Caitlin Clark said it herself afterwards. Playing for Big Ten Tournament titles is all she’s ever known at Iowa.
Now, she and the Hawkeyes will get a chance to play for a third straight Big Ten Tournament title after topping No. 6 Maryland, 89-84. It was a balanced effort from Iowa to propel them back into the championship round.
All of Iowa’s points came from its starters and all of the Hawkeyes’ starters finished in double figures. Caitlin Clark led the way with 22 points, but Gabbie Marshall stole the show with a career high-tying seven made 3-pointers.
That included a trey with 1:44 remaining that put Iowa in front for good, 82-79. McKenna Warnock matched Marshall with 21 points herself. She also set up that aforementioned go-ahead shot with an offensive rebound. Warnock also knocked down four free throws in the final minute and grabbed a key defensive rebound off an Abby Meyers 3-point miss to seal it.
“The first thing I want to talk about is the amazing fans we had here again. I mean, we’re saying it’s Carver North. It’s just amazing how the Hawkeye fans have shown up. I know there’s a lot of people that can’t come. Those that were here made a lot of noise. Those that couldn’t come, we know we’re getting your support from home. We just want to bring people joy. That’s really what this team is all about. Today I love five people in double figures. I thought that Gabbie Marshall, 7-for-13 from three, but over the last nine games she’s shooting 58 percent from three. Nine games. That’s about a third of the season.
“I’m so proud of her because she started out the season struggling. She kept believing in herself. She kept working hard and getting in that gym. I couldn’t be more proud of anybody, just what her effort was in getting back, and this team’s belief in this woman is unbelievable. Gabbie was incredible on both ends of the floor. McKenna, clutch free throws. Caitlin was Caitlin. It just was a really fun game for us, and I love the 24 assists and only 12 turnovers,” Iowa head women’s basketball coach Lisa Bluder said.
Iowa gets a date with fourth-seeded and the No. 14 nationally-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes in the championship round. The Buckeyes erased a 24-point deficit against No. 1 seed Indiana to author the Big Ten Tournament’s largest ever comeback.
With the Hawkeyes’ title defense at stake, here’s how Iowa fans can watch, stream and listen to today’s game against Ohio State. Plus, a look back at this season’s first matchup between the two and the key players.