IOWA CITY — It wasn’t the begin to March Insanity that Iowa or Caitlin Clark wished, however in a month of survive-and-advance, the Hawkeyes did simply that in a 91-65 win over Holy Cross of their NCAA Match first-round sport Saturday.
“I believe the primary quarter sort of annoyed possibly all of us in a approach,” Clark mentioned. “I really feel like it is a sport you need to come out and dominate from the beginning as a result of that is what fuels your run. Like coach (Lisa Bluder) mentioned, I believe possibly we performed with slightly little bit of rust.”
It had been 13 days for the reason that Hawkeyes had hoisted the convention trophy after the Large Ten Match title sport, and that almost two-week break regarded significantly evident early on as No. 1-seed Iowa merely couldn’t shake No. 16-seed Holy Cross.
The Crusaders got here out with a bodily, aggressive protection that packed the paint and gave the Hawkeyes early hassle. As a crew, Iowa shot the ball properly in that opening quarter — 46 % from the ground, together with hitting 3 of 5 photographs from past the arc — however Iowa’s six turnovers (which Holy Cross became seven factors) negated any sort of a possible early lead that sizzling capturing might’ve constructed.
By the second quarter, Iowa started to settle into type, obtained some consecutive defensive stops and cleaned up the giveaways. The Hawkeyes outscored Holy Cross 25-9 within the second quarter, constructing an 18-point halftime lead that held by the remainder of the sport.
That quarter specifically confirmed how harmful the Hawkeyes are after they hit their stride. They got here out on a 19-6 run that included 5 triples from 5 completely different gamers as Clark labored to stretch the protection and obtained inside to get to the free-throw line. With Iowa stringing collectively consecutive stops and the offense clicking, the lead appeared to balloon immediately.
“I believe that’s the most effective elements of this crew,” Clark mentioned, “We at all times are in a sport it doesn’t matter what scenario it’s.”
Regardless of Clark’s sluggish begin (2 of 8 from the ground within the first half) and 6 first-half turnovers, the senior turned in her regular dazzling efficiency, ending the day with 27 factors, 10 assists and eight rebounds (and no second-half turnovers). Sixth-year senior Kate Martin recorded a double-double (15 factors, 14 rebounds) whereas reserve ahead Addison O’Grady — who noticed elevated utilization within the second half because of beginning ahead Hannah Stuelke experiencing migraine signs — had a season-high 14 factors off the bench.
Along with Stuelke’s presumed return, the Hawkeyes can even possible get fifth-year senior guard Molly Davis again into the lineup for Monday’s second-round sport towards West Virginia. Davis, who has averaged six factors, three assists and three rebounds per sport this season, suffered a knee harm through the common season finale. Having one other main ballhandler to help Clark within the backcourt may very well be essential on Monday because the Mountaineers use a suffocating, full-court urgent protection to drive turnovers.
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(Picture: Matthew Holst / Getty Photographs)