Caitlin Clark and Iowa are Headed Back to the Sweet 16
Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes survived a scare in the second round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament on Monday night. Clark scored 32 as the Hawkeyes won an ugly 64-54 game against the West Virginia Mountaineers. With the victory Iowa advances to the Sweet 16 in Albany, New York, where they will face the No. 5 seed Colorado Buffaloes.
Clark, playing her final game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, struggled from the field, but was not alone as the two teams combined to make just 38 of 109 shots (34.8 percent). Clark finished with 32 points on 8-of-22 shooting and accounted for all five of the Hawkeyes' three-pointers on 14 attempts. In more positive news, Iowa's star broke Kelsey Plum's single-season NCAA scoring record with a late free throw.
JJ Quinerly led West Virginia with 15 points. The junior made a layup with 2:58 remaining that tied the game at 52. She attempted a go-ahead three-pointer for the lead on the next possession, but was blocked by Gabbie Marshall.
Iowa's Sydney Affolter scored the go-ahead layup a few seconds later and the Hawkeyes never looked back, finishing the game on a 12-2 run.
As rough as the game was, it was all forgotten when the final buzzer sounded. The home crowd immediately started to celebrate Clark and fellow seniors Marshall and Kate Martin. Marshall was held scoreless, but played great defense, while Martin scored seven points and collected 10 rebounds.
All three seniors returned to Iowa this season to try and win a championship. That journey will continue on Saturday.
Stephen Douglas is a writer at The Big Lead.
