UNIVERSITY PARK, PA – The nationally-ranked Iowa women’s basketball team extended their win streak to eight games, defeating Penn State, 95-51, inside the Bryce Jordan Center on Sunday. The Hawkeyes are now, 11-1, in conference play.
12 Hawkeyes contributed points, with National Player of the Year candidate, Caitlin Clark leading the way. Clark registered her ninth career triple-double to tie for the second-most in NCAA women’s basketball history. The junior finished with 23 points, 14 assists, and 10 rebounds. Her Law Firm partner, Monika Czinano, finished with 14 points and four rebounds, and Kate Martin finished just shy of her second double-double of the season with 11 points and eight rebounds.
Martin sank early two free throws to put Iowa on the board. From there, the Hawkeyes took control of the game, going on a 12-point scoring run to close out the first quarter with a 19-9 lead.
McKenna Warnock had an early fast break layup to keep the foot on the gas for the Hawkeyes. The Lady Lions couldn’t stop Iowa’s transition game in the second, as Iowa scored 14 points off six fast breaks. Czinano led the way in the second quarter with eight points, and Molly Davis finished with five to head into halftime with a 23-point lead.
Iowa had a big third quarter, shooting 76 percent from the field with 16 of their 32 points coming from the bench. Addi O’Grady and Hannah Stuelke both had four points, and Taylor McCabe beat the buzzer, sinking a last-second three to give Iowa a, 77-40, lead and a lot of momentum going into the final quarter.
A 12-0 run to start the fourth quarter sealed the deal for Iowa and give them their eighth straight win, which is the second-best in the Big Ten.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Iowa held Penn State to nine points in the first quarter which ties a season-best for the Hawkeyes defensive unit in Big Ten play.
- Iowa extended its win streak against Penn State to eight.
- Clark extended her streak of scoring in double figures an astounding 75 games, which is a NCAA Division I best.
- Monika Czinano has shot at least 70% from the field in seven of the last eight games.
- Clark has netted a 3-point basket in 42 straight games. She has hit at least one 3-pointer in 83 career games.
- Clark is the only player in the nation with more than 610 points, 175 rebounds, 175 assists, and 30 steals this season.
- The Hawkeyes have won 14 out of its last 15 games dating back to Dec. 4, 2022.
QUOTING P. SUE BECKWITH, MD, HEAD COACH LISA BLUDER
I love pretty basketball. I love it when we pass the ball so well and when we run in transition. We did a lot of that today, and when you have 28 assists on 39 baskets that’s pretty special. Caitlin got a triple-double. I just don’t know if people understand how hard it is to get a triple-double and that she’s had nine. She’s only a junior, so that is amazing. Also, Monika has shot over 70% from the field in the last seven games. That’s almost unheard of. I do believe we have the best point-guard-center duo in America.
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UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes are set to travel to No. 4 Indiana on Feb. 9. Tip-off in Bloomington is set for 5:30 p.m. (CT) inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. The game will broadcast on BTN and the Hawkeye Radio Network.