WBB Notebook: vs. Nebraska

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa women’s basketball team hosts Nebraska inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Saturday, March 6 for the final regular-season game of the year and Senior Night. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. (CT) on BTN Plus.

WATCH/FOLLOW ALONG

• Saturday’s contest will be live streamed on BTN Plus.
• 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. 10 Indiana, No. 12 Michigan, No. 22 Ohio State, and No. 24 Rutgers. Iowa is receiving six votes and Northwestern is receiving four votes.
• The conference is represented by five schools on the USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll, including No. 8 Maryland, No. 10 Indiana, No. 12 Michigan, No. 20 Ohio State, and No. 25 Northwestern. Rutgers received 53 votes and Iowa received seven votes.

SCOUTING NEBRASKA

• Nebraska is 12-11 on the season and 9-9 in conference play, falling to Minnesota, 63-73, in its latest contest.
• As a team, Nebraska is ranked eighth in blocked shots per game (5.9), 12th in total blocked shots (123), and 14th in defensive rebounds per game (30.0).
• Kate Cain leads the Big Ten and ranks sixth in the NCAA in total blocked shots (64) and leads the Big Ten and ranks seventh in the nation in blocked shots per game (3.05).
• Sam Haiby leads the Cornhuskers, averaging 17.1 points per game followed by Isabelle Bourne (13.9) and Cain (10.2).
• Bourne leads Nebraska in rebounding, averaging 8.2 per game. Bella Cravens follows with 7.6 per game and Haiby tallies 6.9.

THE SERIES

• Iowa leads the all-time series, 16-15, breaking the tie on February 11 with a 88-81 win on the Huskers’ home court. Iowa has won seven of the last 10 matchups over Nebraska.
• Inside Pinnacle Bank Arena, Iowa freshman Caitlin Clark recorded a career-high 39 points to set the arena record – men’s and women’s.
• Three Hawkeyes scored in double figures, including Clark (39), junior Monika Czinano (17), and sophomore McKenna Warnock (19).
• Clark also recorded her sixth double-double of the season with 39 points and 10 rebounds.

HAWKEYES ON THE SEASON

• Iowa is 14-8 on the season and 10-8 in conference play, dropping its last contest to No. 10 Indiana, 80-89.
• The Hawkeyes upset No. 12 Michigan, 89-67, on Feb. 25 — the largest scoring margin over a ranked opponent since the Hawkeyes’ 1993 Final Four team beat No. 4 Penn State, 84-59.
• Freshman Caitlin Clark leads the Hawkeyes, averaging 27.1 points. Junior Monika Czinano and sophomore McKenna Warnock follow, averaging 18.8 and 12.3 points per game, respectively.
• Warnock leads the Hawkeyes, averaging 8.0 rebounds per game, while Clark and Czinano follow with 6.0 and 5.8 per game, respectively.
• Sophomore Gabbie Marshall is leading Iowa with 41 steals. Clark and redshirt sophomore Kate Martin’s 28, 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 at Maryland (Feb. 23) — 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 nine statistical categories, leading in field goal percentage (51.8), ranking second in scoring offense (87.6), third in 3-point percentage (41.6), fourth in assists per game (20.5), fifth in total assists (452), sixth in 3-pointers made (216), seventh in 3-pointers per game (9.8) and assist turnover ratio (1.38), and 10th in free-throw percentage (78.6).
• Junior Monika Czinano, freshman Caitlin Clark, and redshirt sophomore Kate Martin rank among the top-50, nationally, in 19 statistical categories, including Czinano’s leading field-goal percentage (66.8), shooting 179-of-268 from the field.
• Clark leads the NCAA in total assists (154), total points (596), 3-pointers made (87), and 3-pointers per game (3.95).
• Clark ranks second in assists per game (7.0), points per game (27.1), 3-pointer attempts (209), and triple doubles (1), third in field goals made (199), eighth in field goal attempts (412). She also ranks 17th in free-throws made (111), 26th in free-throw attempts (131), 34th in 3-point percentage (41.6), and 45th in free-throw percentage (84.7).
• Czinano also ranks 11th in field goals made (179), 37th in total points (414), and 47th in points per game (18.8).
• Martin ranks 34th in assist turnover ratio (2.4).

B1G STANDINGS

• As a team, the Hawkeyes are leading the Big Ten Conference in field-goal percentage (51.8), assists per game (20.5), total assists (452), 3-pointers per game (9.8), 3-pointers made (216), and 3-pointer attempts (519).
• Iowa ranks second in scoring offense (87.6), 3-point percentage (41.6), and free-throw percentage (78.6).
• The Hawkeyes rank third in assist turnover ratio (1.38) and free throws made (298).

RANKING B1G INDIVIDUALS

• Hawkeye individuals rank in the Big Ten top-five in 21 statistical categories.
• Freshman Caitlin Clark leads the Big Ten in 10 statistical categories, including total points (596), points per game (27.1), total assists (154), assists per game (7.0), field goals made (199), 3-pointers made (87), 3-pointers per game (3.95), free throws made (111), field goal attempts (412), and 3-pointers attempted (209).
• Clark is ranked second, in triple- doubles (1), third in 3-point percentage (41.6), free-throw percentage (84.7), and free throw attempts (131).
• Junior Monika Czinano leads the conference in field-goal percentage (66.8), ranks second in field goals made (179), fourth in total points (414), and fifth in points per game (18.8).
• Sophomore Gabbie Marshall ranks fifth in the conference in total steals (41).
• Sophomore McKenna Warnock ranks fifth in the conference in total rebounds (167).
• Redshirt sophomore Kate Martin ranks fifth in turnover assist ratio (2.4).

DOUBLE-DOUBLES

• Four Hawkeyes have recorded double-doubles this season, including freshman Caitlin Clark (7), sophomore McKenna Warnock (4), junior Monika Czinano (2), and redshirt sophomore Kate Martin (1).
• Clark has recorded seven 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), at Minnesota (Jan. 31), and at Wisconsin (Feb. 28). Clark’s most recent double-double was accomplished with 18 points and a career-high 14 rebounds at Wisconsin (Feb. 28).
• 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 12 Big Ten Freshman of the Week Honors, breaking the the record previously set by Nebraska’s Jessica Shepard during the 2015-16 season.
• Clark’s five Big Ten Player of the Week nods are the most by a freshman in Big Ten women’s basketball history.
• 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 Semifinalists on March 2, which includes 11 student-athletes — two are freshmen (Paige Bueckers, UConn).
• Clark was named to the Dawn Staley Late Season Watch List on Feb. 5. The list includes 16 of the nation’s top guards in women’s basketball.
• Clark has been named the USBWA Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Week, four times, — a believed USBWA record — Jan. 5, Feb. 17, Feb. 23, and March 2.
• 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, Feb. 17, and March 3.

THEY’RE KIND OF A B1G DEAL

• Freshman Caitlin Clark has tallied 20 Big Ten Weekly honors on the season, including a Big Ten best 12 freshman honors, a Big Ten record five Big Ten Player of the Week honors as a freshman, and three Player of the Week Honor Roll nods. Minnesota’s Amanda Zahui B. previously held the record for most Player of the Week nods by a freshman. Clark’s five Big Ten Player of the Week honors as a freshman believed to be an 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.

YOU SERIOUS, CLARK?

• Freshman Caitlin Clark leads the NCAA in total assists (154), total points (596), 3-pointers made (87), and 3-pointers per game (3.95).
• Clark ranks second in assists per game (7.0), points per game (27.1), 3-pointer attempts (209), and triple doubles (1), third in field goals made (199), eighth in field goal attempts (412). She also ranks 17th in free-throws made (111), 26th in free-throw attempts (131), 34th in 3-point percentage (41.6), and 45th in free-throw percentage (84.7).
• Clark leads the Big Ten in 10 statistical categories, including total points (596), points per game (27.1), total assists (154), assists per game (7.0), field goals made (199), 3-pointers made (87), 3-pointers per game (3.95), free throws made (111), field goal attempts (412), and 3-pointers attempted (209).
• Clark is ranked second, in triple- doubles (1), third in 3-point percentage (41.6), free-throw percentage (84.7), and free throw attempts (131).
• 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. She now has 596 points on the season.
• Clark broke the Iowa women’s basketball all-time freshman assist record with 149 on the season, surpassing former Hawkeye Kathleen Doyle, who recorded 148 freshman assists during the 2016-17 season. Clark now has 154 assists on the season.
• Clark has recorded seven double-doubles, including a triple-double this season and recorded 10 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 12 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 three 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 14 assists against Wisconsin (Feb. 28) are the most from a Big Ten Freshman since she tallied 13 against Western Illinois (Dec. 22). Maryland’s Destiny Slocum also recorded 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.

RECORD WATCH

• Head coach Lisa Bluder is 11 wins away from the 800-career win mark.
• Freshman Caitlin Clark is four points away from the 600 mark, currently only for Hawkeyes have scored 600 points in a single season — none were freshmen.
• Junior Monika Czinano is approaching the 1,000-point milestone, recording 943 career points to date.

UP NEXT

The Hawkeyes head to Indianapolis, Indiana, for the 2021 Big Ten Tournament. Iowa opens tournament play on Wednesday. Game time and opponent are yet to be determined.