Caitlin Clark continues to be rewriting the NCAA’s file books, even on her off nights.
She’s now the all-time chief for 3-point discipline targets made in a single NCAA season, a file that she’d beforehand tied, in firm with Golden State Warriors legend and former Davidson star Stephen Curry and former Liberty guard Darius McGhee at 162.
Clark entered Iowa’s Massive Ten match quarterfinal matchup towards No. 7 seed Penn State only one 3-pointer shy of the mark on Friday, and it did not come till the fourth quarter. She ended the 95-62 win with 24 factors, 10 rebounds and 7 assists, although she was an uncharacteristic 5-of-19 taking pictures and 2-of-14 from 3-point vary.
Her first contact of the sport resulted in a missed three halfway by way of the primary quarter, which was quickly adopted by two free throws for her first 4 factors. Clark was fast to cross the ball when it got here to her from then on, consistent with her propensity to prioritize her teammates and Iowa’s success when it counts.
However to the credit score of the Nittany Lions’ protection, and perhaps Clark’s consciousness of the second, she additionally missed 11 3-point makes an attempt and turned the ball over twice earlier than she may break the file. She did not rating a single discipline aim till she gave Iowa its first factors of the second quarter, scoring a deep 2-pointer with lower than 4 minutes remaining within the interval.
She hit the record-breaking shot in entrance of an excited crowd with eight minutes left within the fourth. An expression of aid flashed throughout her face earlier than she raised her palms and inspired the cheers.
“The Clark Impact” has pushed viewership and attendance by way of the roof this season, which is why the ladies’s Massive Ten Match on the Goal Heart in Minneapolis was bought out for the primary time in its historical past. Greater than 109,000 followers purchased tickets for the five-day occasion.
When Curry was requested about Clark’s stardom, he mirrored on simply how a lot occasions have modified since he introduced crowds of reporters and followers to Davidson’s video games in 2008.
“I couldn’t think about what it’s like now,” Curry mentioned by way of The Athletic. “Mine was earlier than Twitter was actually a factor. I didn’t get Instagram till I used to be a junior in school. So simply the social media component makes it a lot crazier.”
There was no mistaking who drew Friday’s crowd, as an audible “Caitlin Clark, Caitlin Clark, Caitlin Clark” disrupted the quiet of the opening tip-off.
Lots of these followers have been relishing in a second they’d patiently awaited, lining up hours earlier than Clark took the courtroom.
The Massive Ten Match is single elimination, presenting the potential for Friday’s contest to be the final convention sport of Clark’s collegiate profession. There wasn’t a lot concern about that after the Hawkeyes ended the primary half main 46-26.
When Clark’s unforgettable run within the NCAA does finish, she’ll take her skills to the WNBA. She introduced her plans to forgo a fifth-year at Iowa by way of a social media publish on Feb. 29.
Days after Clark broke the information of her WNBA intentions, on March 3, she scored 35 factors in Iowa’s 93-83 win over Ohio State to shatter LSU nice Pete Maravich’s all-time NCAA scoring file in her last regular-season school sport.
Clark additionally broke some data within the NCAA match final yr. She holds the mark for many 3-pointers in a single match with 25. She additionally broke the file for 3s made in a nationwide championship, scoring eight within the loss to LSU.
She and Iowa will look to return to the title sport when March Insanity begins later this month. Choice Sunday is on March 17. However the Hawkeyes first hope to win the Massive Ten match, which continues with the semifinals on Saturday and championship sport Sunday.