Caitlin Clark scored 32 points and No 1 seed Iowa survived one of their worst offensive performances of the season to beat No 8 seed West Virginia 64-54 on Monday night in the women’s NCAA Tournament second-round. The Hawkeyes will play No 5 seed Colorado in the Sweet Sixteen on Saturday.
Sydney Affolter’s three-point play with 2:03 to play, the Hawkeyes’ lone field goal of the fourth quarter, gave Iowa a 55-52 lead. Clark and Hannah Stuelke closed the game with nine free throws to clinch the win.
As time ran out on the final home game of her college career, Clark, who became the NCAA’s Division I all-time scoring leader this season, circled the court, making a heart-shaped symbol with her hands as the sellout crowd cheered. Her 32 points gave Clark 1,113 for the season, breaking the previous single season record set by Kelsey Plum (1,109).
“I think we used our crowd,” Clark said of the final stretch. “We gave up a 10-0 run to start the quarter, but this team was never flustered. It speaks to our experience … Wanted to go out on a high note.”
But the victory was not easy. Iowa came into the game leading the nation in scoring at 92.8 points per game, but the Hawkeyes were held to their lowest single-game point total this season. Iowa shot just 36.4% from the field. Affolter had 13 points, while Stuelke added 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Iowa seemed to have control of the game after an 8-0 run over the final 1:25 of the third quarter gave the Hawkeyes a 48-38 lead. But West Virginia opened the fourth quarter with a 10-0 run to tie the game with 5:18 to play, setting up a tense finish.
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