Let the confetti reign continue! The Iowa Hawkeyes are perched above the rest of the Big Ten once more.
The seventh-ranked Hawkeyes buzz sawed No. 14 Ohio State, blitzing the Buckeyes with a first-half barrage for the ages en route to a 105-72 runaway victory.
Second-seeded Iowa led No. 4 seed Ohio State, 61-24, at the break. Stars Caitlin Clark and Monika Czinano combined for 40 points in the first half. Clark had 23 points with four made 3-pointers, nine assists and four rebounds in the game’s first 20 minutes. Czinano was 7-of-8 from the floor.
As a team in the first half, Iowa shot 72.4% from the field and 62.5% from 3-point range. Meanwhile, the Hawkeyes suffocated Ohio State defensively and limited the Buckeyes to 25% first-half shooting and just a 13.3% clip from beyond the arc.
By the time it was all said and done, Clark had tracked down her 10th career triple-double and Iowa set some record marks as a team. The Hawkeyes scored the most points in a Big Ten Tournament championship game and registered the largest margin of victory as well. Meanwhile, the superstar from West Des Moines finished with 30 points, 17 assists and 10 rebounds.
As expected, Clark was voted the tournament’s Jim and Kitty Delany Most Outstanding Player by the media. In the process, Clark became the third two-time recipient of the award, joining Shereka Wright of Purdue (2003-04) and Jantel Lavender of Ohio State (2009-11).
Her teammates Monika Czinano and Gabbie Marshall accompanied Clark on the Big Ten All-Tournament Team.
“I’m just so proud of this team. I knew all year long, we’ve stuck together, we’ve tried to get better every day in practice. We’ve kept the focus. We have some stars, but honestly everybody—like yesterday five people in double figures on this team, and that’s when we’re at our very best.
“Second quarter might be the best quarter of basketball that I’ve seen or been a part of in a long time. To win back-to-back championships, so hard to do in this league. This is an amazing league. Great coaches, great players. Just feel really, really thankful that we have this opportunity today to win this again,” Iowa head women’s basketball coach Lisa Bluder said.
It was a special day for Hawkeye Nation. Here’s the best photos from a back-to-back championship coronation.