If it’s anything like the last time these two teams squared off, sports fans are in for quite the treat on Saturday night.
The No. 3 Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball team welcomes in No. 13 Indiana. It’s a matchup between last season’s Big Ten regular-season champion (the Hoosiers) and last season’s Big Ten Tournament champion (the Hawkeyes).
It’s also a rematch of a classic from Iowa’s regular-season finale against Indiana last year. Senior guard Caitlin Clark lifted then-No. 6 Iowa past then-No. 2 Indiana with a buzzer-beating, game-winning 3-pointer to propel the Hawkeyes to an 86-85 victory.
It sent Carver-Hawkeye Arena into a frenzy and started a run of nine straight wins that led Iowa to a Big Ten Tournament title and its first national championship game appearance.
Now, both teams enter riding 13-game winning streaks. Since dropping its second game of the season at No. 8 Stanford, 96-64, the Hoosiers haven’t lost. They are 5-0 in Big Ten play.
Following its 65-58 loss versus Kansas State on Nov. 16, Iowa hasn’t lost. The Hawkeyes beat Purdue, 96-71, earlier this week.
In the win, Clark secured her 15th career triple-double with 26 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. The 6-foot guard knocked down six 3-pointers in the win over the Boilermakers.
Four other Hawkeyes finished in double figures as well. Graduate guard Kate Martin scored 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds, junior guard Sydney Affolter added 14 points, six rebounds and four assists, fifth-year guard Gabbie Marshall chipped in 12 points with four made 3-pointers, and sophomore forward Hannah Stuelke had 10 points.
It’s All-American versus All-American in Clark versus Indiana’s Mackenzie Holmes.
Here’s how Hawkeye fans can watch, stream and listen to tonight’s massive Big Ten battle. Plus, a look at Iowa and Indiana’s projected starters and game notes for each.