MA VoepelESPN.com4:54 PM ET6 Minute Read
Caitlin Clark nails a sensational buzzer-beater 3 for the Iowa win
Caitlin Clark comes big for Iowa with a clutch, buzzer-hitting 3-pointer for Iowa.
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Caitlin Clark has been in this situation before. In games, in practice, at home, in their imaginations.
But Sunday’s game-winning 3-pointer that ended an emotional day with a win for Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes? That was the best so far.
“Those are the situations I would put myself in with my two brothers out in the driveway,” Clark said of the buzzing shot that knocked out the No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers 86-85 in the packed Carver-Hawkeye Arena. “I still do that when I come to the gym and shoot alone. Those are the situations you dream of. I’m lucky to be able to do it for this team, in front of 15,000 people who want to come and shout about it .
“I’ve met a few buzzer beaters but nothing as extreme under the circumstances as they were for us. This is definitely number 1.”
Clark finished with 34 points, nine assists and nine rebounds, which would have come close to her 10th triple-double as Hawkeye.
In a back-and-forth with the Hoosiers, who had already secured the program’s first Big Ten regular-season title in 40 years, the Hawkeyes’ win did several things. It gave them the No. 2 finish behind Indiana in this week’s Big Ten tournament at the Target Center in Minneapolis. It avenged Iowa’s defeat at Indiana on February 9. It helped the Hawkeyes recover from a disappointing 28-point loss at the Maryland Terrapins on Tuesday. It was a fantastic way to end ESPN’s College GameDay in Iowa City.
And it further cemented the legend of Clark, the Iowa native known for “shooting from the logo” among her many talents. Last season, she led Division I women’s basketball in points per game and assists per game, and she is currently in the top three in points averages and leading in assists averages. She had already spoken out strongly in support of the Women’s International Player of the Year award and Sunday’s exploits added to that.
Clark scored for Iowa at the end of each quarter: on a layup to close out the first quarter, a jump shot just before halftime, free throws to close out the third, and the game-winning 3. That final shot was setting up for a game that was the Hawkeyes Coach Lisa Bluder said she saw the WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces over the summer.
“You couldn’t ask for better,” said Clark, who now averages 27.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 8.2 assists. “I want to give a lot of credit to Indiana — to come here and play as well as they do. You have so much balance.
“You know I’m all about promoting women’s football and I’m glad I gave little girls something they can probably scream at the top of their lungs about. When I was younger I did the exact same thing and watched TV.”
Clark was a draw for fans both here at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, which sold out in advance for Sunday’s game weeks, and on the road.
The Hoosiers also sold out their season finale at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Feb. 19, and it was a magical season for Indiana, who suffered only their second loss. The other loss came on December 29 at the Michigan State Spartans when Indiana starting guard Grace Berger was still out with a knee injury.
In pro sports, Sunday’s game would have been something of a wash for a team in Indiana’s situation since it doesn’t impact their postseason position. The Hoosiers had already bagged the regular-season Big Ten championship and the No. 1 spot in the league tournament, and they’re still clearly the No. 2 overall seed in the NCAA tournament behind the defending champion South Carolina Gamecocks.
Still, the Hoosiers wanted that win badly, and it looked like they likely had it after Indiana forward Mackenzie Holmes’ two free throws by 1.5 seconds. But that was enough time for Clark to work her own magic.
“I’ve got a sad group in the locker room right now,” Indiana coach Teri Moren said. “I’m disappointed. I know they are disappointed. But we’ll do what we always do. We either feel good for 24 hours or we feel bad and then we get back to work.”
On Friday, Indiana meets the Nebraska-Michigan State winner in Minneapolis while Iowa meets the Wisconsin-Purdue winner. Maryland is the No. 3 seed and the Ohio State Buckeyes are No. 4. Indiana, 26-2, is seeking the program’s second Big Ten tournament title and Iowa its fifth.
Last year, the Hawkeyes beat the Hoosiers in the tournament finals. If they meet for that title again this year, it will be difficult for that game to be any more dramatic than Sunday’s. It was senior day for Iowa, who will say goodbye to Monika Czinano and McKenna Warnock after this season. On Sunday, they started their 83rd game with Clark, Kate Martin and Gabbie Marshall — the most for any woman to start five in the last 20 seasons, according to an ESPN Stats & Information investigation.
The Hawkeyes, projected as the No. 3 seed in Thursday’s NCAA top 16 seed unveiling, likely moved up a starting line with the win. They are now 23-6 in the standings and it was their second win against a second-ranked team this season; They beat Ohio State when the Buckeyes were ranked 2nd on Jan. 23. Iowa will be back at Carver-Hawkeye Arena for the first rounds of the NCAA tournament.
But Sunday was the perfect ending to this special chapter for Iowa.
Iowa’s 86 points was the most Indiana has conceded this season, as is the Hawkeyes’ 11 3-pointers. Clark scored or assisted on 56 of Iowa’s points. She had two turnovers compared to eight when the Hawkeyes lost in Indiana. And although she missed the five 3-point attempts before winning the game, she didn’t hesitate to make that shot.
“I know that this team will turn to me in situations like this,” Clark said. “That’s not something I shy away from. If you want to be one of the best players on the best teams, these are the situations you have to face. Believe me, I’ve been in many situations that haven’t gone mine, too away.
“This is the basketball game: how are you going to react? I’m lucky that my coach and my teammates have faith in me.”