Caitlin Clark Celebrates Last Night At Iowa With Another Record, Another Win
It was Caitlin Clark's last night as an Iowa basketball player at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, so you knew there would be some embellishment.
And there had to be another record, right?
As Clark helped seal a nervous, 64-54 win over upset-minded No. 8 seed West Virginia in the NCAA Tournament second round Monday night, she also broke the NCAA single season scoring record of 1,109 points by Washington's Kelsey Plum in 2017 by scoring her 1,113th Monday night and finishing with 32 points.
Caitlin Clark passes by West Virginia's JJ Quinerly during the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Carver-Hawkeye Arena Monday in Iowa City. (Getty Images)
That's a nice parting gift for another sell-out crowd of 15,500.
Just three weeks ago in the same arena, Clark broke the NCAA all-time scoring record of Pistol Pete Maravich with her 3,668th point. That total is up to 3,862 now with a possible four more games to play as the Hawkeyes (31-4) reached the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.
"We wanted to go out on a high note," Clark said, standing next to fellow seniors Kate Martin and Gabbie Marshall. "It's just really special. I'm proud."
Iowa Will Play Colorado On Saturday In Sweet 16
No. 1 seed Iowa advances to play No. 5 seed Colorado (23-9) on Saturday in Albany, New York, with the winner playing for a Final Four ticket against the winner of No. 3 seed LSU (30-5) and either No. 7 seed Creighton (26-5) and No. 2 seed UCLA (26-6).
Creighton and UCLA were playing Monday night. LSU defeated Iowa in the national championship game last season.
"I couldn't be happier for this group," Clark said.
READ: Caitlin Clark's Legacy Is Cemented Regardless Of NCAA Tournament Results
But the win was not without some adversity.
The Hawkeyes allowed a 10-0 run to open the fourth quarter as West Virginia tied the game at 48 on a Jayla Hemingway 3-pointer with 5:18 to play. Iowa regrouped, though, after a 52-52 tie and outscored West Virginia, 12-2, the rest of the way.
"We gave up a 10-0 run to start the fourth quarter, but this team never flustered," Clark said. "That speaks to our experience."
Clark scored eight of Iowa's last 14 points at the free throw line as she finished 11 of 12 from the line after a rough shooting night from the field. She was 8-of-22 and 5 of 14 from 3-point range. Clark added eight rebounds, three assists and two steals around six turnovers.
"I'm thankful. I'm grateful," Clark said when asked about the single season scoring record.
"I know I've given everything to the program. I just want to soak this in with my teammates."