IOWA CITY, Iowa — Caitlin Clark walked off the Carver-Hawkeye Enviornment courtroom a winner for the final time Monday. However to do it, she and the Iowa Hawkeyes needed to survive a nerve-wracking defensive battle and win the kind of sport they often wrestle with.
The best-scoring group this season in Division I girls’s basketball (92.8 PPG coming into Monday’s second-round sport) needed to fend off a West Virginia group that made Iowa work for each level it received. The Hawkeyes solely scored one basket within the fourth quarter. However they’re nonetheless shifting on to the Candy 16, and Clark and her fellow seniors stated goodbye to a constructing they’ve stuffed all season lengthy.
Iowa, the No. 1 seed within the Albany 2 Area, beat No. 8 seed West Virginia 64-54. Clark had 32 factors, 8 rebounds and three assists in her remaining dwelling sport, and broke yet one more report in her historic season. She now has 1,113 factors, passing former Washington Huskies star Kelsey Plum for many factors in a Division I season.
She already had damaged Plum’s NCAA girls’s profession scoring report, Lynette Woodard’s major-college girls’s report and Pete Maravich’s D-I total report. However all of the fanfare over her particular person accolades would not have meant as a lot to Clark if issues had ended badly Monday.
And it appeared that might occur for a lot of the sport. Earlier than Monday, the Hawkeyes had been 3-8 in video games the place they scored below 70 factors in Clark’s profession. That included a 64-62 second-round loss to Creighton in 2022, Clark’s sophomore season. Iowa was a No. 2 seed then, and Creighton No. 10.
Clark stated that upset was one of many best motivators of her profession.
“I do not suppose my profession evolves in the way in which that it [did] if we do not lose to Creighton,” Clark stated. “I do not suppose we go to the Closing 4 final 12 months … I do not suppose we win this sport tonight. That was in all probability the bottom of lows in my profession, and you have to sit with that a complete different 12 months till you get the chance to play Georgia at dwelling.”
That NCAA second-round sport final season towards the Bulldogs was additionally very shut; Iowa did not draw back till the ultimate minute, profitable 74-66. Monday was the third 12 months in a row that hearts had been pounding among the many full home at Carver-Hawkeye for a second-round sport.
“This is likely one of the hardest rounds within the NCAA event,” Clark stated. Iowa’s rival Large Ten group, Ohio State, skilled that in an upset loss to Duke on Sunday. “Everybody is absolutely good. You are anticipated to win. You are on your own home courtroom. You’ve got all of the stress on the planet. They’ve completely nothing to lose to return in right here and upset us.”
Mark Kellogg, in his first season at West Virginia, had light-heartedly informed his group and Mountaineer followers on Choice Sunday after seeing the bracket, “Let’s win one after which ship Caitlin Clark packing.”
He had meant to simply fireplace up his gamers, but it surely leaked out publicly. Kellogg stated in Friday’s press convention earlier than the primary spherical that he absolutely revered Clark and Iowa, and meant nothing detrimental. However the actuality was, his Mountaineers practically did knock off the Hawkeyes.
“I am so happy with our group, the resiliency — that is type of been our phrase all 12 months,” stated Kellogg, who took over for Daybreak Plitzuweit, who stayed only one season at West Virginia earlier than leaving for Minnesota.
“That defensive effort tonight was, I believed, super and particular. And to do a few of the issues statistically to that group — for nearly as good as they’re offensively — it was a credit score to our gamers. After all, want we may have made a number of extra photographs and made a number of extra performs.”
The Mountaineers held the Hawkeyes to simply 6 factors within the second quarter and 26 for the primary half, each Iowa season-lows for 1 / 4 and for a half. Iowa had simply 7 assists for the sport, this system’s lowest complete in a victory since 2016. Iowa made just one area purpose within the fourth quarter, however sank 14 free throws.
The big disparity in free throws stands out on the field rating — Iowa was 25-of-30, and West Virginia 3-of-5 from the road — however mirrored the type of play of each groups. Iowa was the extra aggressive driving group, and the Mountaineers did not assault the center of the Hawkeyes’ zone quite a bit, settling extra for out of doors photographs.
“I do suppose that was one of many higher defensive groups we have seen all 12 months,” Iowa coach Lisa Bluder stated. “I am so happy with our group for under having six turnovers within the second half towards that stress protection. That is preserving your composure, particularly once they tied it up. We discovered a option to win differently, and we gained with our protection tonight.”
Certainly, the Hawkeyes did not get rattled when the rating was tied 52-52 with simply over 2 minutes left. Junior guard Sydney Affolter received a 3-point play, which gave Iowa simply sufficient respiration room to complete off the sport.
Subsequent up for Iowa is No. 5 seed Colorado, the identical group the Hawkeyes confronted final season within the Candy 16. Iowa gained that sport 87-77 on its run to the Closing 4.
A few of her fellow seniors had a number of blissful tears after Monday’s sport, however Clark was all smiles. She did take a second to revel within the ambiance of the world the place she has been so beloved the previous 4 seasons whereas having one of many best careers in faculty hoops historical past.
“I want I may have stayed on courtroom for some time and soaked all of it in a bit longer,” Clark stated in Iowa’s locker room afterward. “However I do not suppose that there is a higher method we may exit than only a gritty, resilient win. Truthfully, it was nearly the alternative of Iowa basketball in a method, however I believe that is what makes it that a lot sweeter. Our protection was actually good, and folks do not at all times give our protection an excessive amount of credit score.
“That was the explanation we gained tonight. We did not make too many photographs, however at this level all that issues is survive and advance, and that is precisely what we did.”
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Caitlin Clark walked off the Carver-Hawkeye Enviornment courtroom a winner for the final time Monday. However to do it, she and the Iowa Hawkeyes needed to survive a nerve-wracking defensive battle and win the kind of sport they often wrestle with.
The best-scoring group this season in Division I girls’s basketball (92.8 PPG coming into Monday’s second-round sport) needed to fend off a West Virginia group that made Iowa work for each level it received. The Hawkeyes solely scored one basket within the fourth quarter. However they’re nonetheless shifting on to the Candy 16, and Clark and her fellow seniors stated goodbye to a constructing they’ve stuffed all season lengthy.
Iowa, the No. 1 seed within the Albany 2 Area, beat No. 8 seed West Virginia 64-54. Clark had 32 factors, 8 rebounds and three assists in her remaining dwelling sport, and broke yet one more report in her historic season. She now has 1,113 factors, passing former Washington Huskies star Kelsey Plum for many factors in a Division I season.
She already had damaged Plum’s NCAA girls’s profession scoring report, Lynette Woodard’s major-college girls’s report and Pete Maravich’s D-I total report. However all of the fanfare over her particular person accolades would not have meant as a lot to Clark if issues had ended badly Monday.
And it appeared that might occur for a lot of the sport. Earlier than Monday, the Hawkeyes had been 3-8 in video games the place they scored below 70 factors in Clark’s profession. That included a 64-62 second-round loss to Creighton in 2022, Clark’s sophomore season. Iowa was a No. 2 seed then, and Creighton No. 10.
Clark stated that upset was one of many best motivators of her profession.
“I do not suppose my profession evolves in the way in which that it [did] if we do not lose to Creighton,” Clark stated. “I do not suppose we go to the Closing 4 final 12 months … I do not suppose we win this sport tonight. That was in all probability the bottom of lows in my profession, and you have to sit with that a complete different 12 months till you get the chance to play Georgia at dwelling.”
That NCAA second-round sport final season towards the Bulldogs was additionally very shut; Iowa did not draw back till the ultimate minute, profitable 74-66. Monday was the third 12 months in a row that hearts had been pounding among the many full home at Carver-Hawkeye for a second-round sport.
“This is likely one of the hardest rounds within the NCAA event,” Clark stated. Iowa’s rival Large Ten group, Ohio State, skilled that in an upset loss to Duke on Sunday. “Everybody is absolutely good. You are anticipated to win. You are on your own home courtroom. You’ve got all of the stress on the planet. They’ve completely nothing to lose to return in right here and upset us.”
Mark Kellogg, in his first season at West Virginia, had light-heartedly informed his group and Mountaineer followers on Choice Sunday after seeing the bracket, “Let’s win one after which ship Caitlin Clark packing.”
He had meant to simply fireplace up his gamers, but it surely leaked out publicly. Kellogg stated in Friday’s press convention earlier than the primary spherical that he absolutely revered Clark and Iowa, and meant nothing detrimental. However the actuality was, his Mountaineers practically did knock off the Hawkeyes.
“I am so happy with our group, the resiliency — that is type of been our phrase all 12 months,” stated Kellogg, who took over for Daybreak Plitzuweit, who stayed only one season at West Virginia earlier than leaving for Minnesota.
“That defensive effort tonight was, I believed, super and particular. And to do a few of the issues statistically to that group — for nearly as good as they’re offensively — it was a credit score to our gamers. After all, want we may have made a number of extra photographs and made a number of extra performs.”
The Mountaineers held the Hawkeyes to simply 6 factors within the second quarter and 26 for the primary half, each Iowa season-lows for 1 / 4 and for a half. Iowa had simply 7 assists for the sport, this system’s lowest complete in a victory since 2016. Iowa made just one area purpose within the fourth quarter, however sank 14 free throws.
The big disparity in free throws stands out on the field rating — Iowa was 25-of-30, and West Virginia 3-of-5 from the road — however mirrored the type of play of each groups. Iowa was the extra aggressive driving group, and the Mountaineers did not assault the center of the Hawkeyes’ zone quite a bit, settling extra for out of doors photographs.
“I do suppose that was one of many higher defensive groups we have seen all 12 months,” Iowa coach Lisa Bluder stated. “I am so happy with our group for under having six turnovers within the second half towards that stress protection. That is preserving your composure, particularly once they tied it up. We discovered a option to win differently, and we gained with our protection tonight.”
Certainly, the Hawkeyes did not get rattled when the rating was tied 52-52 with simply over 2 minutes left. Junior guard Sydney Affolter received a 3-point play, which gave Iowa simply sufficient respiration room to complete off the sport.
Subsequent up for Iowa is No. 5 seed Colorado, the identical group the Hawkeyes confronted final season within the Candy 16. Iowa gained that sport 87-77 on its run to the Closing 4.
A few of her fellow seniors had a number of blissful tears after Monday’s sport, however Clark was all smiles. She did take a second to revel within the ambiance of the world the place she has been so beloved the previous 4 seasons whereas having one of many best careers in faculty hoops historical past.
“I want I may have stayed on courtroom for some time and soaked all of it in a bit longer,” Clark stated in Iowa’s locker room afterward. “However I do not suppose that there is a higher method we may exit than only a gritty, resilient win. Truthfully, it was nearly the alternative of Iowa basketball in a method, however I believe that is what makes it that a lot sweeter. Our protection was actually good, and folks do not at all times give our protection an excessive amount of credit score.
“That was the explanation we gained tonight. We did not make too many photographs, however at this level all that issues is survive and advance, and that is precisely what we did.”
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Caitlin Clark walked off the Carver-Hawkeye Enviornment courtroom a winner for the final time Monday. However to do it, she and the Iowa Hawkeyes needed to survive a nerve-wracking defensive battle and win the kind of sport they often wrestle with.
The best-scoring group this season in Division I girls’s basketball (92.8 PPG coming into Monday’s second-round sport) needed to fend off a West Virginia group that made Iowa work for each level it received. The Hawkeyes solely scored one basket within the fourth quarter. However they’re nonetheless shifting on to the Candy 16, and Clark and her fellow seniors stated goodbye to a constructing they’ve stuffed all season lengthy.
Iowa, the No. 1 seed within the Albany 2 Area, beat No. 8 seed West Virginia 64-54. Clark had 32 factors, 8 rebounds and three assists in her remaining dwelling sport, and broke yet one more report in her historic season. She now has 1,113 factors, passing former Washington Huskies star Kelsey Plum for many factors in a Division I season.
She already had damaged Plum’s NCAA girls’s profession scoring report, Lynette Woodard’s major-college girls’s report and Pete Maravich’s D-I total report. However all of the fanfare over her particular person accolades would not have meant as a lot to Clark if issues had ended badly Monday.
And it appeared that might occur for a lot of the sport. Earlier than Monday, the Hawkeyes had been 3-8 in video games the place they scored below 70 factors in Clark’s profession. That included a 64-62 second-round loss to Creighton in 2022, Clark’s sophomore season. Iowa was a No. 2 seed then, and Creighton No. 10.
Clark stated that upset was one of many best motivators of her profession.
“I do not suppose my profession evolves in the way in which that it [did] if we do not lose to Creighton,” Clark stated. “I do not suppose we go to the Closing 4 final 12 months … I do not suppose we win this sport tonight. That was in all probability the bottom of lows in my profession, and you have to sit with that a complete different 12 months till you get the chance to play Georgia at dwelling.”
That NCAA second-round sport final season towards the Bulldogs was additionally very shut; Iowa did not draw back till the ultimate minute, profitable 74-66. Monday was the third 12 months in a row that hearts had been pounding among the many full home at Carver-Hawkeye for a second-round sport.
“This is likely one of the hardest rounds within the NCAA event,” Clark stated. Iowa’s rival Large Ten group, Ohio State, skilled that in an upset loss to Duke on Sunday. “Everybody is absolutely good. You are anticipated to win. You are on your own home courtroom. You’ve got all of the stress on the planet. They’ve completely nothing to lose to return in right here and upset us.”
Mark Kellogg, in his first season at West Virginia, had light-heartedly informed his group and Mountaineer followers on Choice Sunday after seeing the bracket, “Let’s win one after which ship Caitlin Clark packing.”
He had meant to simply fireplace up his gamers, but it surely leaked out publicly. Kellogg stated in Friday’s press convention earlier than the primary spherical that he absolutely revered Clark and Iowa, and meant nothing detrimental. However the actuality was, his Mountaineers practically did knock off the Hawkeyes.
“I am so happy with our group, the resiliency — that is type of been our phrase all 12 months,” stated Kellogg, who took over for Daybreak Plitzuweit, who stayed only one season at West Virginia earlier than leaving for Minnesota.
“That defensive effort tonight was, I believed, super and particular. And to do a few of the issues statistically to that group — for nearly as good as they’re offensively — it was a credit score to our gamers. After all, want we may have made a number of extra photographs and made a number of extra performs.”
The Mountaineers held the Hawkeyes to simply 6 factors within the second quarter and 26 for the primary half, each Iowa season-lows for 1 / 4 and for a half. Iowa had simply 7 assists for the sport, this system’s lowest complete in a victory since 2016. Iowa made just one area purpose within the fourth quarter, however sank 14 free throws.
The big disparity in free throws stands out on the field rating — Iowa was 25-of-30, and West Virginia 3-of-5 from the road — however mirrored the type of play of each groups. Iowa was the extra aggressive driving group, and the Mountaineers did not assault the center of the Hawkeyes’ zone quite a bit, settling extra for out of doors photographs.
“I do suppose that was one of many higher defensive groups we have seen all 12 months,” Iowa coach Lisa Bluder stated. “I am so happy with our group for under having six turnovers within the second half towards that stress protection. That is preserving your composure, particularly once they tied it up. We discovered a option to win differently, and we gained with our protection tonight.”
Certainly, the Hawkeyes did not get rattled when the rating was tied 52-52 with simply over 2 minutes left. Junior guard Sydney Affolter received a 3-point play, which gave Iowa simply sufficient respiration room to complete off the sport.
Subsequent up for Iowa is No. 5 seed Colorado, the identical group the Hawkeyes confronted final season within the Candy 16. Iowa gained that sport 87-77 on its run to the Closing 4.
A few of her fellow seniors had a number of blissful tears after Monday’s sport, however Clark was all smiles. She did take a second to revel within the ambiance of the world the place she has been so beloved the previous 4 seasons whereas having one of many best careers in faculty hoops historical past.
“I want I may have stayed on courtroom for some time and soaked all of it in a bit longer,” Clark stated in Iowa’s locker room afterward. “However I do not suppose that there is a higher method we may exit than only a gritty, resilient win. Truthfully, it was nearly the alternative of Iowa basketball in a method, however I believe that is what makes it that a lot sweeter. Our protection was actually good, and folks do not at all times give our protection an excessive amount of credit score.
“That was the explanation we gained tonight. We did not make too many photographs, however at this level all that issues is survive and advance, and that is precisely what we did.”
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Caitlin Clark walked off the Carver-Hawkeye Enviornment courtroom a winner for the final time Monday. However to do it, she and the Iowa Hawkeyes needed to survive a nerve-wracking defensive battle and win the kind of sport they often wrestle with.
The best-scoring group this season in Division I girls’s basketball (92.8 PPG coming into Monday’s second-round sport) needed to fend off a West Virginia group that made Iowa work for each level it received. The Hawkeyes solely scored one basket within the fourth quarter. However they’re nonetheless shifting on to the Candy 16, and Clark and her fellow seniors stated goodbye to a constructing they’ve stuffed all season lengthy.
Iowa, the No. 1 seed within the Albany 2 Area, beat No. 8 seed West Virginia 64-54. Clark had 32 factors, 8 rebounds and three assists in her remaining dwelling sport, and broke yet one more report in her historic season. She now has 1,113 factors, passing former Washington Huskies star Kelsey Plum for many factors in a Division I season.
She already had damaged Plum’s NCAA girls’s profession scoring report, Lynette Woodard’s major-college girls’s report and Pete Maravich’s D-I total report. However all of the fanfare over her particular person accolades would not have meant as a lot to Clark if issues had ended badly Monday.
And it appeared that might occur for a lot of the sport. Earlier than Monday, the Hawkeyes had been 3-8 in video games the place they scored below 70 factors in Clark’s profession. That included a 64-62 second-round loss to Creighton in 2022, Clark’s sophomore season. Iowa was a No. 2 seed then, and Creighton No. 10.
Clark stated that upset was one of many best motivators of her profession.
“I do not suppose my profession evolves in the way in which that it [did] if we do not lose to Creighton,” Clark stated. “I do not suppose we go to the Closing 4 final 12 months … I do not suppose we win this sport tonight. That was in all probability the bottom of lows in my profession, and you have to sit with that a complete different 12 months till you get the chance to play Georgia at dwelling.”
That NCAA second-round sport final season towards the Bulldogs was additionally very shut; Iowa did not draw back till the ultimate minute, profitable 74-66. Monday was the third 12 months in a row that hearts had been pounding among the many full home at Carver-Hawkeye for a second-round sport.
“This is likely one of the hardest rounds within the NCAA event,” Clark stated. Iowa’s rival Large Ten group, Ohio State, skilled that in an upset loss to Duke on Sunday. “Everybody is absolutely good. You are anticipated to win. You are on your own home courtroom. You’ve got all of the stress on the planet. They’ve completely nothing to lose to return in right here and upset us.”
Mark Kellogg, in his first season at West Virginia, had light-heartedly informed his group and Mountaineer followers on Choice Sunday after seeing the bracket, “Let’s win one after which ship Caitlin Clark packing.”
He had meant to simply fireplace up his gamers, but it surely leaked out publicly. Kellogg stated in Friday’s press convention earlier than the primary spherical that he absolutely revered Clark and Iowa, and meant nothing detrimental. However the actuality was, his Mountaineers practically did knock off the Hawkeyes.
“I am so happy with our group, the resiliency — that is type of been our phrase all 12 months,” stated Kellogg, who took over for Daybreak Plitzuweit, who stayed only one season at West Virginia earlier than leaving for Minnesota.
“That defensive effort tonight was, I believed, super and particular. And to do a few of the issues statistically to that group — for nearly as good as they’re offensively — it was a credit score to our gamers. After all, want we may have made a number of extra photographs and made a number of extra performs.”
The Mountaineers held the Hawkeyes to simply 6 factors within the second quarter and 26 for the primary half, each Iowa season-lows for 1 / 4 and for a half. Iowa had simply 7 assists for the sport, this system’s lowest complete in a victory since 2016. Iowa made just one area purpose within the fourth quarter, however sank 14 free throws.
The big disparity in free throws stands out on the field rating — Iowa was 25-of-30, and West Virginia 3-of-5 from the road — however mirrored the type of play of each groups. Iowa was the extra aggressive driving group, and the Mountaineers did not assault the center of the Hawkeyes’ zone quite a bit, settling extra for out of doors photographs.
“I do suppose that was one of many higher defensive groups we have seen all 12 months,” Iowa coach Lisa Bluder stated. “I am so happy with our group for under having six turnovers within the second half towards that stress protection. That is preserving your composure, particularly once they tied it up. We discovered a option to win differently, and we gained with our protection tonight.”
Certainly, the Hawkeyes did not get rattled when the rating was tied 52-52 with simply over 2 minutes left. Junior guard Sydney Affolter received a 3-point play, which gave Iowa simply sufficient respiration room to complete off the sport.
Subsequent up for Iowa is No. 5 seed Colorado, the identical group the Hawkeyes confronted final season within the Candy 16. Iowa gained that sport 87-77 on its run to the Closing 4.
A few of her fellow seniors had a number of blissful tears after Monday’s sport, however Clark was all smiles. She did take a second to revel within the ambiance of the world the place she has been so beloved the previous 4 seasons whereas having one of many best careers in faculty hoops historical past.
“I want I may have stayed on courtroom for some time and soaked all of it in a bit longer,” Clark stated in Iowa’s locker room afterward. “However I do not suppose that there is a higher method we may exit than only a gritty, resilient win. Truthfully, it was nearly the alternative of Iowa basketball in a method, however I believe that is what makes it that a lot sweeter. Our protection was actually good, and folks do not at all times give our protection an excessive amount of credit score.
“That was the explanation we gained tonight. We did not make too many photographs, however at this level all that issues is survive and advance, and that is precisely what we did.”
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Caitlin Clark walked off the Carver-Hawkeye Enviornment courtroom a winner for the final time Monday. However to do it, she and the Iowa Hawkeyes needed to survive a nerve-wracking defensive battle and win the kind of sport they often wrestle with.
The best-scoring group this season in Division I girls’s basketball (92.8 PPG coming into Monday’s second-round sport) needed to fend off a West Virginia group that made Iowa work for each level it received. The Hawkeyes solely scored one basket within the fourth quarter. However they’re nonetheless shifting on to the Candy 16, and Clark and her fellow seniors stated goodbye to a constructing they’ve stuffed all season lengthy.
Iowa, the No. 1 seed within the Albany 2 Area, beat No. 8 seed West Virginia 64-54. Clark had 32 factors, 8 rebounds and three assists in her remaining dwelling sport, and broke yet one more report in her historic season. She now has 1,113 factors, passing former Washington Huskies star Kelsey Plum for many factors in a Division I season.
She already had damaged Plum’s NCAA girls’s profession scoring report, Lynette Woodard’s major-college girls’s report and Pete Maravich’s D-I total report. However all of the fanfare over her particular person accolades would not have meant as a lot to Clark if issues had ended badly Monday.
And it appeared that might occur for a lot of the sport. Earlier than Monday, the Hawkeyes had been 3-8 in video games the place they scored below 70 factors in Clark’s profession. That included a 64-62 second-round loss to Creighton in 2022, Clark’s sophomore season. Iowa was a No. 2 seed then, and Creighton No. 10.
Clark stated that upset was one of many best motivators of her profession.
“I do not suppose my profession evolves in the way in which that it [did] if we do not lose to Creighton,” Clark stated. “I do not suppose we go to the Closing 4 final 12 months … I do not suppose we win this sport tonight. That was in all probability the bottom of lows in my profession, and you have to sit with that a complete different 12 months till you get the chance to play Georgia at dwelling.”
That NCAA second-round sport final season towards the Bulldogs was additionally very shut; Iowa did not draw back till the ultimate minute, profitable 74-66. Monday was the third 12 months in a row that hearts had been pounding among the many full home at Carver-Hawkeye for a second-round sport.
“This is likely one of the hardest rounds within the NCAA event,” Clark stated. Iowa’s rival Large Ten group, Ohio State, skilled that in an upset loss to Duke on Sunday. “Everybody is absolutely good. You are anticipated to win. You are on your own home courtroom. You’ve got all of the stress on the planet. They’ve completely nothing to lose to return in right here and upset us.”
Mark Kellogg, in his first season at West Virginia, had light-heartedly informed his group and Mountaineer followers on Choice Sunday after seeing the bracket, “Let’s win one after which ship Caitlin Clark packing.”
He had meant to simply fireplace up his gamers, but it surely leaked out publicly. Kellogg stated in Friday’s press convention earlier than the primary spherical that he absolutely revered Clark and Iowa, and meant nothing detrimental. However the actuality was, his Mountaineers practically did knock off the Hawkeyes.
“I am so happy with our group, the resiliency — that is type of been our phrase all 12 months,” stated Kellogg, who took over for Daybreak Plitzuweit, who stayed only one season at West Virginia earlier than leaving for Minnesota.
“That defensive effort tonight was, I believed, super and particular. And to do a few of the issues statistically to that group — for nearly as good as they’re offensively — it was a credit score to our gamers. After all, want we may have made a number of extra photographs and made a number of extra performs.”
The Mountaineers held the Hawkeyes to simply 6 factors within the second quarter and 26 for the primary half, each Iowa season-lows for 1 / 4 and for a half. Iowa had simply 7 assists for the sport, this system’s lowest complete in a victory since 2016. Iowa made just one area purpose within the fourth quarter, however sank 14 free throws.
The big disparity in free throws stands out on the field rating — Iowa was 25-of-30, and West Virginia 3-of-5 from the road — however mirrored the type of play of each groups. Iowa was the extra aggressive driving group, and the Mountaineers did not assault the center of the Hawkeyes’ zone quite a bit, settling extra for out of doors photographs.
“I do suppose that was one of many higher defensive groups we have seen all 12 months,” Iowa coach Lisa Bluder stated. “I am so happy with our group for under having six turnovers within the second half towards that stress protection. That is preserving your composure, particularly once they tied it up. We discovered a option to win differently, and we gained with our protection tonight.”
Certainly, the Hawkeyes did not get rattled when the rating was tied 52-52 with simply over 2 minutes left. Junior guard Sydney Affolter received a 3-point play, which gave Iowa simply sufficient respiration room to complete off the sport.
Subsequent up for Iowa is No. 5 seed Colorado, the identical group the Hawkeyes confronted final season within the Candy 16. Iowa gained that sport 87-77 on its run to the Closing 4.
A few of her fellow seniors had a number of blissful tears after Monday’s sport, however Clark was all smiles. She did take a second to revel within the ambiance of the world the place she has been so beloved the previous 4 seasons whereas having one of many best careers in faculty hoops historical past.
“I want I may have stayed on courtroom for some time and soaked all of it in a bit longer,” Clark stated in Iowa’s locker room afterward. “However I do not suppose that there is a higher method we may exit than only a gritty, resilient win. Truthfully, it was nearly the alternative of Iowa basketball in a method, however I believe that is what makes it that a lot sweeter. Our protection was actually good, and folks do not at all times give our protection an excessive amount of credit score.
“That was the explanation we gained tonight. We did not make too many photographs, however at this level all that issues is survive and advance, and that is precisely what we did.”
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Caitlin Clark walked off the Carver-Hawkeye Enviornment courtroom a winner for the final time Monday. However to do it, she and the Iowa Hawkeyes needed to survive a nerve-wracking defensive battle and win the kind of sport they often wrestle with.
The best-scoring group this season in Division I girls’s basketball (92.8 PPG coming into Monday’s second-round sport) needed to fend off a West Virginia group that made Iowa work for each level it received. The Hawkeyes solely scored one basket within the fourth quarter. However they’re nonetheless shifting on to the Candy 16, and Clark and her fellow seniors stated goodbye to a constructing they’ve stuffed all season lengthy.
Iowa, the No. 1 seed within the Albany 2 Area, beat No. 8 seed West Virginia 64-54. Clark had 32 factors, 8 rebounds and three assists in her remaining dwelling sport, and broke yet one more report in her historic season. She now has 1,113 factors, passing former Washington Huskies star Kelsey Plum for many factors in a Division I season.
She already had damaged Plum’s NCAA girls’s profession scoring report, Lynette Woodard’s major-college girls’s report and Pete Maravich’s D-I total report. However all of the fanfare over her particular person accolades would not have meant as a lot to Clark if issues had ended badly Monday.
And it appeared that might occur for a lot of the sport. Earlier than Monday, the Hawkeyes had been 3-8 in video games the place they scored below 70 factors in Clark’s profession. That included a 64-62 second-round loss to Creighton in 2022, Clark’s sophomore season. Iowa was a No. 2 seed then, and Creighton No. 10.
Clark stated that upset was one of many best motivators of her profession.
“I do not suppose my profession evolves in the way in which that it [did] if we do not lose to Creighton,” Clark stated. “I do not suppose we go to the Closing 4 final 12 months … I do not suppose we win this sport tonight. That was in all probability the bottom of lows in my profession, and you have to sit with that a complete different 12 months till you get the chance to play Georgia at dwelling.”
That NCAA second-round sport final season towards the Bulldogs was additionally very shut; Iowa did not draw back till the ultimate minute, profitable 74-66. Monday was the third 12 months in a row that hearts had been pounding among the many full home at Carver-Hawkeye for a second-round sport.
“This is likely one of the hardest rounds within the NCAA event,” Clark stated. Iowa’s rival Large Ten group, Ohio State, skilled that in an upset loss to Duke on Sunday. “Everybody is absolutely good. You are anticipated to win. You are on your own home courtroom. You’ve got all of the stress on the planet. They’ve completely nothing to lose to return in right here and upset us.”
Mark Kellogg, in his first season at West Virginia, had light-heartedly informed his group and Mountaineer followers on Choice Sunday after seeing the bracket, “Let’s win one after which ship Caitlin Clark packing.”
He had meant to simply fireplace up his gamers, but it surely leaked out publicly. Kellogg stated in Friday’s press convention earlier than the primary spherical that he absolutely revered Clark and Iowa, and meant nothing detrimental. However the actuality was, his Mountaineers practically did knock off the Hawkeyes.
“I am so happy with our group, the resiliency — that is type of been our phrase all 12 months,” stated Kellogg, who took over for Daybreak Plitzuweit, who stayed only one season at West Virginia earlier than leaving for Minnesota.
“That defensive effort tonight was, I believed, super and particular. And to do a few of the issues statistically to that group — for nearly as good as they’re offensively — it was a credit score to our gamers. After all, want we may have made a number of extra photographs and made a number of extra performs.”
The Mountaineers held the Hawkeyes to simply 6 factors within the second quarter and 26 for the primary half, each Iowa season-lows for 1 / 4 and for a half. Iowa had simply 7 assists for the sport, this system’s lowest complete in a victory since 2016. Iowa made just one area purpose within the fourth quarter, however sank 14 free throws.
The big disparity in free throws stands out on the field rating — Iowa was 25-of-30, and West Virginia 3-of-5 from the road — however mirrored the type of play of each groups. Iowa was the extra aggressive driving group, and the Mountaineers did not assault the center of the Hawkeyes’ zone quite a bit, settling extra for out of doors photographs.
“I do suppose that was one of many higher defensive groups we have seen all 12 months,” Iowa coach Lisa Bluder stated. “I am so happy with our group for under having six turnovers within the second half towards that stress protection. That is preserving your composure, particularly once they tied it up. We discovered a option to win differently, and we gained with our protection tonight.”
Certainly, the Hawkeyes did not get rattled when the rating was tied 52-52 with simply over 2 minutes left. Junior guard Sydney Affolter received a 3-point play, which gave Iowa simply sufficient respiration room to complete off the sport.
Subsequent up for Iowa is No. 5 seed Colorado, the identical group the Hawkeyes confronted final season within the Candy 16. Iowa gained that sport 87-77 on its run to the Closing 4.
A few of her fellow seniors had a number of blissful tears after Monday’s sport, however Clark was all smiles. She did take a second to revel within the ambiance of the world the place she has been so beloved the previous 4 seasons whereas having one of many best careers in faculty hoops historical past.
“I want I may have stayed on courtroom for some time and soaked all of it in a bit longer,” Clark stated in Iowa’s locker room afterward. “However I do not suppose that there is a higher method we may exit than only a gritty, resilient win. Truthfully, it was nearly the alternative of Iowa basketball in a method, however I believe that is what makes it that a lot sweeter. Our protection was actually good, and folks do not at all times give our protection an excessive amount of credit score.
“That was the explanation we gained tonight. We did not make too many photographs, however at this level all that issues is survive and advance, and that is precisely what we did.”
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Caitlin Clark walked off the Carver-Hawkeye Enviornment courtroom a winner for the final time Monday. However to do it, she and the Iowa Hawkeyes needed to survive a nerve-wracking defensive battle and win the kind of sport they often wrestle with.
The best-scoring group this season in Division I girls’s basketball (92.8 PPG coming into Monday’s second-round sport) needed to fend off a West Virginia group that made Iowa work for each level it received. The Hawkeyes solely scored one basket within the fourth quarter. However they’re nonetheless shifting on to the Candy 16, and Clark and her fellow seniors stated goodbye to a constructing they’ve stuffed all season lengthy.
Iowa, the No. 1 seed within the Albany 2 Area, beat No. 8 seed West Virginia 64-54. Clark had 32 factors, 8 rebounds and three assists in her remaining dwelling sport, and broke yet one more report in her historic season. She now has 1,113 factors, passing former Washington Huskies star Kelsey Plum for many factors in a Division I season.
She already had damaged Plum’s NCAA girls’s profession scoring report, Lynette Woodard’s major-college girls’s report and Pete Maravich’s D-I total report. However all of the fanfare over her particular person accolades would not have meant as a lot to Clark if issues had ended badly Monday.
And it appeared that might occur for a lot of the sport. Earlier than Monday, the Hawkeyes had been 3-8 in video games the place they scored below 70 factors in Clark’s profession. That included a 64-62 second-round loss to Creighton in 2022, Clark’s sophomore season. Iowa was a No. 2 seed then, and Creighton No. 10.
Clark stated that upset was one of many best motivators of her profession.
“I do not suppose my profession evolves in the way in which that it [did] if we do not lose to Creighton,” Clark stated. “I do not suppose we go to the Closing 4 final 12 months … I do not suppose we win this sport tonight. That was in all probability the bottom of lows in my profession, and you have to sit with that a complete different 12 months till you get the chance to play Georgia at dwelling.”
That NCAA second-round sport final season towards the Bulldogs was additionally very shut; Iowa did not draw back till the ultimate minute, profitable 74-66. Monday was the third 12 months in a row that hearts had been pounding among the many full home at Carver-Hawkeye for a second-round sport.
“This is likely one of the hardest rounds within the NCAA event,” Clark stated. Iowa’s rival Large Ten group, Ohio State, skilled that in an upset loss to Duke on Sunday. “Everybody is absolutely good. You are anticipated to win. You are on your own home courtroom. You’ve got all of the stress on the planet. They’ve completely nothing to lose to return in right here and upset us.”
Mark Kellogg, in his first season at West Virginia, had light-heartedly informed his group and Mountaineer followers on Choice Sunday after seeing the bracket, “Let’s win one after which ship Caitlin Clark packing.”
He had meant to simply fireplace up his gamers, but it surely leaked out publicly. Kellogg stated in Friday’s press convention earlier than the primary spherical that he absolutely revered Clark and Iowa, and meant nothing detrimental. However the actuality was, his Mountaineers practically did knock off the Hawkeyes.
“I am so happy with our group, the resiliency — that is type of been our phrase all 12 months,” stated Kellogg, who took over for Daybreak Plitzuweit, who stayed only one season at West Virginia earlier than leaving for Minnesota.
“That defensive effort tonight was, I believed, super and particular. And to do a few of the issues statistically to that group — for nearly as good as they’re offensively — it was a credit score to our gamers. After all, want we may have made a number of extra photographs and made a number of extra performs.”
The Mountaineers held the Hawkeyes to simply 6 factors within the second quarter and 26 for the primary half, each Iowa season-lows for 1 / 4 and for a half. Iowa had simply 7 assists for the sport, this system’s lowest complete in a victory since 2016. Iowa made just one area purpose within the fourth quarter, however sank 14 free throws.
The big disparity in free throws stands out on the field rating — Iowa was 25-of-30, and West Virginia 3-of-5 from the road — however mirrored the type of play of each groups. Iowa was the extra aggressive driving group, and the Mountaineers did not assault the center of the Hawkeyes’ zone quite a bit, settling extra for out of doors photographs.
“I do suppose that was one of many higher defensive groups we have seen all 12 months,” Iowa coach Lisa Bluder stated. “I am so happy with our group for under having six turnovers within the second half towards that stress protection. That is preserving your composure, particularly once they tied it up. We discovered a option to win differently, and we gained with our protection tonight.”
Certainly, the Hawkeyes did not get rattled when the rating was tied 52-52 with simply over 2 minutes left. Junior guard Sydney Affolter received a 3-point play, which gave Iowa simply sufficient respiration room to complete off the sport.
Subsequent up for Iowa is No. 5 seed Colorado, the identical group the Hawkeyes confronted final season within the Candy 16. Iowa gained that sport 87-77 on its run to the Closing 4.
A few of her fellow seniors had a number of blissful tears after Monday’s sport, however Clark was all smiles. She did take a second to revel within the ambiance of the world the place she has been so beloved the previous 4 seasons whereas having one of many best careers in faculty hoops historical past.
“I want I may have stayed on courtroom for some time and soaked all of it in a bit longer,” Clark stated in Iowa’s locker room afterward. “However I do not suppose that there is a higher method we may exit than only a gritty, resilient win. Truthfully, it was nearly the alternative of Iowa basketball in a method, however I believe that is what makes it that a lot sweeter. Our protection was actually good, and folks do not at all times give our protection an excessive amount of credit score.
“That was the explanation we gained tonight. We did not make too many photographs, however at this level all that issues is survive and advance, and that is precisely what we did.”
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Caitlin Clark walked off the Carver-Hawkeye Enviornment courtroom a winner for the final time Monday. However to do it, she and the Iowa Hawkeyes needed to survive a nerve-wracking defensive battle and win the kind of sport they often wrestle with.
The best-scoring group this season in Division I girls’s basketball (92.8 PPG coming into Monday’s second-round sport) needed to fend off a West Virginia group that made Iowa work for each level it received. The Hawkeyes solely scored one basket within the fourth quarter. However they’re nonetheless shifting on to the Candy 16, and Clark and her fellow seniors stated goodbye to a constructing they’ve stuffed all season lengthy.
Iowa, the No. 1 seed within the Albany 2 Area, beat No. 8 seed West Virginia 64-54. Clark had 32 factors, 8 rebounds and three assists in her remaining dwelling sport, and broke yet one more report in her historic season. She now has 1,113 factors, passing former Washington Huskies star Kelsey Plum for many factors in a Division I season.
She already had damaged Plum’s NCAA girls’s profession scoring report, Lynette Woodard’s major-college girls’s report and Pete Maravich’s D-I total report. However all of the fanfare over her particular person accolades would not have meant as a lot to Clark if issues had ended badly Monday.
And it appeared that might occur for a lot of the sport. Earlier than Monday, the Hawkeyes had been 3-8 in video games the place they scored below 70 factors in Clark’s profession. That included a 64-62 second-round loss to Creighton in 2022, Clark’s sophomore season. Iowa was a No. 2 seed then, and Creighton No. 10.
Clark stated that upset was one of many best motivators of her profession.
“I do not suppose my profession evolves in the way in which that it [did] if we do not lose to Creighton,” Clark stated. “I do not suppose we go to the Closing 4 final 12 months … I do not suppose we win this sport tonight. That was in all probability the bottom of lows in my profession, and you have to sit with that a complete different 12 months till you get the chance to play Georgia at dwelling.”
That NCAA second-round sport final season towards the Bulldogs was additionally very shut; Iowa did not draw back till the ultimate minute, profitable 74-66. Monday was the third 12 months in a row that hearts had been pounding among the many full home at Carver-Hawkeye for a second-round sport.
“This is likely one of the hardest rounds within the NCAA event,” Clark stated. Iowa’s rival Large Ten group, Ohio State, skilled that in an upset loss to Duke on Sunday. “Everybody is absolutely good. You are anticipated to win. You are on your own home courtroom. You’ve got all of the stress on the planet. They’ve completely nothing to lose to return in right here and upset us.”
Mark Kellogg, in his first season at West Virginia, had light-heartedly informed his group and Mountaineer followers on Choice Sunday after seeing the bracket, “Let’s win one after which ship Caitlin Clark packing.”
He had meant to simply fireplace up his gamers, but it surely leaked out publicly. Kellogg stated in Friday’s press convention earlier than the primary spherical that he absolutely revered Clark and Iowa, and meant nothing detrimental. However the actuality was, his Mountaineers practically did knock off the Hawkeyes.
“I am so happy with our group, the resiliency — that is type of been our phrase all 12 months,” stated Kellogg, who took over for Daybreak Plitzuweit, who stayed only one season at West Virginia earlier than leaving for Minnesota.
“That defensive effort tonight was, I believed, super and particular. And to do a few of the issues statistically to that group — for nearly as good as they’re offensively — it was a credit score to our gamers. After all, want we may have made a number of extra photographs and made a number of extra performs.”
The Mountaineers held the Hawkeyes to simply 6 factors within the second quarter and 26 for the primary half, each Iowa season-lows for 1 / 4 and for a half. Iowa had simply 7 assists for the sport, this system’s lowest complete in a victory since 2016. Iowa made just one area purpose within the fourth quarter, however sank 14 free throws.
The big disparity in free throws stands out on the field rating — Iowa was 25-of-30, and West Virginia 3-of-5 from the road — however mirrored the type of play of each groups. Iowa was the extra aggressive driving group, and the Mountaineers did not assault the center of the Hawkeyes’ zone quite a bit, settling extra for out of doors photographs.
“I do suppose that was one of many higher defensive groups we have seen all 12 months,” Iowa coach Lisa Bluder stated. “I am so happy with our group for under having six turnovers within the second half towards that stress protection. That is preserving your composure, particularly once they tied it up. We discovered a option to win differently, and we gained with our protection tonight.”
Certainly, the Hawkeyes did not get rattled when the rating was tied 52-52 with simply over 2 minutes left. Junior guard Sydney Affolter received a 3-point play, which gave Iowa simply sufficient respiration room to complete off the sport.
Subsequent up for Iowa is No. 5 seed Colorado, the identical group the Hawkeyes confronted final season within the Candy 16. Iowa gained that sport 87-77 on its run to the Closing 4.
A few of her fellow seniors had a number of blissful tears after Monday’s sport, however Clark was all smiles. She did take a second to revel within the ambiance of the world the place she has been so beloved the previous 4 seasons whereas having one of many best careers in faculty hoops historical past.
“I want I may have stayed on courtroom for some time and soaked all of it in a bit longer,” Clark stated in Iowa’s locker room afterward. “However I do not suppose that there is a higher method we may exit than only a gritty, resilient win. Truthfully, it was nearly the alternative of Iowa basketball in a method, however I believe that is what makes it that a lot sweeter. Our protection was actually good, and folks do not at all times give our protection an excessive amount of credit score.
“That was the explanation we gained tonight. We did not make too many photographs, however at this level all that issues is survive and advance, and that is precisely what we did.”