WBB Notebook: at Big Ten Tournament Semifinals

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa women’s basketball team (6 seed) continues its Big Ten Tournament run on Friday, March 12 as the Hawkeyes take on 7-seed Michigan State. Tipoff is set 3 p.m. (CT) on FS2.

WATCH/FOLLOW ALONG

  • Friday’s contest will be live streamed on FS2.
  • The game can also be streamed on the Fox Sports Go app. Fans can login with their TV provider credentials.
  • 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.

B1G QUARTERFINALS

  • The Hawkeyes advanced to the Big Ten Tournament semifinals for the second time in three years and the 12th time in school history. The Hawkeyes are 12-11 all-time in Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals and raise their overall tournament record to 28-24 (.538).
  • Iowa secured its third win over a Top 25 team this season with its win over No. 19/23 Rutgers. The Hawkeyes’ ranked wins include No. RV/24 Iowa State and No. 12/12 Michigan.
  • In the first half, the Hawkeyes only allowed 25 Scarlet Knight points, tying the season low. Rutgers’ final score of 62 is  the fewest points allowed in a game this season.
  • Three Hawkeyes scored 20 or more points on Thursday, including Gabbie Marshall (27), Caitlin Clark (21), and Monika Czinano(20) — the first time a team has accomplished the feat in the Big Ten Tournament since March 1, 2018, when Michigan State had three 20-point scorers, including Shay Colley (27), Taya Reimer (22), and Taryn McCutcheon (21) in a 111-109 quadruple-overtime loss to Indiana.
  • Junior Monika Czinano posted 20 points, breaking into the 1,000-point club. Czinano is the 38th Hawkeye to score 1,000 points in their career.
  • Sophomore Gabbie Marshall had a career-night, tallying 27 points, seven 3-pointers made, 10 field goals made, and seven rebounds to set career highs.
  • Freshman Caitlin Clark recorded her eighth double-double on the season, scoring 21 points and dishing out 10 assists.
  • Sophomore McKenna Warnock recorded her eighth game this season with 10 or more rebounds, pulling down 12.

B1G SECOND ROUND

  • Iowa defeated Purdue (11 seed) in its first game of the Big Ten Tournament, 83-72, recording its fourth-straight win over Purdue and seventh in the past 11 meetings. Purdue holds the all-time series record, leading 40-35.
  • Junior Monika Czinano’s recorded a career-high 38 points to tie for the fourth-most points in a Big Ten Tournament game and most since March 10, 2019, when Iowa’s own Megan Gustafson scored 45 points in the Big Ten Tournament championship game against Maryland.
  • Czinano made 16-of-18 shots (.889) from the field, the second-highest single-game field-goal percentage in Big Ten Tournament history (with a minimum of 10 made field goals) and best since March 10, 2013 when Purdue’s Drey Mingo set the record at .909 (10-of-11) against Michigan State in the Big Ten Tournament championship game.
  • Czinano’s 16 made field goals are third-most for a single game in Big Ten Tournament history and most since Iowa’s Megan Gustafson made 17 field goals on March 10, 2019, against Maryland.
  • Czinano and freshman guard Caitlin Clark (27 points) narrowly missed becoming the first teammates in Big Ten Tournament history to each score 30 points in the same game.
  • P. Sue Beckwith, MD, Head Coach Lisa Bluder improves to 21-18 (.538) all-time at the Big Ten Tournament, recording the second most on the tournament’s career coaching wins list passing Ohio State’s Jim Foster and Penn State’s Rene Portland with 20 wins, each. Purdue’s Sharon Versyp has the most wins in Big Ten Tournament history, now 25-12 (.676), with two wins coming while she was the coach at Indiana.

SCOUTING MICHIGAN STATE

  • Michigan State is 15-7 on the season and 8-7 in conference play, winning its last three contests.
  • Nia Clouden leads the Spartans, averaging 18.5 points per game, and Alyza Winston follows with 10.3 points per game.
  • Alisia Smith averages 6.8 rebounds per game and Taiyier Parks averages 5.7 per game.
  • Clouden has 54 assists on the season, while Tory Ozment and Janai Crooms each add 42.

THE SERIES

  • Iowa leads the all-time series, 39-30, with the two teams splitting the last 10 games, 5-5.
  • The Hawkeyes fell to the Spartans in mid-December, 82-86.
  • In the first meeting this season, freshman Caitlin Clark score a game-high 35 points and junior Monika Czinano tallied 24. Sophomore McKenna Warnock pulled down 12 boards and dished out six assists. Clark blocked two shots and redshirt sophomore had three steals.

HAWKEYES ON THE SEASON

  • Iowa is 17-8 on the season and 11-8 in conference play, winning its first Big Ten tournament matchup over Purdue, 83-72, and followed with a 73-62 win in the Big Ten Quarterfinals over No. 19/23 Rutgers.
  • Freshman Caitlin Clark leads the Hawkeyes, averaging 27.2 points. Junior Monika Czinano and sophomore McKenna Warnock follow, averaging 19.1 and 11.6 points per game, respectively.
  • Warnock leads the Hawkeyes, averaging 7.8 rebounds per game, while Clark and Czinano follow with 6.0 and 5.8 per game, respectively.
  • Sophomore Gabbie Marshall leads Iowa with 48 steals. Redshirt sophomore Kate Martin and Clark follow on the season with 33 and 31 steals, respectively. 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.
  • 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.

B1G STANDINGS

  • As a team, the Hawkeyes are leading the Big Ten Conference in field-goal percentage (51.7), 3-point percentage (41.0), total assists (511), assists per game (20.4), 3-pointers made (240), and 3-pointers per game (9.6).
  • Iowa ranks second in scoring offense (86.7), free-throw percentage (79.1), and free throws made (337). They rank third in assist turnover ratio (1.4).

RANKING B1G INDIVIDUALS

  • Hawkeye individuals rank in the Big Ten top-five in 22 statistical categories.
  • Freshman Caitlin Clark leads the Big Ten in 11 statistical categories, including total points (679), points per game (27.2), 3-pointers made (96), total assists (177), assists per game (7.1), field goals made (225), 3-pointers per game (3.84), and free throws made (133).
  • Clark ranks second in free-throw percentage (85.8) and third in 3-point percentage (41.0).
  • Junior Monika Czinano leads the conference in field-goal percentage (67.1), ranks second in field goals made (208) and final points (478), and fourth in points per game (19.1).
  • Sophomore Gabbie Marshall ranks third in the conference in total steals (48) and fifth in 3-pointers made (48).
  • Redshirt sophomore Kate Martin ranks fourth in turnover assist ratio (2.62) and sophomore McKenna Warnock ranks fourth in rebounds (188).

NATIONALLY SPEAKING

  • As a team, Iowa is ranked in the top-10, nationally, in nine statistical categories, leading in field goal percentage (51.7) and 3-point percentage (41.0), rank second in scoring offense (86.7), fourth in total assists (511) and assists per game (20.4), fifth in 3-pointers made (240), sixth in free-throw percentage (79.1), seventh in assist turnover (1.4), and ninth in 3-pointers per game (9.6).
  • Junior Monika Czinano, freshman Caitlin Clark, and redshirt sophomore Kate Martin rank among the top-45, nationally, in 18 statistical categories, including Czinano’s leading field-goal percentage (67.1), shooting 208-of-310 from the field.
  • Clark leads the NCAA in total points (679), total assists (177), points per game (27.2), and 3-pointers made (96).
  • Clark ranks second in assists per game (7.1), field goals made (225), 3-pointers per game (3.84), and ranks ninth in free-throws made (133). She ranks 32nd in 3-point percentage (41.0)and free-throw percentage (85.8).
  • Czinano also ranks fourth in field goals made (208), 23rd in final points (478), and 44th in points per game (19.1).
  • Martin ranks 18th in assist turnover ratio (2.62).

DOUBLE-DOUBLES

  • Four Hawkeyes have recorded double-doubles this season, including freshman Caitlin Clark (8), sophomore McKenna Warnock (4), junior Monika Czinano (2), and redshirt sophomore Kate Martin (1).
  • Clark has recorded eight double-doubles on the season, including a triple-double against Western Illinois (Dec. 22). She recorded the other seven against Drake (Dec. 2), Minnesota (Jan. 6), at Ohio State (Jan. 13), at Minnesota (Jan. 31), at Wisconsin (Feb. 28), and against Rutgers (March 11). Clark’s most recent double-double was accomplished with 21 points and 10 assists against Rutgers in the Big Ten Quarterfinals.
  • 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.

YOU SERIOUS, CLARK?

  • Freshman Caitlin Clark leads the NCAA in total points (679), total assists (177), points per game (27.2), and 3-pointers made (96).
  • Clark ranks second in assists per game (7.1), field goals made (225), 3-pointers per game (3.84), and ranks ninth in free-throws made (133). She ranks 32nd in 3-point percentage (41.0)and free-throw percentage (85.8).
  • Clark leads the Big Ten in 11 statistical categories, including total points (679), points per game (27.2), 3-pointers made (96), total assists (177), assists per game (7.1), field goals made (225), 3-pointers per game (3.84), and free throws made (133).
  • Clark ranks second in free-throw percentage (85.8) and third in 3-point percentage (41.0).
  • 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 679 points on the season — the third most points in a single season by a Hawkeye.
  • Clark broke the Iowa women’s basketball all-time freshman assist record, recording her 149th assist against No. 10 Indiana (March 3), surpassing former Hawkeye Kathleen Doyle, who recorded 148 freshman assists during the 2016-17 season. Clark now has 177 assists on the season.
  • Clark has recorded eight double-doubles, including a triple-double this season, and she has registered 11 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.

B1G RECORD-BREAKING HAWKS

  • Freshman Caitlin Clark tallied 13 Big Ten Freshman of the Week Honors, breaking the previous record (10) 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. 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 are believed to be an NCAA record.
  • 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 an ESPN Second Team All-American on March 11.
  • 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 one of five Dawn Staley Award finalists on March 7. She joins UConn’s Paige Bueckers as the only underclassmen.
  • 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.

B1G AWARDS FOR B1G ATHLETES

  • Freshman Caitlin Clark was named the Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Year, as voted on by the coaches and media, the conference office announced on March 8.
  • Clark also earned unanimous first team All-Big Ten honors (coaches & media) and was unanimously selected to the all-freshman team.
  • Junior Monika Czinano also earned first team All-Big Ten accolades from the coaches and the media.
  • Redshirt sophomore Kate Martin was named Iowa’s Sportsmanship Award honoree.
  • Clark, a native of West Des Moines, Iowa, is the sixth Hawkeye in program history to be named Big Ten Freshman of the Year and first since Jaime Printy in 2010. She is the first Hawkeye freshman to earn first team All-Big Ten honors.
  • In 19 conference contests this season, Clark averaged 27.7 points, 6.6 assists, 4.2, 3-pointers and shot 48.7 percent from the field. She registered double figures in all but one of Iowa’s Big Ten games, including nine 30-point games and eight additional 20-point games. Clark assisted on five or more baskets 14 times and recorded double-doubles in five conference contests.
  • Clark leads the nation in total points (631), points per game (27.4), 3-pointers made (92), and 3-pointers per game (4.0). She ranks second in total assists (158), field goals made (210), 3-pointers attempted (219) and triple-doubles (1), and ranks fourth in assists per game (6.9) and field goal attempts (431).
  • Czinano earns the second All-Big Ten honor of her career. In 19 conference games, she averaged 17.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, and shot a Big Ten-best 64.7 percent from the field. She posted 17 double-figure games, including four 20-plus point performances and a career-high 34 points against No. 23 Northwestern (Jan. 28).
  • The Watertown, Minnesota, native leads the nation in field-goal percentage (65.7) and ranks 12th in field goals made (182).
  • Martin leads the Hawkeyes in assist/turnover ratio (2.47), ranking fourth in the Big Ten and 30th nationally. Against Big Ten opponents, she recorded four double-figure games and her first career double-double (Penn State; Feb. 18).

THEY’RE KIND OF A B1G DEAL

  • Freshman Caitlin Clark has tallied 22 Big Ten Weekly honors on the season, including a Big Ten best 13 freshman honors, a Big Ten record five Big Ten Player of the Week honors as a freshman, and four 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.

RECORD WATCH

  • Head coach Lisa Bluder is eight wins away from the 800-career win mark.

B1G IN THE RANKS

  • Five Big Ten teams are ranked on the AP Poll, including No. 7 Maryland, No. 9 Indiana, No. 13 Michigan, No. 19 Rutgers, and No. 22 Ohio State. Iowa is receiving five votes.
  • The conference is represented by five schools on the USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll, including No. 8 Maryland, No. 9 Indiana, No. 12 Michigan, No. 23 Rutgers, and No. 24 Ohio State. Northwestern received 26 votes and Iowa received 13 votes.