Clark scores 32 as top-seeded Iowa tops West Virginia 64-54

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Caitlin Clark scored 32 points and No. 1 seed Iowa shook off one of its worst offensive performances of the season to beat No. 8 seed West Virginia 64-54 on Monday night in the second game of the women’s NCAA Tournament. Retained one. Round game.

The Hawkeyes (31-4) advance to play No. 5 seed Colorado in Saturday’s Albany 2 regional semifinal.

Sydney Affolter’s three-point play with 2:03 left in the game, the Hawkeyes’ only field goal of the fourth quarter, gave Iowa a 55–52 lead. Clark and Hannah Stuelke finished the game with nine free throws each to secure the win. The Hawkeyes were 14 of 17 from the foul line in the final quarter while the Mountaineers took just one free throw.

As time expired in the final home game of his career, Clark, who became the NCAA Division I all-time scoring leader this season, circled the court, making a heart-shaped symbol with his hands as the crowd cheered. .

“I think we used our crowd,” Clark said of the final stretch. “We gave up a 10-0 lead to start the quarter, but this team never panicked. This reflects our experience. …Wanted to go out on a high note.”

Clark broke the single-season NCAA Division I scoring record of 1,109 set by Kelsey Plum by hitting two free throws at the end of the game.

Iowa came into the game leading the nation in scoring with 92.8 points per game, but the Hawkeyes were held to their lowest single-game point total this season. Iowa shot just 36.4% from the field.

Affolter had 13 points, while Stuelke added 12 points and 11 rebounds.

It seemed like Iowa had taken control of the game after an 8-0 run in the final 1:25 of the third quarter, giving the Hawkeyes a 48-38 lead. But West Virginia started the fourth quarter with a 10–0 run and tied the game in the final minutes with 5:18 left to play.

It was clear from the beginning that this was going to be a game of defense. Iowa led only 26–24 at halftime, with both teams going through a scoring drought.

The Hawkeyes led 26–19 and went without a point for the final 4:50 of the half, shooting 27.3 percent in the second quarter. West Virginia went without a point for nearly five minutes late in the first quarter and early in the second quarter, and did not score in the final 2:11 of the half. Both teams combined to make only nine field goals in the second quarter.

JJ Quinerly led West Virginia (25-8) with 15 points. Kyah Watson had 13 points and Jayla Hemingway had 10 points.

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