COLLEGE PARK, Md. – They came from Maryland, Washington, D.C., and neighboring states like Virginia and Pennsylvania, but they also came from states as far away as North Carolina, Georgia, and, of course, Iowa.
They lined up outside the Xfinity Center on the University of Maryland campus three hours before Saturday's opener, many wearing Iowa's black and yellow jerseys, while a number of girls wore No. 22 Hawkeyes jerseys.
As always, Caitlin Clark did not disappoint, scoring 38 points in front of a crowd of 17,950, while continuing to cruise towards Kelsey Bloom's women's record (3,527), which was set in 2017. No. 4 Iowa beat Maryland 93-85.
Clark, the Hawkeyes' 6-foot guard, now has 3,462 career points, 66 points away from becoming the all-time scoring leader in NCAA women's basketball. The men's scoring record, set by Pete Maravich in 1970 (3,667 points), is still up for grabs. The record chase continues Thursday in Iowa City against Penn State.
Early and late in the game, Maryland's Xfinity Center crowd booed Clark when she got the ball, but then saw how quickly the nation's most exciting player could shift momentum for Iowa (21-2, 10-1 Big Ten). . She does that through her scoring, of course — she hit three 3-pointers in a flash in the first quarter to quell Maryland's early run — but also by hitting or bouncing passes to teammates all over the court for their own scores.
Clark, who entered the game leading the nation in scoring (32.1 ppg) and assists (7.7 ppg), finished with 12 assists as Maryland players did their best up front and swarmed it, leaving Clark's teammates open for layups and some big 3s of their own. .
“I embrace that everywhere I go and I think I'm very grateful and obviously it's changed my life in some ways more than others, just being aware of my surroundings and things like that, but people are spending a lot of time and money and resources that are coming to see us,” Clark says. We play.” “When I step on the court, I just want to have a lot of fun and I've been able to find a lot of joy and calm in that. Honestly, I don't get nervous about these games. That's what it is, it's basketball.
“One game is not going to make or break our season, and I just find a calming presence in being around my teammates and having fun playing this game.”
Iowa State fans waiting outside before the arena opened its doors broke into a “Let's Go Hawks!” The chants continued throughout the game, including during the introduction of the Maryland players.
Clark hit a step-back 3 from the left wing. But it cruised on the ensuing possession, which lifted Maryland fans' spirits. The Terrapins then took an 11-3 lead, with their players flying off the bench to salute Shyanne Sellers after her jumper before time expired during the sequence.
However, by the end of the quarter, Clark had three more 3s, including two more to the fullback and one of her own “logo 3” from deep on the left wing. The show was on.
“Shootin'-from-the-logo 3, that's not just luck,” Dixon Jensen, Clark's former AAU All Iowa offensive tackle coach, told USA TODAY Sports before the game. “I mean she shoots hundreds of these, hundreds, every day, for 6-7 years. I don't care if you're 6-6 or not. It doesn't matter when (she) shoots from here.”
Iowa State plays at a fast pace and always had an answer for Maryland's run, whether it was hitting a Clark buzzer-beating 3 to end the first quarter or driving the ball to close the second quarter.
“That game felt like March,” said Maryland coach Brenda Freese, whose team fell to 12-10 (4-7 Big Ten) while facing one of the toughest strengths of schedule in the country.
Clark finished 7 of 17 from 3-point range. But something else happened too, an aspect of her game that made her particularly deadly and Iowa look unbeatable at times. From the start of the game, she was shooting passes — short, medium and long — and finding open teammates, even if they weren't converting on baskets.
They eventually did, and finding Clark's teammates to make backdoor cuts helped end a Maryland run that erased an 18-point third-quarter deficit. After back-and-forth play, the score was tied 76-76 with 6:17 remaining in the fourth period.
At that point, Clark hit another big 3 and then found teammate Sidney Affolter underneath him from the top of the key and later for a 3-pointer that helped seal the game.
“I thought we did a really good job of cutting back door tonight and looking for scores around the rim,” Clark said. “We know Maryland plays in passing lanes, so look out the back door and people are ready to finish the ball.”
Two other Iowa State scorers (Molly Davis, 17; Kate Martin, 15) finished in double figures. Meanwhile, Clarke's passes came one-handed and two-handed, and she hit them from the right and left. Delivered to everyone who came out.
“All last season, we had over 10,000 players at home, and then we went on the magical run (to the women's NCAA title game) that we continue playing to sold-out crowds every step of the way.” “The way,” Clark says. “Yes, it's changed whether we're on the road or at home, there's always big crowds, but I think our team has gotten used to it. I mean, that's the biggest thing, is no one is shy about these moments, whether you're coming off the bench.” “Or you're in the starting XI, it's what you're used to at this stage and you don't have a lot to say about it, so you better embrace it.”
“And really, more than anything, it's really good for women's basketball, so enjoy every moment.”
She left the field amid cheers and raised her arms in appreciation.
Before it even started, one of the fans lined up outside said loudly that half of Iowa State was there. Erin Price of Baltimore admitted she bought season tickets just to go to this game.
“We are a bandwagon,” she said.
So does a large swath of America, where Clarke may be a few games away from the women's record.
“Devoted travel trailblazer. Freelance beer scholar. Passionate analyst. Hardcore twitter fanatic.”
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