MADISON, Wis. - The fourth-ranked Iowa women’s basketball team opened Big Ten play defeating Wisconsin, 87-65, on Sunday afternoon inside a sold-out Kohl Center. Iowa improved to 10-1 this season.
All-American Caitlin Clark had nearly a double-double with 28 points, nine rebounds, and five assists. Sophomore Hannah Stuelke scored a career high in Big Ten play with 21 points off the bench.
After the first quarter, the score was tied at 21 as Clark led all scoring with eight points followed by Stuelke with seven points. The Hawkeyes were scrappy with four steals and 11 rebounds.
Graduate Student Kate Martin sunk the first triple for the Hawkeyes midway through the second quarter to give Iowa a five-point lead after trailing for most the game up until this point. A three in the final seconds of the second quarter by Clark put the Hawkeyes up 43-33 at the break.
The Hawkeyes ran away with it in the second half going on a 27-18 run, shooting 66.7%, in the third quarter. Iowa went on a 7-0 run midst of the fourth quarter to solidify the win.
Iowa led for the entirety of the second half. Junior Sydney Affolter made her mark on defense with twelve rebounds. Every available player recorded minutes in today’s matchup.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- No. 4 Iowa (10-1, 1-0) defeated Wisconsin (5-4, 0-1), 87-65, inside a sold-out Kohl Center on Sunday afternoon in its Big Ten opener.
- UI has now beaten UW 28 consecutive times.
- The Hawkeyes are off to its ninth 10-1 start in program history.
- Head Coach Lisa Bluder has led Iowa to five 10-1 starts, which is a program-high.
- Bluder is 35-4 all-time against the Badgers at the University of Iowa.
- Today’s game in Madison, marks the first sellout for Wisconsin’s program in 21 years.
- National Player of the Year candidate, Caitlin Clark, surpassed Maya Moore and Elena Delle Donne to become the NCAA’s 10th all-time leading scorer.
- Sydney Affolter registered her fourth game this season grabbing eight or more rebounds which is a team-high.
- Kate Martin has scored 10+ points in six out of the last seven games.
- Hannah Stuelke notched her fifth game of 10+ points this year.
- Stuelke netted her career-best in points against a Big Ten foe.
- Clark has 47 career games with 25+ points, 5+ assists, and 5+ rebounds.(NCAA Best)
- Clark is now the all-time leader in 30+ point performances in men’s and women’s college basketball over the last 25 seasons. (41)
- Clark has scored 20+ points in 96-of-111 career games which is the most in program history.
- Iowa is currently riding a seven-game winning streak.
- Clark kept her alive streak of 69 consecutive games making a 3-point basket. (NCAA best)
- Since 2020-21, Iowa has scored 80+ points on 85 occasions which is the best nationally.
- Marks Iowa’s seventh win this season by 20+ points.
QUOTING P. SUE BECKWITH, MD, HEAD COACH LISA BLUDER
“It feels good just to begin Big Ten play with a 20-point victory on the road. This conference is so hard, and any time you go on the road you got to love it if you get a victory. I’m really happy with the way we shot the ball, especially in the second half. Our defense in the second quarter I thought was really good. It gave us that cushion going into half time, and we kept that momentum going into the third quarter.”
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UP NEXT
The fourth-ranked Hawkeyes will hit the road for a neutral site tilt for the HyVee Hawkeye Showcase against Cleveland State on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. (CT) inside a sold-out Wells Fargo Arena. The game will broadcast on BTN and the Hawkeye Radio Network.