The 2023 NCAA Tournament story for the Iowa Hawkeyes (28-6, 15-3 Big Ten) feels like it’s still just getting started.
That’s after Iowa grinded its way through a slugfest against Georgia, 74-66, in the tournament’s Round of 32 to advance to the program’s ninth all-time Sweet 16 appearance. Superstar Caitlin Clark led the way with 22 points and scored or assisted on 31 of the Hawks’ 33 second-half points.
It wasn’t a virtuoso shooting display from Clark, though. While she delivered arguably the game’s biggest shot, the West Des Moines product finished just 6-of-17 from the floor.
That aforementioned biggest shot was a leaning bank finish with 43.6 seconds remaining to put Iowa in front 70-66. Still, the Hawkeyes wouldn’t have been in position for Clark’s heroics without the performances from two of its key cogs in seniors Monika Czinano and McKenna Warnock.
Czinano elected to return for a fifth and final season. The 6-foot-3 native of Watertown, Minn., has been terrific once more, averaging 17.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Warnock is averaging 10.9 points and 6.1 rebounds.
As the tournament chapter rolls on, Czinano and Warnock’s Carver chapters came to a close. It was fitting that both were instrumental in Iowa advancing past Georgia.
Czinano finished with a hard-earned 20 points on 9-of-16 shooting against the likes of Bulldog bigs Jordan Isaacs, Brittney Smith, Zoesha Smith and Javyn Nicholson. It was one of the bigger lineups the Hawkeyes had seen all season long and Czinano chipped in with nine rebounds as well.
Meanwhile, Warnock added 14 points and eight rebounds. That included a pair of 3-pointers in the second quarter which temporarily ballooned Iowa’s lead to its largest of the day at 31-21.
Afterwards, Czinano said Iowa City has given her so much and discussed what she was feeling as the game was coming to a close and Iowa secured its Sweet 16 berth.
“I think it was just joy and appreciativeness. I sound like a broken record just saying it so much, but it is true. I just looked out in the stands and I looked at this team and I just felt so happy and so proud to be on this team. Every single person here deserves this so much, works so hard. So, yeah, there was just a lot of emotions, but I’m so happy for everybody here,” Czinano said.
A year ago at this time, Iowa left Carver disappointed after No. 10 seed Creighton spoiled the party. This time, the Hawkeyes’ experience shined through.
“I think our maturity just showed so much throughout this entire game. I think we were steady the entire game. That’s not really what we had against Creighton last year and that might have been why we lost. I think that it just shows how much confidence we have in each other, how much confidence the coaches have in us,” Warnock said.
After the win was in hand, Clark reflected on the impact that Czinano and Warnock have had on her career and the program.
“Sad. Two players that have been a part of the starting five as long as I’ve been here and were people that kind of took me under their wing when I first stepped on campus as a freshman. I think McKenna, she doesn’t always get the credit she deserves. She doesn’t always make all the plays that go in the box score, but kind of a Swiss Army knife for us and just a really solid player.
“And then, obviously Monika, she makes me look a lot better than I probably am. To have a post to go with a point guard like me, it makes me look a lot better. Two of my best friends and that’s more special than anything,” Clark said.
Like Clark, the Hawkeye fan base adores this duo. Here were some of the best reactions to their final contest inside Carver.