Clark Cruises, No. 4 Iowa Trounces Loyola Chicago

Clark Cruises, No. 4 Iowa Trounces Loyola Chicago

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The fourth-ranked Iowa women’s basketball team downed Loyola-Chicago, 98-69, on Thursday night inside a sold-out Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa improved to 12-1 on the season

All-American Caitlin Clark registered a game-high 35 points, 17 rebounds, and 10 assists. The West Des Moines, Iowa, native tallied her second triple-double this season and 13th of her career.

Four Hawkeyes recorded double digits points. Hannah Stuelke bucketed 20 points, grabbing eight rebounds while Kate Martin scored 19 points. Sydney Affolter added 10 points with seven rebounds.

The Hawkeyes led the Ramblers by a basket, 21-19, after the first quarter. Clark, Martin, and Stuelke led the Hawkeyes in the first half, all scoring in double digits, to go into halftime with a 51-46, lead. Iowa outrebounded Loyola-Chicago, 22-14 in the first half.

Iowa pulled away in the second half outscoring Loyola, 28-15 in the third quarter. Clark scored 16 points grabbing four boards in the third.

It was more of the same in the final period. Iowa’s defense held LUC to nine points and to 3-of-17 from the field. By far UI’s best effort on the defensive end of the floor. 12 Hawkeyes saw action in Thursday night’s contest.

POSTGAME NOTES
– The Hawkeyes are off to their eighth 12-1 start in program history.
– Head Coach Lisa Bluder has led Iowa to four 12-1 starts, which is a program-high.
– National Player of the Year candidate, Caitlin Clark, surpassed Jerica Coley to become the NCAA’s seventh all-time leading scorer.
– Clark registered her 13th career triple-double, her and Sabrina Ionescu are the only players in college women’s basketball history to record a triple-double in four consecutive seasons.
– It was her second triple-double of the season. (35p, 17 r, and 10a)
– It was her 48th career double-double, she is now one shy of cracking the Big Ten’s all-time list.
– Clark has 49 career games with 25+ points, 5+ assists, and 5+ rebounds. (NCAA Best)
– Clark has registered 25+ points, 5+ assists, and 5+ rebounds in seven consecutive games which is the longest active streak nationally.
– Clark is now the all-time leader in 30+ point performances in men’s and women’s college basketball over the last 25 seasons. (43)
– Clark has scored 20+ points in 98-of-113 career games which is the most in program history.
– Kate Martin has scored 10+ points in eight out of the last nine games.
– Hannah Stuelke notched her seventh game of 10+ points this year and third 20+ point performance of her career.
– Sydney Affolter made her second career start with Gabbie Marshall sidelined.
– Iowa had four players register double figures.
– Clark has surpassed Krista VandeVenter as Iowa’s tenth all-time leading rebounder.
– Clark notched her career-high with 17 rebounds.
– Iowa is currently riding a nine-game winning streak.
– UI improved to 13-1 all-time against the Atlantic 10 Conference.
– Clark kept her alive streak of 71 consecutive games making a 3-point basket. (NCAA best)
– Since 2020-21, Iowa has scored 80+ points on 87 occasions which is the best nationally.
– Since 2020-21, Iowa has scored 90+ points 43 times which is also the best nationally.
– Marks Iowa’s ninth win this season by 20+ points.

QUOTING SUE P. BECKWITH, MD, HEAD COACH LISA BLUDER
“Caitlin has 17 rebounds tonight to go with her 10 assists and 35 points, but we had several good shooting performances. Kate Martin shot 68 percent; Hannah Stuelke shot 60 percent from the field. Our defense got a lot better in the second half, and we held them to 23 points in the second half. Loyola shot the ball extremely well tonight.”

FOLLOW US
Make sure to follow Iowa women’s basketball on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook (@IowaWBB) for news and updates all season long.

UP NEXT
The fourth-ranked Hawkeyes will return home to face Minnesota on Dec. 30. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. (CT) inside a sold-out Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The game will broadcast on BTN and the Hawkeye Radio Network.

POSTGAME NOTES
– The Hawkeyes are off to its ninth 11-1 start in program history.
– Head Coach Lisa Bluder has led Iowa to five 11-1 starts, which is a program-high.
– National Player of the Year candidate, Caitlin Clark, surpassed Iowa State’s Ashley Joens to become the NCAA’s ninth all-time leading scorer.
– It was Clark’s 13th game in her career with 35+ points, 5+ assists, 5+ rebounds which is the most in women’s college basketball since 2009-10.
– Clark tied her career-high with nine 3-point field goals made.
– Clark has 48 career games with 25+ points, 5+ assists, and 5+ rebounds. (NCAA Best)
– Clark is now the all-time leader in 30+ point performances in men’s and women’s college basketball over the last 25 seasons. (42)
– Clark has scored 20+ points in 97-of-112 career games which is the most in program history.
– Kate Martin has scored 10+ points in seven out of the last eight games.
– Hannah Stuelke notched her sixth game of 10+ points this year.
– Stuelke corralled her second career double-double.
– Marks the fourth time in Stuelke’s career she has registered 10+ rebounds.
– Sharon Goodman notched 10+ rebounds for the second time in her career.
– Iowa is 4-0 in neutral site contests this season.
– The Hawkeyes snapped Cleveland State’s nine-game winning streak.
– Iowa registered a season-high 17 made free throws in the first half.
– Iowa is currently riding an eight-game winning streak.
– Clark kept her alive streak of 70 consecutive games making a 3-point basket. (NCAA best)
– Since 2020-21, Iowa has scored 80+ points on 86 occasions which is the best nationally.
– Since 2020-21, Iowa has scored 90+ points 42 times which is also the best nationally.
– Marks Iowa’s eighth win this season by 20+ points.
– 27th time in program history Iowa has scored 100+ points in a single game.

QUOTING SUE P. BECKWITH, MD, HEAD COACH LISA BLUDER
“First off, I want to thank the people of Des Moines. They really came out for us. It was just a great atmosphere. It was electric, and I just think a lot of these people haven’t been able to see us play live, and so it was an opportunity for them to do so. I thought we did a nice job putting on a good show.”

FOLLOW US
Make sure to follow Iowa women’s basketball on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook (@IowaWBB) for news and updates all season long.

UP NEXT
The fourth-ranked Hawkeyes will return home to face Loyola Chicago on Thursday in its non-conference finale. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. (CT) inside a sold-out Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The game will broadcast on BTN+ (subscription required) and the Hawkeye Radio Network.