Iowa Hawkeyes star Caitlin Clark averages 22.5 shots per game and leads the nation in scoring with 31.8 points per game. She is starting to prove to be much more than just a scorer.
Clark also led the nation in assists with 8.8 per game. In the Hawkeyes dominant Sweet 16 win over Colorado, Clark scored 29 points and dished a game-high 15 assists. The point guard only turned the ball over two times Saturday.
“She’s had a few too many turnovers lately and tonight she just did an unbelievable [job],” Bluder said. “You don’t get that way without taking risks. And she took some risks, it paid off for her.”
With Clark’s excellent ball distribution, the Hawkeyes had four other players score double figures. Clark scored the first points against Colorado on a drive to the basket. She quickly switched toward feeding teammates, largely sophomore forward Hannah Stuelke and junior guard Sydney Affolter. This shows her ability to adapt her game strategy based on the team’s needs and her strong rapport with her teammates.
Clark became the second player since 2003 to have at least 25 points and 15 assists in an NCAA women’s tournament game, joining Courtney Vandersloot (2011), per College Basketball Reference.
“More than anything I think [it’s] just building off this win today,” Clark said. “I think this was the first time in about three games we were able to put together what felt like a complete basketball game on both ends of the floor, whether it was in transition or on defense or really executing our offense.”
This season, Clark has had 20 games with ten assists or more. She is also willing to rebound, averaging 7.3 rebounds a game. Clark’s rebounding helps the Hawkeyes offense start faster and push the pace.
“We get reps like that all the time in practice, and Caitlin is the best passer in college basketball,” Affolter said. “And that’s what we like to do, we like to get out and run, and she always finds us in transition.
But it is her scoring and passing that makes Iowa dangerous.
Next for Iowa is a matchup against the LSU Tigers. The two teams faced off in the 2023 National Championship, which LSU won 102-85.
To beat LSU, Clark will need to score and get teammates involved. The Tigers’ attention will be on Clark, and rightly so. Other Iowa players will have many chances to knock down open shots.
Clark is ready to bring the energy Monday night in the rematch against LSU.
“Anytime you have a chance to face somebody you lost to, it brings a little more energy,” Clark said.
It will be interesting to see how the game plays out and how many people will tune in to the contest.
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