Caitlin Clark led Iowa to the Sweet 16 of the Seattle 4 Regional with an outstanding performance against Georgia. She scored 22 points and had 12 assists, becoming the only women’s player to have back-to-back NCAA tournament games of at least 20 points and 10 assists. Iowa’s starting five accounted for all of their points, with Monika Czinano scoring 20 points, Gabbie Marshall 15, McKenna Warnock 14, and Kate Martin three. Clark, who leads Division I in assists per game, now averages 8.6 assists and 26.8 points. Iowa coach Lisa Bluder praised Clark’s skills as an unbelievable passer with incredible vision. Clark’s leadership and determination to take the final-minute shot that secured Iowa’s Sweet 16 spot will be crucial in their next game.
Iowa’s Caitlin Clark leads team to Sweet 16 after upsetting Georgia
Caitlin Clark’s determination to not let Iowa lose again pushed her to victory over Georgia, securing their spot in the Sweet 16 of the Seattle 4 Regional. The Hawkeyes faced a close game with the Bulldogs, the No. 10 seed, but with a two-point lead and less than a minute left, Clark scored to give Iowa a 74-66 win.
Clark’s previous disappointment of being upset at home by a 10-seed in the women’s NCAA tournament was not forgotten, and she wasn’t going to let it happen again. Her performance on Sunday earned her 22 points and 12 assists, making her the only women’s player to have back-to-back NCAA tournament games of at least 20 points and 10 assists.
Clark’s incredible performance during the game was highlighted by her scoring or assisting on 57.99% of her team’s points, and during one stretch, she scored or assisted on 27 consecutive points. Her last basket, which sealed Iowa’s victory, came as she dribbled time off the clock and then got past her defender for a pull-up jump shot with 47 seconds left.
This will be the second Sweet 16 appearance for Clark and the Hawkeyes, who also got that far in her freshman season in 2021 but lost to UConn. They will face the winner of Monday’s matchup between Duke and Colorado in the next round. Clark’s determination and leadership will be crucial for Iowa to continue its successful run in the tournament.
Iowa’s Caitlin Clark Leads Team to Sweet 16 with Four Free Throws
Caitlin Clark’s impressive performance in leading Iowa to a Sweet 16 spot included scoring four free throws. After Georgia was called for an intentional foul when Gabbie Marshall was hit in the face, Clark took the foul shots, and then she was shoved to the floor for two more free throws. Clark shrugged off the late-game chippy plays, saying she’s used to that by now and doesn’t let it rattle her.
Despite reserve post player Hannah Stuelke being injured, the Hawkeyes’ experienced starting five accounted for all of Iowa’s points. Clark, who leads Division I in assists per game, had 22 points. Monika Czinano had 20 points, Gabbie Marshall 15, McKenna Warnock 14, and Kate Martin three. Clark is now averaging 8.6 assists per game, along with 26.8 points, and has made 115 3-pointers.
Iowa coach Lisa Bluder praised Clark’s skills as an unbelievable passer with incredible vision. Clark’s leadership and determination to take the final-minute shot that secured Iowa’s Sweet 16 spot will be crucial in their next game. Clark said she’s never going to shy away from having the ball in her hands, even if the shot doesn’t go down, because she knows she can do it for the team.
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