Caitlin Clark Makes NCAA History with Record-Breaking Performance in Iowa’s Dominant Victory over Michigan
Iowa star Caitlin Clark became the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer in women’s basketball with a career-high 49 points during Thursday night’s 106-89 win over Michigan, shattering the record previously set by Washington’s Kelsey Plum. Clark shot 16 of 31 from the field, including 9 of 18 from 3-point range, to spearhead one of the best games of her career which also included 13 assists and five rebounds.
Clark’s record-setter bucket came on a pull-up 3-pointer in the first quarter from well beyond the line a few minutes into the contest, a 35-footer that expertly defined her limitless range. Clark had 28 first-half points and scored or assisted on Iowa’s first 15 field goals, hitting nine shots and adding six assists.
“I don’t know if you can script it any better,” Clark said. “I thought we played really well tonight.”
Clark played most of the contest and received a standing ovation after her ninth 3-pointer with a couple minutes remaining set the all-time, single-game high for points inside Iowa’s Carver-Hawkeye arena and her illustrious career. You had a feeling Clark was gunning for a new record when she outscored Michigan’s entire team in the opening frame by a point.
This was the record-breaking shot from Clark, her second 3-pointer in the opening minutes and one that was a prime example of her “shoot from anywhere” mentality. The Hawkeyes didn’t have numbers on the play, but Clark decided to launch one from one of her preferred designations and the rest was history.
Another angle of Clark’s record-setting triple from the baseline, which sent the capacity crowd at Iowa into jubilation. Entering Thursday night, she was averaging 32.1 points on 47.3 percent shooting, including 39.3 percent from three-point range. She also is hauling in seven rebounds a game while dishing out a nation-leading 8.2 assists.
South Carolina coach Dawn Staley wanted to know if Clark eclipsed the record following the top-ranked Gamecocks’ comeback win at Tennessee to stay unbeaten. After learning of Clark’s 23 first-quarter points to set the new mark, Staley said, “God dog, sending the media room into a bout of laughter.
There was a play stoppage in the first half following Clark’s record-setting jumper as her head coach and teammates huddled around her to celebrate the momentous feat.
“I’m lucky enough that this isn’t my last time wearing an Iowa uniform,” Clark said. “I just appreciate what we did here and everything we were able to accomplish. I feel like the sky’s still the limit for myself and this program. It excites me that we’ve been able to build this and accomplish something like this. I want my legacy to be the impact that I can have on young kids and the people in the state of Iowa, and I hope I brought them a lot of joy.”
Clark was appointment viewing for most on Thursday night with the game streamed on Peacock’s premium pay-per-view option. And like all of Clark’s road game appearances this season, it was undoubtedly one of the channel’s most-streamed events of the season. Clark scored Iowa’s first eight points of the game and was on a heater early.
Comfortable from multiple on the floor as one of women’s basketball top players in history, Clark’s career shot chart shows how lethal she is from anywhere. Not only is she crafty off the dribble, but Clark is one of the all-time greatest in catch-and-shoot mode.
Clark’s record-breaking jumper was all part of the plan, she says, familiar territory for one of the country’s assassins from long-distance. Clark’s pull-up came in rhythm with a defender close by an a shot she’s launched hundreds of times in her career.
Shaw and Charles Barkley made their opinions clear on Clark after the game on the NBA on TNT, labeling Iowa’s star the greatest scorer the women’s game has ever seen.
Clark now holds four of the top 7 single-game scoring highs in Iowa women’s basketball history after her record output against the Wolverines. She’ll have several regular-season games left and postseason play to try and manage her first 50-point explosion before likely heading to the WNBA.