MINNEAPOLIS — The second-seeded and third-ranked University of Iowa women’s basketball team defeated sixth-seeded Michigan, 95-68, inside a sold-out Target Center on Saturday afternoon to advance to the Big Ten Tournament Championship for the fourth consecutive year. Iowa completes the season sweep over the Wolverines and have scored 90+ against Michigan five straight times dating back to 2022.
Four starters finished in double figures with All-American Caitlin Clark registering game highs in points (28) and assists (15), while also snagging four rebounds. Clark’s 15 dimes are third most in a Big Ten Tournament game (Clark had 17 versus Ohio State last March). Hannah Stuelke made all seven field-goal attempts to finish with 16 points. Sydney Affolter added 12 points with seven rebounds and a career-high eight assists in her fifth career start, while Kate Martin tallied 13 points and six boards.
“It’s amazing – the culture that we have… how much they care for each other. I mean they have each others’ backs. They love each other.” @LisaBluder shares what makes this @IowaWBB so special 🫶 pic.twitter.com/FfNJ1EBqHI
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) March 9, 2024
The Hawkeyes started the game in control while maintaining the lead through the first five minutes. The Wolverines sank all six 3-point attempts, going on a 10-0 run before Stuelke snapped the streak with a bucket in the paint. Gabbie Marshall sunk a triple at the buzzer to bring Michigan’s lead to three going into the second quarter.
Iowa responded in the second quarter by outscoring the Wolverines, 29-17. The Hawkeyes shot 70.6 percent from the field in the half to go into the break with a 51-42 advantage. Clark tallied 19 points and 11 assists in the first half to gather her 63rd double-double in the first 15 minutes of the contest.
In the third, the Hawkeyes outrebounded the Wolverines ,14-8, while holding them to one triple in the quarter. Out of a timeout with 7:35 to play in the fourth quarter, McCabe, Martin, and Marshall netted back-to-back-to-back threes to stretch Iowa’s lead to 31 points, its largest of the game.
Iowa dominated the Wolverines in the post, outscoring Michigan 54-16 in the paint. The Hawkeyes finished with 30 assists, breaking the Big Ten Tournament single game record.
ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER RECORD FALLS
Clark’s third free throw made broke the Big Ten’s career free throws made record, previously held by Purdue’s Shereka Wright. Clark has sank 778 free throws in her four-year career.
POSTGAME NOTES
– National Player of the Year candidate, Caitlin Clark, registered her 29th career game with 25+ points and 10+ assists. Since 2009, the next closest player has done it five times.
– Clark is now the Big Ten’s all-time leader in free throws made.
– Clark surpassed Ohio State’s Kelsey Mitchell for the Big Ten Tournament’s all-time leading scorer.
– Iowa has advanced to five out of the last six Big Ten Tournament Championships.
– The Hawkeyes are eyeing their first ever three-peat at the conference tournament.
– Clark eclipsed 1,000 points this year for the second consecutive season.
– She is the first Division I college basketball player to record back-to-back 1,000-point seasons.
– Sydney Affolter has registered back-to-back 10+ point performances at the BTT.
– Over the last two seasons, Iowa has won 59 games, the best two-year stretch in program history.
– Iowa is 4-0 all-time against Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament.
– Iowa is 37-25 all-time in Big Ten Tournament action.
– Iowa is 14-2 in its last 16 Big Ten Tournament contests.
– Iowa is 43-6 against Big Ten opponents since Feb. 9, 2022.
– Gabbie Marshall is 14-of-25 over the last four games from 3-point range.
– Marshall (159) and Martin (157) are eyeing Monika Czinano’s games played record (162).
– Among active players who didn’t transfer, Marshall (123) and Martin (120) are third and fourth nationally for most active wins in a career.
– Clark leads the country in 20+ point games this season with 32.
– Clark is the only player in the country with 900+ points, 280+ assists, and 225+ rebounds this season.
– Since the start of the 2020-21 season, Iowa leads the nation with 103 games of 80+ points.
– UI has scored 80 or more points 26 times this season.
– Iowa leads the Big Ten with 23 games of 90+ points this season.
– The country’s best offense has record 90+ points in 12 out of the last 14 games.
– Clark has scored 20+ points in 117-of-132 career games which is the most in program history.
– Clark kept her streak alive of 89 consecutive games making a 3-point basket. (NCAA best)
– Clark is the first Division-I men’s or women’s player to record 3,700+ points, 1,000+ assists, and 850+ rebounds in a career.
CAITLIN CLARK FROM THE LOGO!!!!! ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED! 💥@CaitlinClark22 X @IowaWBB pic.twitter.com/fWzUIpcChb
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) March 9, 2024
QUOTING P. SUE BECKWITH, MD, HEAD COACH LISA BLUDER
“Obviously I thought our second half was really good. Our defense was good. We finally got out on those three-point shooters. They were 2-for-10 from threes in the second half after shooting really, really well the first half. I am happy with the way that we took care of the boards and valued the ball: 30 assists, set a Big Ten record for that while Caitlin has 15 on her own. I thought Syd, again, just was outstanding. She has the highest plus-minus of anybody. Eight assists and seven rebounds for Syd. She’s doing a great job for us, playing so strong, so physically. Man, I just thought we had some beautiful passing in the second half, just sharing the ball. It’s so much fun when we play like that and when everybody is getting involved like that.”
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UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes will challenge Nebraska on Sunday at 11 a.m. (CT) in the championship of the Big Ten Tournament. The game will air on CBS, Sirius XM, and the Hawkeye Radio Network.