UP NEXT

The Hawkeyes return to action on Sunday, Feb. 28 as the Hawkeyes head to Madison, Wisconsin, to take on The Wisconsin Badgers inside Kohl Center. Tip off is set for 2 p.m. (CT) on FS1.