MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - 2-Seed Iowa defeated 7-Seed Purdue, 69-58, inside the Target Center on Friday night to advance to the Big Ten Tournament Semifinals.
Three Hawkeyes finished in double digits, with National Player of the Year Caitlin Clark having the game-high 22 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. Monika Czinano finished with 14 points, going 6-for-7 from the field. Gabbie Marshall had 11 points, going 3-for-5 from the three.
Clark got things going quick for Iowa, sinking her first 3-pointer of the game in the first 20 seconds. From there, the Hawkeyes went on a, 6-0, scoring run to gain control early. An assist from Molly Davis gave Hannah Stuelke an easy layup to give Iowa a nine-point lead after one.
Marshall started out the second making back-to-back threes in the beginning of the second. The Boilmakers battled back, but Iowa was able to hold onto the lead and head into halftime with an, 29-25, advantage.
A steal by Marshall gave Czinano two easy points at the start of the second half. Purdue took a one-point lead, but Iowa went on a,7-0, scoring run to regain a five-point lead going into the final quarter.
Kate Martin swished the basket from behind the arc, and Clark followed up with a basket of her own at the start of the fourth. Clark had 12 of her 22 points and four rebounds in the final 10 minutes to seal the deal and give Iowa its second win over Purdue of the season.