IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Kathleen Clark broke the NCAA women’s career scoring record. Making a 3-pointer from around 35 feet In the first quarter for No. 4 Iowa against Michigan on Thursday night.
Clarke went into the game looking for eight points to go through. Kelsey Plum totaled 3,527.
She wasted no time, hitting her first three shots — a layup and two 3s — and scoring Iowa’s first eight points. The record-setting 3 down the left wing near the Mediacom Court logo with 7:45 left in the first quarter.
“It’s cool. “It’s good to be in the same state as a lot of really good players,” Clarke said in a televised interview at halftime. I’ve been lucky enough to do this because I have great teammates and great coaches and a great support system around me.
Iowa won the edge and Clark drove to the basket, guarded by Lila Felia, and boarded a shot from the right side. Clark hit a 3 from the left wing on Iowa’s next possession. The Hawkeyes turned the ball over twice after Clark took a pass from Gabby Marshall in transition. He stopped and shot from deep on the left side.
As the ball passed, the fans – many standing with their phones to capture the moment – let out a loud cheer.
After Clark’s 3, Felia lost a position, as Michigan and Iowa’s Molly Davis came back again. Iowa coach Lisa Bluder called a timeout and a celebration ensued. Clarke hugged his teammates, Bluder and staff, and the record was accepted as the excited fans continued to boo.
“Thank you. We are grateful to be surrounded by people and to be in a city that is so supportive of women’s basketball,” Clark said. “I’m surrounded by my best friends and people who want to see me be great and push me to be great every day.”
Plum In 2017, she scored 57 points on a night in which she broke the Washington senior scoring record, and she played with Clark on her mind. She had 23 points in the first quarter, making five of her first seven 3-pointers and 8 of 10 shots overall.
Clark’s next target was the all-time women’s college scoring record of 3,649 points by Kansas star Lynette Woodard from 1977-81. During Woodard’s tenure, women’s sports were governed by the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women. Frances Marion Pearl Moore She holds the women’s all-time scoring record from 1975-79 with 4,061.
Iowa has four regular season games, along with the Big Ten Tournament and NCAA Tournament. He is likely to surpass senior Clark Woodard, who is averaging 32.1 points per game. And she has the option of returning to college basketball for a fifth season because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Clarke and her dynamic game took the nation by storm for two seasons. Last year, he led the Hawkeyes to the NCAA title game and was named The best player of the year. More than just chasing the record, her long 3-pointers and flashy passes drew interest. Women’s game On an unprecedented scale. Arenas are sold out For her games, home and away, and television ratings have never been higher.
All of this was more than Clark ever imagined. A 6-foot guard from West Des Moines He stayed in state and chose Iowa over Notre Dame in November 2019.
Clarke said this week: “I’ve always dreamed of doing something big, playing in front of a big crowd, going to the Final Four. “I think this is too difficult to dream. You can always exceed expectations, even your own, and I think that’s one of the best parts.
Although her basketball obligations and endorsement deals (State Farm commercials, etc.) put demands on her time, she says she’s the same person she was on campus four years ago.
CLARK I’ll run my business like I did when I was a freshman during covid. “Indeed, my life has changed somewhat. I still live the same way. I still look like a 22-year-old college kid.
She said she still cleans her apartment, does laundry, plays video games, hangs out with friends and does schoolwork.
The record-setting run could have come earlier, but it arrived at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, where ticket resale prices for the Michigan game are on sale. It has reached hundreds of dollars to thousands. Fans were once again seen outside the stadium, many wearing black and gold number 22 jerseys and holding signs of respect.
Mia Anderson, 12, and her friend Ellie Stephenson and their mothers made the six-hour drive from Canton, South Dakota, to watch Clark break the record.
“I think she inspired a lot of people,” Mia said.
“Yes, a lot of little girls,” Ellie added.
Mia and Ellie both play basketball, and both said they try to do some of the things Clark does on the court, like shoot long 3s.
“But I’m not as good as her,” Ellie said.
Kelly Jared of Manchester, Iowa, said she loves everything about Clark and expects his impact on the women’s game to last.
“She took it to a whole new level,” Jared said. “The ambitions and goals of current players and future players, she has set that path in the sky. And it’s perfect, because you’re trying to find them. As far as the fans, there is excitement from people who have never seen women’s basketball. My son is not a basketball fan, but he watched Caitlin last year and was sold. He absolutely loves her.”
Unlike Sunday’s loss at Nebraska, which drew nearly 2 million viewers on Fox, this game aired on the Peacock.
“I understand the magnitude of this,” Clark said. “My four years have flown by, and it’s crazy to look back at how fast it all went. I am very thankful and grateful.
___
Get polling alerts and updates throughout the AP Top 25 basketball season. Register here.
___
AP Women’s College Basketball: And