ESTERO, Florida – The fifth-ranked Iowa women’s basketball team advanced to the Finals of the Gulf Coast Showcase after defeating Florida Gulf Coast University, 100-62, on Saturday night inside Hertz Arena. Lisa Bluder recorded her 500th career win at the University of Iowa.
All-American Caitlin Clark led the team with 21 points, six assists, and six rebounds. Sophomore Taylor McCabe recorded a career-high 18 points going 6-7 from the three-point line.
The defense came out strong holding FGCU to eight points only scored by the Eagles’ Dolly Cairns in the first quarter. The Hawkeyes went on a 13-0 run in the midst of the quarter to lead 26-8 after 10 minutes.
Five Hawkeyes sunk threes in the first half shooting 53.3% from deep and 61.8% from the field. The Hawkeye played aggressive out-rebounding FGCU, 24-9 to go in the half with a 55-19 lead.
In the second half, McCabe went 5-of-5 from three and Gabbie Marshall downed four threes as well.
Five Hawkeyes recorded double digits in tonight’s matchup. Sydney Affolter played strong off the bench with 12 points shooting 100% from the floor, going 3-for-3 from the deep. Kate Martin recorded 11 points, all in the first half.
POSTGAME NOTES
– Lisa Bluder notched her 500th career win at the University of Iowa.
– Bluder is third among active Division-I women’s college basketball coaches with 856 career wins.
– Iowa broke the school record for most made 3-pointers in one game. (20)
– Clark has scored 20 or more points in 92 of her 107 career games at the University of Iowa which is the most in school history.
– Sydney Affolter registered a season-high with three made 3-pointers.
– Iowa’s game against FGCU broke the Gulf Coast Showcase all-time record with 4,287 fans in attendance.
– Taylor McCabe registered a career-high 18 points and six three pointers made.
– Clark has netted a 3-point basket in 65 consecutive games which is an NCAA-best.
– Sharon Goodman recorded eight points, five rebounds, and a block. (3-3 FG)
– Goodman has shot 60%+ from the floor in six out of seven games this year.
– UI finished the first quarter on a 17-3 run.
– Iowa has shot 50%+ from the floor in 12 straight quarters.
– UI shot 61% from the field in the first half and took a 55-19 lead into halftime.
– Since the start of the 2020-21 season, the Hawkeyes offense has scored 80+ points on 83 occasions which is the most nationally.
– The Hawkeyes have scored 90+ points on 40 occasions which is also an NCAA-best since 2020-21.
QUOTING P. SUE BECKWITH, MD, HEAD COACH LISA BLUDER
“I was very happy with the way we played in the first half. I thought our team was very focused for this game. When you don’t have time for a practice and you just really have that time for that scout meeting and an one hour walk through, I thought our players were really focused. I was happy with the way we passed the ball and shot, but I am almost more happy with the way we defended and rebounded.”
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UP NEXT
The fifth-ranked Hawkeyes will play in the Finals of the Gulf Coast Showcase taking on No. 16/22 Kansas State on Sunday night. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. (CT) inside Hertz Arena in Estero, Florida. The contest will air on FloHoops (subscription required) and the Hawkeye Radio Network.
