No. 14 Indiana women’s basketball suffered its first loss in Big Ten play Saturday night in a blowout 84-57 loss to No. 3 Iowa. After trailing by just six at the half, the Hoosiers were unable to prevent a second-half offensive burst from the Hawkeyes led by senior guard Caitlin Clark.
Clark’s resume speaks for itself – AP Outstanding Player of the Year, Big Ten Player of the Year, and the John R. Wooden Award are all pieces of her expansive list of achievements.
She’s become the face of women’s college basketball, and it’s easy to see why when she’s on the court. The Division 1 leading scorer each of the last two years, Clark is well on her way to becoming an all-time great and currently sits fourth all-time among women’s college basketball scoring leaders.
“She’s just that terrific,” Indiana head coach Teri Moren said postgame. “She’s an extraordinarily talented player.”
In Saturday evening’s showdown between the Big Ten’s best, Clark put forth a 30-point, 11-assist performance to power the Hawkeyes past Indiana.
Clark started slow against the Hoosiers, going 0-for-6 from beyond the arc in the game’s opening frame. Yet, time and time again she came up big in clutch moments for the Hawkeyes.
Indiana was trailing by as few as 3 points late in the second quarter, but just as the clock winded down, Clark knocked down her signature leaning 3-pointer to give the Hawkeyes some much-needed momentum going into the half. She proceeded to score 10 points and add four assists in the third quarter, as Iowa outscored Indiana 22-11 in the frame.
“Once I slowed down and let the game come to me, I wasn’t forcing as many 3s,” Clark said postgame. “I was able to get back to my step-back.”
Indiana’s inability to contain Clark prevented the Hoosiers from keeping the game within reach and ultimately cost them the game. She was primarily guarded by senior guard Chloe Moore-McNeil, who, statistically speaking, was the Hoosiers' best defender. Moore-McNeil currently leads Indiana with 1.7 steals per game and was likely the Hoosiers' best chance at slowing down Clark. Regardless, the Hawkeye’s star was too much for Indiana to handle.
Moore-McNeil isn’t alone in struggling to contain the dynamic Clark. Clark has notched a double-double in nine of the Hawkeyes’ 18 games this season. Additionally, she averages 31 points per game on the season and has a pair of over-40 point games on the year.
Nothing is a certainty in the Big Ten, but if Indiana hopes to defend its first conference championship in four decades, then the Hoosiers' Feb. 22 rematch with Iowa will be crucial. Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall has already sold out.
The Hoosiers (14-2, 5-1 Big Ten) now set their sights on bouncing back as they prepare to host Minnesota (12-3, 2-2 Big Ten) Wednesday evening. The game is set to tip off at 8 p.m. and will be televised on Peacock.
Follow reporters Dalton James (@DaltonMJames) and Quinn Richards (@Quinn_richa), columnist Ryan Canfield (@_ryancanfield) and photographer Olivia Bianco (@theoliviabianco) for updates throughout the Indiana women’s basketball season.
