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Senior Day couldn't have gone better for Caitlin Clark, who set the NCAA Division I college basketball points record in the Iowa Hawkeyes' victory over Ohio State, 93-83.
Clark hit two free throws at the end of the first half, surpassing Pete Maravich's previous record of 3,617 points during his years at LSU. She needed 18 points to start the game and got them all in the first half on technical foul free throws.
Clark finished her final home game of the regular season with 35 points along with nine assists and six rebounds.
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Guard Caitlin Clark of the Hawkeyes celebrates after breaking Pete Maravich's all-time NCAA scoring record during the Ohio State Buckeyes game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on March 3, 2024 in Iowa City. (Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
Following the record-breaking performance, Clark and her other senior Hawkeyes teammates – Gabbie Marshall, Sharon Goodman, Molly Davis and Kate Martin – were honored for their years of dedication.
“I think just thinking back on my four years, I'm just very grateful,” Clark told the audience when asked how her journey has been so far.
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Holly Rowe, the veteran journalist who hosted the Senior Day post-game ceremony, noted that despite her impressive accomplishments that made college basketball history, Clark always cheered on her teammates during interviews over the years.
CAITLIN CLARK OF IOWA SURPASSES PETE MARAVICH FOR NCAA GOAL RECORD
For Clark, it's something that isn't forced. Her humble nature is a given.
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“I think it’s easy,” she said of the love she showed her teammates. “These people are my best friends and this is not a show. They stand behind me and do a lot of dirty work for me to have fun and do crazy shots. … They are my best friends off the court.”
Clark loved that the Hawkeyes “came out and dominated” on Senior Day against a Buckeyes team that is ranked No. 2 in the country and beat No. 6 Iowa earlier this season.
Caitlin Clark after breaking the NCAA all-time scoring record on March 3, 2024 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. (Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
“We played with a lot of energy,” she said. “…I’m just proud of our girls. Five seniors that have been together for a long time and we wanted to go out and send them to their home court.”
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Clark said she “soaked it all up” during her final regular season game at home. However, thanks to the top teams in the NCAA Tournament hosting games, there could be a maximum of two more home games this month.
“It will be a little less bitter,” Clark said. “…I probably won’t try a little harder later.”
While the ceremony was a beautiful way to honor these Hawkeyes, a group led by Clark that has transformed college basketball not just in Des Moines but across the country, they know the work isn't done.
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Caitlin Clark finished her final home game of the regular season with 35 points, nine assists and six rebounds. (Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
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The Hawkeyes will depend on Clark to continue adding points to that record in the Big 10 Tournament next before the NCAA Tournament. Their performance is crucial for Iowa to return to the national championship, where they lost to the LSU Tigers last season.