SEATTLE, WA – The No. 2-seed Iowa women’s basketball team took down No. 6-seed Colorado, 87-77 Climate Pledge Arena on Friday night to advance to its fifth Elite 8 in program history.
Four of Iowa’s starters netted double figures, with National Player of the Year front runner, Caitlin Clark recorded her 11th game with 30 or more points this season finishing with 31 points, eight assists, three rebounds, and two steals. Kate Martin finished with 16 points, six rebounds, and three assists to record her 10th double-digit game of the year. Monika Czinano finished with 15 points and seven rebounds, and McKenna Warnock had 12 points and four rebounds.
The Hawkeyes got out to a hot start with a, 7-0, run in the first three minutes of the first to take a quick, 12-4, lead. Colorado went on their own 10-point scoring run to tie it all at 15, but a step back three from Clark to regain the lead. Iowa was able to keep it for the remaining of the first and went into the second quarter up by one.
There were five lead changes in the second, with six different Hawkeyes scoring. An assist from Gabbie Marshall gave Martin her first three of the game to give Iowa a four-point lead at the start of the second. With Clark in foul trouble, Colorado held the Hawkeyes to a three-minute scoring drought. Sydney Affolter stepped up with a steal to give Marshall an easy layup to get Iowa within one. Martin followed up with her own assist to Czinano, as the fifth year was made a contested jumper to get fouled. She sunk her free throw to take a two-point lead, but the Buffs made a last-second bucket to take a, 40-39, lead at half.
UNREAL FINISH BY @McKennaWarnock.
And a pretty good pass too, @CaitlinClark22 #Hawkeyes x #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/UYC8xkus1j
— Iowa Women’s Basketball (@IowaWBB) March 25, 2023
Iowa came out in the third more relaxed, shooting 69 percent from the field. A block from Czinano set up Clark in transition, who dished it off to Warnock for an easy bucket to force a Colorado timeout. From there, Clark scored the following nine points for Iowa to take a, 57-44, lead. Free throws from Addison O’Grady, Martin, and Warnock gave Iowa breathing room and headed into the final 10 minutes with an 11-point lead.
Marshall had the first five points for the Hawkeyes to spread the lead to 12. Buckets were traded between the two teams, but a late, 7-0, run from Iowa solidified the win and gave the Hawkeyes their first Elite 8 appearance since 2019.
Elite Vibes. #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/xHp8UZKLmZ
— Iowa Women’s Basketball (@IowaWBB) March 25, 2023
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
• Four of Iowa’s starters netted double figures.
• Iowa will be making its fifth appearance in the Elite 8 in program history.
• Iowa has shot 50% or better from the field in in 13 of its last 16 quarters.
• Iowa is 9-3 in the NCAA Tournament since 2019.
• In tournament play, Gabbie Marshall is 20-37 from 3-point range.
• Clark has registered the second most points in a single season in Big Ten Conference history. (943)
• Iowa has been to the Elite 8 twice since 2019.
• Monika Czinano recorded a team-best seven rebounds.
• The Hawkeyes outscored the Buffs, 25-13 in the third quarter.
• Most points Colorado has given up this season. (87)
• Iowa is 12-4 all-time as 2-Seed in the NCAA Tournament.
• Iowa’s 29 wins ties for the most in program history.
• Clark’s 33rd career 30-point performance, she has netted 30 or more in 11 games this year.
• Clark is the only player in the nation with more than 935 points, 240 rebounds, 290 assists, and 45 steals this season.
QUOTING P. SUE BECKWITH, MD, HEAD COACH LISA BLUDER
“Well, we’re thrilled, obviously, to be in the Elite 8. Beat a really good Colorado team tonight. Third quarter was a real big difference-maker for us. I thought in the third quarter, we got our transition game going. We really did a good job on Frida Formann. She was having a spectacular first half and we held her to two points. Thrilled that our team — we have four people in double figures. I think Addison O’Grady came in and did a great job for us when we were in a little bit of foul trouble with Monika. She used her height in there and really happy for Addison and how she contributed to this win today.”
Marching On 😎@MckennaWarnock x #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/Z3FnW5AOJC
— Iowa Women’s Basketball (@IowaWBB) March 25, 2023
UP NEXT
2-Seed Iowa will play 5-Seed Louisville in the Elite 8 of the NCAA Tournament in Seattle. Tipoff for Sunday’s game is at 6 p.m. (PT) inside Climate Pledge Arena.
