ESTERO, Florida — The fifth-ranked University of Iowa women’s basketball team notched a 77-70 win over No. 16 Kansas State in the championship of the Gulf Coast Showcase Sunday night inside Hertz Arena. The win improves Iowa’s record to 7-1 on the season.
There were 10 lead changes in the entertaining matchup as All-American Caitlin Clark had a game-high 32 points, five rebounds and six assists. Kate Martin registered a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Iowa came out strong in the first quarter with four different Hawkeyes scoring a triple to lead 27-15 after 10 minutes. Kansas State made its way back into the game outscoring the Hawkeyes 23-12 in the second quarter to give Iowa a one-point advantage at half.
The Hawkeyes had a strong third quarter outscoring Kansas State 24-16. The Wildcats responded with an 11-0 run in the fourth period to take a one-point lead with 2:44 left to play. The Hawkeyes answered as Martin scored a layup and Clark downed three from behind the arc to lead Iowa to victory to avenge a previous loss to the Wildcats 10 days ago in Iowa City.
Molly Davis chipped in 13 points, while Sharon Goodman shot 66 percent from the field and tallied six rebounds.
POSTGAME NOTES
– It marks Iowa’s first regular season tournament title since the 2017-18 season (Puerto Rico Classic).
– Caitlin Clark was named the GC Showcase Most Valuable Player.
– Molly Davis earned All-Tournament honors.
– Bluder is third among active Division-I women’s college basketball coaches with 857 career wins.
– Bluder has led Iowa to 10 regular season tournament titles.
– Clark recorded a team-high 32 points, six assists, and five rebounds.
– Over the last 25 seasons, no one has recorded more 30+ points games than Clark (40).
– Clark has 45 career games with 25+ points, 5+ assists, and 5+ rebounds (NCAA Best).
– Clark has scored 20 or more points in 93 of her 108 career games at the University of Iowa, which is the most in school history.
– It was Davis’ third game this season in double figures and sixth as a Hawkeye.
– Martin nearly reached a double-double with 11 points, nine rebounds and an assist.
– Iowa snapped a three-game losing streak to Kansas State.
– Clark has netted a 3-point basket in 66 consecutive games, which is an NCAA-best.
– Goodman has shot 60%+ from the floor in seven out of eight games this year
– Iowa has shot 50%+ from the floor in 14 of the last 16 quarters.
– The Hawkeyes have shot 40%+ from deep in four straight contests.
QUOTING P. SUE BECKWITH, MD, HEAD COACH LISA BLUDER
“We played three games in three days, which is great preparation for our Big Ten Tournament where we have to do the same sort of thing. I am really proud of our team and their focus going from day to day to day. It’s mentally and physically taxing playing three games in three days, and I thought they did a great job on handling that. Kansas State is a great team and it feels really good to get the redemption win.”
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UP NEXT
The fifth-ranked Hawkeyes will return home to host Bowling Green on Saturday afternoon. Tipoff is set for 12:30 p.m. (CT) inside a sold-out Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The contest will air on FS1 and the Hawkeye Radio Network.
