Caitlin Clark is simply 18 factors shy of the all-time scoring report, whereas her final house sport has grow to be the priciest in school 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 ready for an epic matchup. All eyes are on Clark for the chase in Pistol Petes’s [Pete Maravich] all-time scoring report.
Within the extremely anticipated showdown between the 2 top-seeded groups, probably the most reasonably priced 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, positioned in sideline part BB.
Related: Caitlin Clark declares for the 2024 WNBA Draft
ESPN’s School Gameday is headed to Iowa
ESPN’s School GameDay is ready to return to Iowa Metropolis for the second consecutive yr. Beginning at 10 a.m. CT, the present will likely 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 towards the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes at Carver-Hawkeye Area. This sport holds additional significance as Iowa bids farewell to its seniors, notably Caitlin Clark, who just lately declared for the WNBA Draft.
Asserting the guard will forgo a fifth season at Iowa, Clark said she wished full transparency headed into senior evening together 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 rejoice senior evening, with Caitlin Clark having one purpose in thoughts: defeating Ohio State.
“My essential purpose is thrashing Ohio State,” mentioned Clark in publish sport 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 extra 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 dropping to Ohio state 100-92 in extra 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 extra time.
It was a matchup Caitlin Clark would relatively neglect. 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, but it surely was a daunting second for the nation’s prime participant. Plus, they snapped Iowa’s 15 sport 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 p.c from the sector, and 35.7 p.c from deep.
Caitlin Clark accounts for 34.7 p.c 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. Beneath coach Lisa Bluder, Iowa is 12-1 at house, and gained their final two video games towards Minnesota and Illinois. In 5 video games towards ranked groups, the Hawkeyes have spectacular victories over Virginia Tech, Kansas State, and Indiana.
Certainly, Caitlin Clark has been the central focus together with her extraordinary profession accomplishments. Averaging 32.2 factors per sport, she constitutes 34.7 p.c of the workforce’s offense. Nonetheless, her teammates have performed an important function, providing assist each on and off the courtroom. Averaging probably the most factors in NCAA girls’s basketball with 92.7 factors per sport, they are going to look to maintain it rolling on Sunday.
Clark’s been unimaginable at house, averaging 32.9 factors, 8.8 assists, and 6.9 rebounds, on 40.8 p.c three-point taking pictures.
For the Buckeyes, they showcased why they’re the actual deal this season. With a 6-1 report 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 in the present day…
She explains why now was the correct 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 workforce’s second-highest scorer, averaging 14.1 factors and 6.8 rebounds per sport. Alongside Stuelke, senior guard Kate Martin contributes considerably with 13 factors and 6.3 rebounds per sport. Though they are not the best ranked workforce, Clark together with the remainder of the roster make the workforce 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 right senior sendoff publish sport.
As Iowa goals to host the NCAA match’s first spherical, it is a prime alternative to honor the athletes who’ve made vital contributions to this system’s success. The core of this workforce, consisting of 5 gamers, boasts a mixed complete of 100 wins and performed pivotal roles in main Iowa to its inaugural NCAA Championship title sport final season.
Ohio State has gained 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 towards 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 equivalent to ranked groups Indiana, Iowa, Penn State, and Tennessee.
Senior Jacy Sheldon stands out because the workforce’s main scorer, averaging a powerful 18 factors per sport. 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 workforce.
Whereas they didn’t make it to the ultimate 4 final yr, the Bucks scored huge by locking up Taylor, the ACC Defensive Participant of the Yr switch from Duke. With March Insanity proper across the nook, Ohio State just lately had colossal victories over Michigan, Maryland, and Penn State. Over the past 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 powerful report, positioning themselves for a possible No. 1 seed with a victory over Iowa. Nonetheless, their scoring common of 80.6 factors per sport ranks fifteenth within the league. Whereas defensively they’ve allowed a median of 62.9 factors per sport, their wrestle with rebounds has continued as a season-long weak point.
For Iowa to craft a Cinderella story on senior day, they have 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 could possibly 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 extra time buckets for Iowa of their final matchup vs. Ohio State. With the Buckeyes named the outright Large 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 concentrate on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane at present resides in Connecticut/NYC space together with her Cat and Canine. SJ has her undergraduate diploma from the College of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in enterprise administration.
