Caitlin Clark is simply 18 factors shy of the all-time scoring file, whereas her final house recreation has change into the priciest in faculty basketball historical past.
Caitlin Clark is bidding an everyday season farewell on the Carver, with tickets commanding the best costs in NCAA basketball historical past. As she approaches the milestone of changing into the NCAA’s all-time main scorer, the stage is about for an epic matchup. All eyes are on Clark for the chase in Pistol Petes’s [Pete Maravich] all-time scoring file.
Within the extremely anticipated showdown between the 2 top-seeded groups, essentially the most inexpensive ticket is priced at $297, accessible in nook F part on VividSeats. At current, the priciest seat accessible in the home is listed at $1,356, situated in sideline part BB.
Associated: Caitlin Clark declares for the 2024 WNBA Draft
ESPN’s Faculty Gameday is headed to Iowa
ESPN’s Faculty GameDay is about to return to Iowa Metropolis for the second consecutive yr. Beginning at 10 a.m. CT, the present can be hosted by a stellar lineup of basketball analysts, together with Elle Duncan, Andraya Carter, Rebecca Lobo, Carolyn Peck, and Holly Rowe.
Anticipation mounts for the No. 6 Iowa Hawkeyes‘ showdown in opposition to the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes at Carver-Hawkeye Area. This recreation holds further significance as Iowa bids farewell to its seniors, notably Caitlin Clark, who not too long ago declared for the WNBA Draft.
Asserting the guard will forgo a fifth season at Iowa, Clark said she needed full transparency headed into senior evening along with her teammates. She emphasised the significance of having fun with the second, and celebrating the expansion of this system. Following the sport, Iowa will have a good time senior evening, with Caitlin Clark having one aim in thoughts: defeating Ohio State.
“My predominant aim is thrashing Ohio State,” mentioned Clark in put up recreation press convention. “I feel we’re all simply tremendous excited for one more alternative at them. “(Owen Siebring on X)
Earlier this yr, Ohio State secured a victory over Iowa in additional time
OT | @cotiemcmahon23 has a CAREER-HIGH 31 factors 🔥#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/49zSvfmAge
— Ohio State Girls’s Basketball (@OhioStateWBB) January 21, 2024
With tip off at 1 p.m. ET, the Buckeyes (25-3) will face the Hawkeyes (25-4) in a monumental BigTen matchup. All eyes are on Iowa, who’re out for revenge, after shedding to Ohio state 100-92 in additional time again on Jan. 21. With Iowa because the heavy favorites with 18,660 spectators at Worth Metropolis Area, Ohio State got here again from a 12-point deficit. They outscored the Hawkeyes 25-8 within the fourth quarter, and Jacy Sheldon sealed the cope with two made free-throws within the closing 26 seconds of additional time.
It was a matchup Caitlin Clark would moderately overlook. Regardless of her stellar efficiency, she discovered herself by chance knocked to the bottom as Buckeye followers stormed the courtroom in celebration. Fortunately, Clark emerged from the incident with out accidents, however it was a daunting second for the nation’s prime participant. Plus, they snapped Iowa’s 15 recreation win streak.
In that assembly, Clark completed with a season excessive (on the time) 45 factors, 2 steals, 1 block, 7 assists, and three rebounds. Ending 12-25 from the sector, the Iowa native completed 14-16 from free-throw line. Hannah Stuelke and Molly Davis mixed for twenty-four factors, 10 assists, and eight rebounds. Ohio State utilized the stress defensively, holding the Hawkeyes to 46.2 % from the sector, and 35.7 % from deep.
Caitlin Clark accounts for 34.7 % of the Hawkeyes offense
🙌🙌🙌@caitlinclark22 x #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/jqB75v6U5O
— Iowa Girls’s Basketball (@IowaWBB) January 21, 2024
7-1 within the BigTen, the Hawkeyes discover themselves in an identical place as final season, the place they completed 31-7. Underneath coach Lisa Bluder, Iowa is 12-1 at house, and received their final two video games in opposition to Minnesota and Illinois. In 5 video games in opposition to ranked groups, the Hawkeyes have spectacular victories over Virginia Tech, Kansas State, and Indiana.
Certainly, Caitlin Clark has been the central focus along with her extraordinary profession accomplishments. Averaging 32.2 factors per recreation, she constitutes 34.7 % of the crew’s offense. Nevertheless, her teammates have performed an important function, providing assist each on and off the courtroom. Averaging essentially the most factors in NCAA girls’s basketball with 92.7 factors per recreation, they may look to maintain it rolling on Sunday.
Clark’s been unbelievable at house, averaging 32.9 factors, 8.8 assists, and 6.9 rebounds, on 40.8 % three-point taking pictures.
For the Buckeyes, they showcased why they’re the actual deal this season. With a 6-1 file within the convention, they earned a signature win at house. Jacy Sheldon, who closed tings out, completed with 24 factors and 7 rebounds. The no. 18 seed on the time, Cotie McMahon put up a profession excessive 33 factors and 12 rebounds.
Senior Day
Caitlin Clark’s full interview from at this time…
She explains why now was the suitable time to announce her determination to depart Iowa; and displays on the final 4 years with the Hawkeyes. pic.twitter.com/PTWNH7Esbr— Owen Siebring (@owensiebring) March 1, 2024
Sophomore Hannah Stuelke stands because the crew’s second-highest scorer, averaging 14.1 factors and 6.8 rebounds per recreation. Alongside Stuelke, senior guard Kate Martin contributes considerably with 13 factors and 6.3 rebounds per recreation. Though they don’t seem to be the best ranked crew, Clark together with the remainder of the roster make the crew a formidable presence as soon as once more this yr. Tomorrow evening, Clark, Kate Martin, Gabbie Marshall, Sharon Goodman, and Molly Davis will all the correct senior sendoff put up recreation.
As Iowa goals to host the NCAA event’s first spherical, it is a prime alternative to honor the athletes who’ve made important contributions to this system’s success. The core of this crew, consisting of 5 gamers, boasts a mixed whole of 100 wins and performed pivotal roles in main Iowa to its inaugural NCAA Championship title recreation final season.
Ohio State has received 15 consecutive video games
The second everybody knew. Beat TTUN and have become undisputed champions on the identical evening! 💍 pic.twitter.com/Q84iLEy3Ir
— Ohio State Girls’s Basketball (@OhioStateWBB) March 1, 2024
Following their season-opening loss to USC, Ohio State has been unstoppable, remaining undefeated since their matchup in opposition to Michigan on December thirtieth. Throughout this spectacular streak, they’ve ascended within the rankings, securing 15 consecutive victories. Notably, these wins embrace triumphs over formidable opponents comparable to ranked groups Indiana, Iowa, Penn State, and Tennessee.
Senior Jacy Sheldon stands out because the crew’s main scorer, averaging a formidable 18 factors per recreation. She is carefully adopted by Cotie McMahon, Taylor Thierry, and Celeste Taylor, all of whom contribute factors in double figures, showcasing the depth and scoring versatility of the crew.
Whereas they didn’t make it to the ultimate 4 final yr, the Bucks scored massive by locking up Taylor, the ACC Defensive Participant of the Yr switch from Duke. With March Insanity proper across the nook, Ohio State not too long ago had colossal victories over Michigan, Maryland, and Penn State. During the last 5 video games, they’ve had a complete level differential over Michigan State, Nebraska, Penn State, Maryland, and Michigan.
Key Gamers
Iowa
- Caitlin Clark (Senior, guard): 32.2 PPG | 7.4 RPG | 8.7 APG | 1.7 SPG | 39.5 % 3PT
- Molly Davis (Senior, guard): 6.3 PPG | 2.3 RPG | 3.2 APG | 1 SPG | 40.7 % 3PT
- Hannah Stuelke (Sophomore, guard): 14.1 PPG | 6.8 RPG | 1.4 APG | 1 SPG | 63.9 FG %
- Kate Martin (Senior, guard): 13 PPG | 6.3 RPG | 2.6 APG | 52.3 FG %
OSU
- Cotie McMahon( Sophomore, ahead):14.3 PPG | 6.5 RPG | 2.2 APG | 2.0 BPG | 47.2 FG %
- Jacy Sheldon (Senior, guard) : 18 PPG | 3.4 RPG | 3.6 APG | 2.1 SPG | 38.4 % 3PT
- Celeste Taylor (Senior, guard): 10.3 PPG | 4.2 RPG | 3.4 APG | 2.3 SPG
- Taylor Thierry (Junior, guard) :11.4 PPG | 5.5 RPG | 1.5 APG | 1.8 SPG | 46.2 % 3PT
- Rebeka Mikulasikova (Senior, ahead) :9.1 PPG | 2.9 RPG | 2.5 APG | 38.3 % 3PT
The Buckeyes are beatable
Ohio State has continued to construct a formidable file, positioning themselves for a possible No. 1 seed with a victory over Iowa. Nevertheless, their scoring common of 80.6 factors per recreation ranks fifteenth within the league. Whereas defensively they’ve allowed a median of 62.9 factors per recreation, their wrestle with rebounds has continued as a season-long weak spot.
For Iowa to craft a Cinderella story on senior day, they need to prioritize ball management, as Ohio State thrives on fast-paced basketball and capitalizes on turnovers. Iowa has honed their defensive methods, together with the utilization of the box-and-one protection. If they will execute defensively, victory might be inside their grasp.
And once more, all of it might come all the way down to Caitlin Clark. In spite of everything, she scored all of the additional time buckets for Iowa of their final matchup vs. Ohio State. With the Buckeyes named the outright Massive Ten Champions, there’s not as a lot on the road.
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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter, Content material Creator and Social Media Supervisor for Ballislife Bets. She has a give attention to the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane at present resides in Connecticut/NYC space along with her Cat and Canine. SJ has her undergraduate diploma from the College of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in enterprise administration.