MINNEAPOLIS - March 9th, 2024
The second-seeded and third-ranked University of Iowa women’s basketball team defeated sixth-seeded Michigan, 95-68, inside a sold-out Target Center on Saturday afternoon to advance to the Big Ten Tournament Championship for the fourth consecutive year. Iowa completes the season sweep over the Wolverines and have scored 90+ against Michigan five straight times dating back to 2022.
Four starters finished in double figures with All-American Caitlin Clark registering game highs in points (28) and assists (15), while also snagging four rebounds. Clark’s 15 dimes are third most in a Big Ten Tournament game (Clark had 17 versus Ohio State last March). Hannah Stuelke made all seven field-goal attempts to finish with 16 points. Sydney Affolter added 12 points with seven rebounds and a career-high eight assists in her fifth career start, while Kate Martin tallied 13 points and six boards.
The Hawkeyes started the game in control while maintaining the lead through the first five minutes. The Wolverines sank all six 3-point attempts, going on a 10-0 run before Stuelke snapped the streak with a bucket in the paint. Gabbie Marshall sunk a triple at the buzzer to bring Michigan’s lead to three going into the second quarter.
Iowa responded in the second quarter by outscoring the Wolverines, 29-17. The Hawkeyes shot 70.6 percent from the field in the half to go into the break with a 51-42 advantage. Clark tallied 19 points and 11 assists in the first half to gather her 63rd double-double in the first 15 minutes of the contest.
In the third, the Hawkeyes outrebounded the Wolverines ,14-8, while holding them to one triple in the quarter. Out of a timeout with 7:35 to play in the fourth quarter, McCabe, Martin, and Marshall netted back-to-back-to-back threes to stretch Iowa’s lead to 31 points, its largest of the game.
Iowa dominated the Wolverines in the post, outscoring Michigan 54-16 in the paint. The Hawkeyes finished with 30 assists, breaking the Big Ten Tournament single game record.
ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER RECORD FALLS
Clark’s third free throw made broke the Big Ten’s career free throws made record, previously held by Purdue’s Shereka Wright. Clark has sank 778 free throws in her four-year career.